Being Billy

Faces flashed before my eyes. And for every face there was a time that they had let me down. Each punch that landed was revenge, my chance to tell them I hadn’t forgotten what they did.

Eight years in a care home makes Billy Finn a professional lifer. And Billy’s angry – with the system, the social workers, and the mother that gave him away. As far as Billy’s concerned, he’s on his own. His little brother and sister keep him going, but they can’t keep him out of trouble. He isn’t being difficult on purpose. Billy’s just being Billy. He can’t be anything else. Can he? A moving and compelling story of a young boy trapped in a bad place, from an outstanding new voice.

“Philip Earle writes starkly but sensitively in this brilliant page-turning novel. It moved me to tears.” Jacqueline Wilson

“Moving and powerful, I loved it.” Sophie McKenzie

“A total page-turner. Billy’s voice doesn’t falter… spiky, brave and compassionate.” Jenny Downham