Hamish is sensible, conscientious, and respectable, friends with the good boys, stays away from the bad ones. When his father is murdered in an act of random violence, Hamish's world turns upside down. Angry and alienated, Hamish begins to lose his tolerant beliefs and is drawn towards racist reactions.

A move to France promises a much needed new beginning, but only builds Hamish's new attitudes as he becomes embroiled in the narrow-minded views of the locals.

But then a boat of north-african refugees founders on the coast and Hamish encounters the sole survivor.

Now his world is turned upside down again, caught between the violence of his past experiences and new realities unfolding in front of him.

This book has been graded for interest at 12-17 years.

There are 336 pages in this book. This book was published 2011 by Hodder & Stoughton General Division .

RACHEL ANDERSON, author of numerous children's books, first introduced the character of Gabrielle in Little Angel Comes to Stay. She lives in England.