The New Boy

This is the texture of The Runaways with more humour and a quite complex pattern of loyalties. Donovan, the new boy in the top Junior class, shows a stubborn inability to be much more than a little devil. He steals whatever seems to come his way, crashes a car, disrupts the class and makes life hell for the teacher. Yet we have pupils mothering the teacher, a headteacher whose good nature seems never to see criminal intent, despite obviously knowing Donovan's background, and Amy who can't help being fond of Donovan despite the fact that he abuses her friendship. There's a tough desperation underlying the good humour and the optimistic resolution has been hard earned. This is a long, but very rewarding read. Worth sharing in sections with whole groups or classes.