About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their older teenager is struggling to process a legacy of childhood hardship or is seeking a story about the grueling but necessary search for belonging and identity. It is a powerful choice for those navigating the transition to adulthood while carrying the weight of being different or misunderstood. Beck is a visceral historical odyssey following a boy born in 1900s Liverpool to an African soldier and a white mother. His journey takes him through the brutal realities of a Catholic orphanage in Canada and into the harsh landscapes of the Great Depression. It explores deep themes of resilience, the trauma of systemic abuse, and the slow, difficult process of learning to trust and love others. Due to its intense subject matter, including depictions of abuse and racism, it is strictly intended for mature teens (ages 14 and up) who are ready for a gritty, unvarnished look at history and the human spirit's capacity to endure.
