This book, though written quite a long time ago, is still relevant and moving. It tells the story of a young boy who is living in poverty, but happily, with his religious and loving grandmother. When she gets sick, he is forced to live with his drinking, drugging, thieving father and must make some hard choices. The book does not pretty up this lifestyle, though his life is less violent than a similar boy's of today would be. The book felt very authentic, particularly (oddly enough) in its depiction of his loss of his grandmother. She becomes a victim of nursing home syndrome, which is accurately portrayed, as I think anyone would agree who has witnessed a relative or friend decline in a home. Sad, but honest. ( )