Tourette's tale funny, sad, and moving

On the back cover of this book is a warning regarding the explicit language it contains and it is no window dressing as the main character, 16-year-old Scot Dylan Mint, has Tourette's syndrome.

When he is agitated he involuntarily uses pretty well every swear word in the English language. Don't let this put you off, however, as Brian Conaghan tells a sad, funny and moving story of what it's like growing up trying to make sense of the world through the tics and outbursts of Tourette's.

Dylan loves football and his mum, thinks his father is overseas with the army fighting terrorism, has a Pakistani friend named Amir, and has the hots for Michelle Malloy, who also attends his special school, Drumhill.

And after overhearing a conversation at the hospital he believes he has only a few months to live, so he compiles a ''Cool Things To Do Before I Cack It'' list. Recommended.

Ages 16+.

- René Nol is a Dunedin reader.