
In C. J. Flood's debut novel, thirteen-year-old Iris is reeling from her mother's sudden abandonment, leaving her with a gruff, introverted father and an impulsive, troubled older brother, Sam. When a Romani family sets up an illegal camp nearby, Iris finds an unexpected, deep connection with fourteen-year-old Trick, a boy full of life and restlessness. Their secret friendship blossoms, but it's set against a backdrop of escalating prejudice from Iris's father and the local community, and growing instability within her own family. As loyalties are tested and tensions rise, the story culminates in an unspeakable tragedy that forces Iris to confront the harsh realities of loss, identity, and the complexities of human connection. This poignant novel explores themes of grief, belonging, and the devastating impact of prejudice.
After her mother leaves and her brother and father grow increasingly distant, thirteen-year-old Iris finds solace and friendship in Trick, a fourteen-year-old gypsy boy.