Nicholas Dane wound up in the British social services system after his mother overdosed on heroin. This tells you everything you need to know about Nick’s social class and opportunities. His mother wasn’t exactly a drug addict and she was trying to stay clean while she attended school. She wanted to improve herself. Once she died, Nick had no one. His mother’s friend Jenny tried to convince social services that she could take him in with her own two children, but that didn’t work because Nick was an angry young man. Mrs. Batts, the social worker, thought the best place for him was a group boys’ home, where orphans in addition to juvenile delinquents were sent. This is where his nightmare began. The violence from the counselors and prefects shocks Nick and he believes he will receive help from a kindly counselor, Tony Creal; the boys call him “Dear Tony Creal” and Nick quickly finds out why. Burgess unfolds the methods of a sexual predator in chilling detail and the psychology of the victims perfectly including the shame, jealousy, and rage that Nick experiences. The book is devastating and not for the faint of heart. Give this to older teens because of the violence more than the sexual abuse. The ending seemed rushed and a little too pat. ( )

The year is 1984. Nick was a typical 14 year old in a single parent home, until the day he came home to find his mom had died of a heroin overdose. From that point on, his life is turned upside down. Sent to an orphanage, things went from bad to worse. Seen as more prison than home, Nick faces daily beatings from both staff and other boys, as well as rape. After managing to escape with his streetwise friend Davey, Nick vowed to live on the streets rather than face another orphanage.

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Als Nicholas' Mutter stirbt, muss er von einem Tag auf den anderen ins Heim. Dort herrschen Disziplin, Unterdrückung und brutale Gewalt. Doch noch schlimmer als die prügelnden Lehrer ist der Heimleiter Mr Creal, der den Jugendlichen mit großer Freundlichkeit begegnet - um sie dann zu missbrauchen. Mit allem Stolz und aller Selbstachtung, die Nicholas noch hat, wagt er die Flucht aus dem Heim. Schonungslos, doch mit großem Einfühlungsvermögen und ohne jeglichen Voyeurismus beschreibt Melvin Burgess, wie Nicholas es schließlich trotz allem in ein normales Leben zurück schafft - und wie für viele Leidensgenossen auch Jahre später die Spirale der Gewalt kein Ende findet.

This raw novel follows Nick after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. The reader watches the shape of his life change after his placement in a group foster home and the abuse that he faces there.

I read a lot of young adult books, mainly to keep in touch with my younger children. Many we read independently then talk over. I like it when my kids choose books that have topics that deal with issues of hardships. It allows me to look through the windows of their souls and see where and how they stand on social issues. This was one of those books that gave a great discussion between us. Well-written and a heart grabber I recommend this book for teens and adults. ( )