Livewire is a series of reading materials with a teenage or adult interest level for those with reading ages below ten. This title is part of the Real Lives sports series, and is a biography of Paul Gascoigne. It is designed specifically for people with reading ages of eight or nine. It aims to engage the interest of the reader in a non-patronizing way, and lead towards the attainment of a higher reading ability. It is accessible in layout and design, and there are many facts and illustrations. All Livewire books have been written by qualified special needs teachers and have been designed, checked and graded in association with the Basic Skills Agency. The Real Lives series offers biographies in the categories of: sport; film and music; and politics and history.