Brock Paperback

Anthony McGowan's "Brock" is a powerful and unflinching novel that follows the challenging lives of Nicky and his older brother Kenny, who has intellectual disabilities, in a bleak Yorkshire setting. When Kenny unwittingly involves Nicky in a horrifying act of badger baiting by local bullies, Nicky witnesses the senseless cruelty and destruction. Amidst the carnage, he manages to save a small badger cub, an act that irrevocably alters the brothers' lives. This stark yet ultimately hopeful story explores themes of family bonds, resilience, poverty, and the fight against cruelty, resonating with an authentic portrayal of childhood emotions and the unexpected ways courage can emerge from darkness.