“But it’s also an intimate, touching portrait of growing up black and queer in South London, of feeling part of and apart from several different cultures. Personal sorrows and fears blend with those of the larger community, small joys and triumphs are a source of almost guilty pleasure.” – Marina Sofia, Finding Time to Write
“This collection is brimming with anger and sadness as one would expect from a collection that focuses so closely on two landmark tragedies, but it also acts as a beautiful memorial to the individuals and tells their stories through rhythmic poems and the melodies of Jamaican Patois blended with English which really cements the identities behind the suffering.” – Charlie Edwards-Freshwater, The Book Boy
“Brutal and raw but with lots of humanities, Surge is an extraordinary debut for Jay Bernard and I am so glad it is one of the books in the shortlist this year!” Sissi Reads