I couldn't get past the first chapter. ( )

The city of Nairobi is as foreign to me as the world of the drug barons in its slum suburb of Kibera. But Levine has managed to make Bingo, the teenage drug runner at the centre of this book, and Nairobi, from its garbage strewn slums to its five star hotels, as familiar as any foreign city could be.

Bingo, also known as “Meejit” because of his short stature, is barely four feet tall and at age fifteen has the appearance of a ten year old, which helps him to fly under the radar of the local police, led by the evil Chief Gihilihili, and rival drug barons. Bingo asserts that he is the best drug runner in Kibera and his strong sense of justice and his strongly defined set of commandments which he applies consistently to his job allow him to remain so.

Bingo witnesses the murder of a rival drug baron and his boss “Wolf” places him in an orphanage run by Father Matthew, a paedophile and conman who is also embroiled in the drug business. A wealthy American woman becomes captivated by Bingo and applies to adopt him, but things are not quite what they seem and Bingo finds himself in trouble again.

This was a fascinating book on many levels. The perfect voice of Bingo, the intriguing characters he was involved with, the exciting city landscape and the delightful undercurrent of humour throughout, all combined to provide an entertaining and memorable story. ( )