Interview: Catherine Bruton

WHEN Catherine Bruton switched on her TV the last thing she expected to see was her old neighbourhood in ruins.

The novelist and teacher, who grew up in Lymm, was horrified when she saw the riots sweep through London and other cities.

But the 41-year-old’s shock turned to anger when she saw the newspaper headlines the next day which pointed fingers and placed blame.

Catherine, who has worked with teenage gang members in south London, was compelled to have her say and that soon became the basis for her new book.

“There’s not one simple one-size-fits-all reason for why people would behave like that,” said the former Cherry Tree and Lymm High student.

“I knew it was a story I wanted to tell. I got really angry about the media presentation, particularly of the young people involved in the riots.

“I wanted to challenge the stereotypes. If you step away from the shocking headlines there have been some really interesting films that have been made and hours of interviews about why people crossed the line.”

So the aim of Catherine’s book, I Predict A Riot, was to tell the story of some of the young people involved without portaying them as two-dimensional yobs.

The tales may be fictional but the characters are based on real people she has met over the years from south London gang members to children of politicians and pop stars.

Before the riots, Catherine balanced her time between running youth groups for kids in some of the most deprived estates in London and teaching in a top independent school.

She added: “Two years later I turned on my TV and I saw my old neighbourhood up in flames. The sort of kids I had been working with were just the same as those who were running riot, looting and smashing up their own neighbourhood.

“I wanted to explore why different kids end up crossing the line. It’s not always the reasons you might think and it’s not always the kids you might think.

“I definitely wanted to flip assumptions about class and race on their heads and challenge preconceived notions about the sort of kids who did get involved.”

That is where I Predict A Riot comes in.

Catherine’s novel tells the story of a group of young people from different backgrounds who set out to make a movie but all end up involved with the riots for different reasons.

She said: “There’s a kid who thinks it will be a good laugh, another one does it because they want to protect a friend.

“Someone else crosses the line because of peer pressure and out of fear. Another kid does it because he’s got no hope.

“He thinks everyone has given up on him and he’s already written himself off. I hope it will make readers laugh, make them cry, make them angry and make them think.”

The inspiration came from what the author learned from working with gangs – that no kid is born bad.

Catherine, who now lives near Bath with her husband Jonny and children Joe, aged 11, and Elsie, nine, added: “Some people do bad things but there is always a reason why.

“I also passionately believe that with the right support and the right intervention that every kid can come good and have a second chance no matter where they’re from.”

I Predict A Riot could even be brought to the screen with film companies in negotiations for the rights.

Meanwhile, Catherine’s first book, We Can Be Heroes, is going into production in autumn with a small independent film company.

And there has been interest from major channels to bring it to the screen after it has been filmed in Birmingham.

We Can Be Heroes deals with the issues of suicide bombers and Islamophobia but again from a teenage perspective.

Catherine reckons the themes in her novels come from being a mum and a teacher.

She said: “I guess I wanted to write books about the issues that shape the world that young people nowadays are growing up in.

“And I know literature has the power to make them ask questions and think about the big issues that are going to shape their world.”

Catherine’s maiden name was Price when she was growing up in Lymm and her mum Mavis still lives in Higher Lane.

She credits Lymm High School teachers Mr Coleman and Mr Scott and the creative atmosphere at Cherry Tree School for sparking her desire to write.

Catherine, who is also working on a gymnastics series for younger readers called Somersaults and Dreams, added: “I was really lucky having really creative and inspirational teachers.”

* I Predict A Riot is out now
* Casting auditions are taking place for We Can Be Heroes. Anyone interested in auditioning for the two main teen roles – Ben and Priti – should contact Catherine through her website catherinebruton.com.

DAVID MORGAN