“My head was plunged down the toilet. The shock of icy water on my face left me breathless—these few seconds felt like they’d never end.”
Excerpt from Chapter 2: D-Day
Excerpt from Chapter 2: D-Day
At school, survival wasn’t just about fitting in—it was about making it through the day with his dignity intact. The first time they shoved Gary’s head into the toilet bowl, he questioned how much more he could take. By the time they drew a swastika on his forehead, he stopped wondering.
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In the backdrop of 1970s England, Gary navigates the chaotic seas of adolescence in the English coastal town of Hove. With humour and a delicious sense of naivety, he steers through a life marked by a blend of love and dysfunction, anchored by his offbeat mother and his deeply cherished father. But beyond the warmth of home, school is a much darker and crueller reality.
Back at school, Gary faces vicious and relentless bullying that tests his spirit and resilience to breaking point. The horrors he endures aren’t just physical—they are ritualistic and dehumanizing. From the brutal “D-Day” (Ducking Day), where new pupils’ heads are forced into toilet bowls, to the sadistic “Holocaust Games,” the cruelty seems endless.
Despite the bruises and hate-filled taunts, Gary discovers moments of unexpected joy, like the awkward thrills of first love and the surprising strength that begins to grow within him. As he navigates his family’s unpredictable antics and the dark corridors of his school, Gary’s journey becomes one of ultimate transformation—a testament to his unbreakable spirit.
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The Hate Game is a raw and profoundly moving coming-of-age memoir that explores the power of laughter, love, and perseverance in the face of unimaginable cruelty. It’s a story that will leave you rooting for Gary, laughing with him, and inspired by his indomitable will to rise above the pain and become the change he longed for.
Examples of Reviews:
Lucinda E Clarke for Readers’ Favorite: “The cruelty of some of the students, and the lack of control by the staff took my breath away. Before you even start reading, it states that you will laugh and cry with Gary, and I did. His story shocked and amused me, and I wanted to sit and explain life, feelings, and behavior to help him. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, especially his mum’s driving habits. It was also a trip down memory lane for this Baby Boomer.”
Annalise Reads: Trew's story is a brilliant blend of sadness and humor. Gary Trew's gripping memoir, The Hate Game: Screaming in the Silence, is sure to make you laugh out loud as well as cry. It's a tale of survival, of change, and of the eternal power of love and laughter. It’s a must-read for anybody looking for a moving yet optimistic story. It’s 5 stars from me and I look forward to anything else this author decides to write as well.
Goodreads (Oskar Leonard): Brutally honest but wonderfully written, and it really does feel like a journey through a very interesting part of the author's life.
Maalin Ogaja for Readers’ Favorite: In The Hate Game, Gary Trew exposes the long-lasting effects of abuse and neglect including the emotional and psychological effects it had on his life. He describes his experiences in a vivid and captivating manner, so much so that I was drawn into his story, and at times I felt like the level of abuse and suffering he underwent was untenable. However, his masterful balance of comedy and heartbreak kept me engaged to the last page. This memoir is also a testament to resilience, and how our past significantly impacts our current lives and mental health. I enjoyed this book immensely, largely due to Trew’s excellent narrative of a very traumatic period in his life.
Elizabeth Zender for Independent Book Review: The Hate Game is a poignant and timely true story—a recommended read for anyone in need of courage.
Readers’ Favorite (Danelle Petersen): The Hate Game is not for the faint-hearted.
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COMING SOON
The Lie That Changed Everything: Memoir of a Little Rascal
From the award-winning author of The Hate Game: Screaming in the Silence comes the next hilarious (and occasionally heartbreaking) chapter in the life of young Gary Trew.
In The Lie That Changed Everything, Gary dives back into the chaos of his childhood — a world of stiff upper lips, doomed cruise liners, airborne mishaps, and one incredibly awkward first kiss. He barely survives the swinging ’60s — including an ill-fated stint Down Under as a “Ten Pound Pom” — only to be ambushed by the bleakness of the ’70s.
This is a memoir packed with British humour, bad family decisions, and moments so absurd they must be true. You’ll laugh, cry, and wonder how anyone made it out alive.
