The Hideaway

The Hideaway was written by Jamila Gavin and first published in 1987 by Mammoth. As a noted author in children's and young adult literature, Gavin wrote this story to explore themes of displacement, family dynamics, and the psychological impact of environmental changes on young people. The narrative follows a boy who runs away to a secret, makeshift home, reflecting a common literary trope of the era that emphasized the yearning for autonomy and safe spaces amidst turbulent domestic lives.

The book is characteristic of the late-1980s British publishing landscape, which saw a rise in realistic fiction for younger readers. Gavin, who was born in India and moved to England as a child, frequently drew upon her own sense of cultural dislocation to inform her characters. The Hideaway was received as a sensitive, character-driven work that cemented her reputation for writing stories that respected the intellectual and emotional complexity of her audience.