Alex Wheatle

Alex Wheatle was born in Brixton in 1963 and spent much of his childhood in a children’s home. At the age of 16, he founded a reggae sound system and performed under the name Yardman Irie. During the Brixton Riots, he was arrested and spent some time in prison, where he discovered his love of literature. He later published several novels before turning to young adult fiction.