Jake's Tower

Jake's Tower is a 2001 young adult novel written by Elizabeth Laird. The book was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. The main protagonist is Jake, a teenager living with his mom and his step-father in England. His step-father is violent and often in the pub, so Jake and his mother go to his paternal grandfather's home. The novel showcases the problems of a teenager with a violent father. Plot summary Every day life for Jake is a struggle due to his mother's horrible and violent boyfriend, Steve. To escape his problems, Jake dreams of having his own tall tower where he can be peaceful and safe. In his pretend tower he daydreams of his father, who gave him a hug and a fluffy duck when he was born. Though certain he will never see him again, Jake believes that he might somehow get to meet him one day. But when the struggle becomes too much for Jake and his mother, they run away from Steve to Jake's grandmother (his father's mother, Mrs. Judd). While Mrs. Judd had not believed that Jake was her grandson, upon meeting him she sees his resemblance to his father and accepts and protects him from the danger that he is in. However, Jake's mother insists on fighting for Jake's custody, resulting in a case conference between Jake's mother and his grandmother.