At long last, I've finally gotten around to reading Boy A. I really enjoyed the film adaptation of this novel some years ago and wanted to leave a good while before reading the book. I was prompted to pick it up by the fact that Daniel Clay's novel; 'Broken' is about to be adapted by the same director. Boy A is one of those novels that will make you 'think'. Putting aside the sensationalist media reports about recent children who have killed, the reader can get a glimpse into what life could be like for someone who has been convicted of a very serious offence. Powerful, gripping and of course, sparking controversy, but never trite, never overly emotional - hard-hitting and gripping writing. Very highly recommended.

Incredibly well written.An excellent first novel!

This book was so amazing! The detail of everything put into perspective how quickly the world changes. The writer did a really great job at making it very casual but in away that struck you right in the chest. Despite the fact I loved this book I was quite unhappy with the ending. However, I would still recommend this book! Great read.

I didn't know this book had been made into a film. I have had the audio book on my shelf for ages and just got round to listening - what a find. It was a while before I realised how involved I had got with the story but by the end I was engrossed. Boy A doesn't fit in at school. He tries to keep a low profile but still finds groups of boys waiting to push him around. He doesn't have a friend until he meets Boy B and they start to hang around together, bored and creating trouble. And then the day comes when a young girl is killed - a shocking and brutal killing which shakes the country - and Boys A and B are convicted. This book cleverly jumps from Boy A's childhood, to his time in young offenders' institutions but much of it focuses on his time after imprionsonment, when he has a new identity. Boy A is now Jack, living in a part of the country he has never visited before, with a job and the chance to be a completely different person. I loved the chapters when Jack is first making his way into the world again and you see his wonder at every day things. Jack's work colleagues know that he has served time in prison, so are under no illusion that he has a past which he wants to put behind him, but other than that Jack has a clean slate. He loves his new life. He enjoys the friendship of his work colleague and his day to day routine and he falls in love. But he constantly struggles with the lies about his background. He keeps as close to the truth as he can, but his friends want to know about his past and even simple questions like 'what is your favourite chat up line' floor him. And when he begins to get close to Michelle it becomes even harder as he can see that she is upset as he won't open up and tell her anything about himself. This book fascinated me. Was Jack 'an evil killer' as the newspapers make out, or was he just lead astray by Boy B and too weak to turn his back on the only person who had ever befriended him? And if he was guilty of the crime, would it be possible for him to change? And what impact did external circumstances have? There is an interesting part in the book where Jack's father admits to himself that he had never, for reasons which are explained, been a truly loving father and wonders if this had been a factor. I think this would be a good book for bookgroup discussion. It has certainly left me with a lot to think about. I recommend it, and then you can decide for yourself whether a happy ending would be possible for Jack.