by David Almond
First published 2022
Dan notices the new kid George right away. The other students whisper that George acts strange, but Dan and his friend Maxie don't care. George plays football better than anyone and shares their love of crisps. That's enough for them. Dan's mother agrees George seems odd, but she tells Dan all kids are weird in their own ways. It would be strange if they weren't. As Dan and Maxie grow closer to George, they discover his strangeness runs deeper than awkward social habits. George harbors a secret that goes beyond anything they imagined. The truth about their new friend proves more dangerous than peculiar. Dan and Maxie must decide how far they'll go to help George escape whatever holds him captive. Their friendship becomes George's only hope for real freedom.
Genres: family-life, friendship, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
320 pages · Paperback · Walker Books