Shorty is given a choice. But is he man enough to take it? An audacious and astounding novel that grips the heart and the imagination

WINNER of the 2013 Printz Award. In darkness, I count my blessings like Manman taught me. One: I am alive. Two: there is no two. In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, a boy is trapped beneath the rubble of a ruined hospital, thirsty, terrified and alone. Shorty is a child of the slums, a teenage boy who has seen enough violence to last a lifetime, and who has been inexorably drawn into the world of the gangsters who rule Site Solèy; men who dole out money with one hand and death with the other. But Shorty has a secret: a flame of revenge that blazes inside him and a burning wish to find the twin sister he lost seven years ago . . .

"A vivid and unforgettable voice . . . incredibly moving" - The Times

"Unputdownable" - Daily Mail

"Gripping . . . beautifully subtle" - New York Times

"Both violent and subtle, unexpectedly reminding me of The Wire. Characters, settings, and the half-believed Haitian vodou religion are handled with patience and complexity . . . A serious, nuanced, challenging novel. Trust me, there are plenty of young readers who hunger for exactly that" - Patrick Ness, Guardian

"Remarkable . . . Lake's elegant, restrained prose and distinct characters will reward adults and older teenagers able to brave a story with strong language, harrowing scenes of brutality and an almost painful stab of joy at the end" - Wall Street Journal