Life's not easy for Nicky. His mother is gone, his dad's out on bail, and his older brother, Kenny, needs looking after like a little kid. When Kenny drags Nicky out of bed one dark morning, Nicky has no idea that he is about to witness a terrible act of destruction, and the senseless killing of an innocent animal. But Nicky manages to save something precious from the disaster, and his and Kenny's lives are changed forever . . .

Perfect for anyone seeking gritty, realistic books for teen boys, the Everyone Can Be a Reader (Hard Truths) hi-lo book series presents accessible coming-of-age tales in an easy-to-read style. Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books utilize dyslexia reading tools like specialized fonts and paper tones, and are carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.