Dodger

A painful, sad story where the troubled personal and family relationships, plus the stormy school life, of Mick are told through a skilful blend of flashback, a teacher's letters to a friend, the boy's own notes and sympathetic narrative. Coming to terms with the negative expectations of others and his own poor sense of self-worth is achieved through a role in a school play any by an impressively sensitive first-year teacher. Highly recommended, even though it's truly an agonising read, especially at the end.