Plot
- Harrison Opoku (Harri), 11, has moved from Ghana to an estate in London with his mother and sister Lydia. His father, baby sister and grandmother are still in Ghana.
- When a boy is stabbed to death outside a chicken shop, Harri and his friend Dean play detectives to find the killer, collecting 'evidence'.
- Harri dodges the local gang, the Dell Farm Crew, and makes friends with a pigeon, which speaks in short sections of the novel.
- Harri gets closer to the truth about the killers, and in the end he is stabbed and killed by a gang member.
Themes and context
- Innocence and growing up, violence and gangs, identity and belonging, friendship and family.
- Stephen Kelman published it in 2011. It was inspired by the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor in 2000.
Form
- Told by Harri in a lively voice mixing Ghanaian English and London slang, which shows his innocence against the violent world around him.
Key terms
- Innocence
- Not understanding or being touched by the harsh world.
- Narrative voice
- The way the narrator speaks.
- Dramatic irony
- When readers understand dangers the narrator does not.
- Gang
- A group that uses violence and fear, such as the Dell Farm Crew.
Quick questions on Pigeon English
- Where has Harri moved from?
- Ghana: He lives on a London estate.
- What crime do Harri and Dean investigate?
- The stabbing of a boy: They play detectives.
- What is the local gang called?
- The Dell Farm Crew: Harri tries to stay away from them.
- Which animal speaks in parts of the novel?
- A pigeon: It watches over Harri.
- How does the novel end?
- Harri is stabbed and killed: The ending is shocking because of his innocence.
- Which real event inspired the novel?
- The murder of Damilola Taylor (2000): He was 10 years old.
- How does Harri's narrative voice show his innocence?
- He mixes playful slang and childish excitement with serious events: Readers see dangers he misses.
- Who lives with Harri in London?
- His mother and sister Lydia: His father is still in Ghana.