Summer for Selvon, Ardan and Yusuf means football, music and freedom. However, when a British soldier is killed, riots begin to spread across the city. Despite the danger, Selvon and Ardan remain unaffected, focusing on girls and grime. Yusuf on the other hand, is challenged when his brother Irfan becomes radicalised. Set on a London council estate, the author's portrayal mirrors his own childhood growing up in the same area. The way racial prejudice is addressed therefore has a unique authenticity, and reflects how a divided society can affect personal relationships.