Magnificent!

Jeremy's realisation of the ill-feeling between his parents and then the dreadful upheaval that he and his mother experience after his parents separate, all in the awful knowledge that, yes, Dad has gone off with the long-haired blonde, is perfectly caught. At first, after they move house, Jeremy is horrified by the street-wise Pencil and his mates. He takes time to learn not only a new vocabulary and lifestyle, but also that beyond the Doc Martens and the reggae are sincere and genuine individuals with a strong sense of loyalty. Best of all, his mum overcomes her mistrust and hostility and finds a different kind of happiness in the warmth and humanity of her new neighbours. - Books for Keeps