WINNER OF THE WORLD BOOK DAY - BOOKS TO TALK ABOUT PRIZE 2008 WINNER OF THE JOHN LLEWELLYN RHYS PRIZE 2005 WINNER OF THE WAVERTON GOOD READ PRIZE 2005 ?A is for Apple. A bad apple.? Jack has spent most of his life in juvenile institutions, to be released with a new name, new job, new life. At 24, he is utterly innocent of the world, yet guilty of a monstrous childhood crime. To his new friends, he is a good guy with occasional flashes of unexpected violence. To his new girlfriend, he is strangely inexperienced and unreachable. To his case worker, he?s a victim of the system and of media-driven hysteria. And to himself, Jack is on permanent trial: can he really start from scratch, forget the past, become someone else? Is a new name enough? Can Jack ever truly connect with his new friends while hiding a monstrous secret? This searing and heartfelt novel is a devastating indictment of society?s inability to reconcile childhood innocence with reality.

WINNER OF THE WORLD BOOK DAY - BOOKS TO TALK ABOUT PRIZE 2008
WINNER OF THE JOHN LLEWELLYN RHYS PRIZE 2005
WINNER OF THE WAVERTON GOOD READ PRIZE 2005

A is for Apple. A bad apple? Jack has spent most of his life in juvenile institutions, to be released with a new name, new job, new life. At 24, he is utterly innocent of the world, yet guilty of a monstrous childhood crime.

To his new friends, he is a good guy with occasional flashes of unexpected violence. To his new girlfriend, he is strangely inexperienced and unreachable. To his case worker, he's a victim of the system and of media-driven hysteria.

And to himself, Jack is on permanent trial: can he really start from scratch, forget the past, become someone else? Is a new name enough? Can Jack ever truly connect with his new friends while hiding a monstrous secret?

This searing and heartfelt novel is a devastating indictment of society's inability to reconcile childhood innocence with reality.

WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY COLIN WALSH, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF KALA

'A compelling narrative, a beautifully structured piece of writing, and a thought-provoking novel of ideas' Sarah Waters

His new name is Jack. To his new friends, he is a good guy with occasional flashes of unexpected violence. To his new girlfriend, he is strangely inexperienced and unreachable. To his case worker, he's a victim of the system and of media-driven hysteria.

And to himself, Jack is on permanent trial: most of his life has been spent in juvenile institutions, guilty of a monstrous childhood crime. Searing and heartfelt, Boy A is a devastating exploration of guilt, retribution and the blurred lines between fact and fabrication.

Reader reviews:

'Feels more relevant than ever. Some books fade after reading; this one didn't'

'Powerful, gripping and hard-hitting. Very highly recommended'

'By far the most moving book I have ever read'

WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY COLIN WALSH, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF KALA

'A compelling narrative, a beautifully structured piece of writing, and a thought-provoking novel of ideas' Sarah Waters

His new name is Jack. To his new friends, he is a good guy with occasional flashes of unexpected violence. To his new girlfriend, he is strangely inexperienced and unreachable. To his case worker, he's a victim of the system and of media-driven hysteria.

And to himself, Jack is on permanent trial: most of his life has been spent in juvenile institutions, guilty of a monstrous childhood crime. Searing and heartfelt, Boy A is a devastating exploration of guilt, retribution and the blurred lines between fact and fabrication.

Reader reviews:

'Feels more relevant than ever. Some books fade after reading; this one didn't'

'Powerful, gripping and hard-hitting. Very highly recommended'

'By far the most moving book I have ever read'