Carnegie Medal winning author Anthony McGowan weaves a bleakly poetic tale about one boy's determination to save a badger cub from the destructive hands of a local gang.

Life's not easy for Nicky. His mum's gone, his dad's on bail, and his 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 ...