"Why do people hit?" Before tough, sixteen year old Dane meets Billy. D, he is branded as a bully. It all starts with that familiar itching sensation in his hands –he just can't control the urge to hit. But Dane has laws about who he does and doesn't hit; never girls, for example, or people with special needs.
When he meets Billy. D, the new kid on his street, it's clear that Billy is different. As the weeks go by, the boys find themselves unexpectedly pulled together in a strange, deep friendship sparked by Billy's desire to find his missing dad. Dane never wanted to be an ambassador for the new boy with Down's Syndrome, but somehow he finds himself caring about Billy in a way he didn't know was possible.
The only trace Billy has left of his dad is the atlas, filled with clues which he knows will show him the way. But sometimes you love people even if they've let you down, and sometimes it takes a while to realise that you don't need them as much as you think. With the help of Dane and their new friend Seely, Billy. D finds himself on a journey that will definitely reveal the truth. Even if it's a truth he doesn't want to hear.
This book was a complete emotional rollercoaster, utterly gripping and at times, heart-breaking – it had me in tears, which is a reaction I don't get from most books! Dead Ends is not "most" books; Dane is not your typical bully, nor is Billy. D the perfect victim. By the end of the novel, I felt that I knew these characters inside out.
This book will have you captivated from the beginning to the very last page! Don't hesitate to buy yourself a copy straightaway – this is a "must-read" for both boys and girls from 13 upwards. I will definitely be watching out for any more new books by this author!
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
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