Boy Kills Man

On the streets of Medellín, Colombia, the rule of the bandidos is the only law worth listening to. Like most kids their age, Shorty and Alberto work for their local cartel. They run cigarettes, offer protection, and occasionally assassinate someone. The work is dangerous, but the boys are commanding respect, and the money's good. But one day Alberto disappears, and Shorty realizes that he is never coming back. A gangster's life is cheap, and when revenge can be bought for only a few pesos, everyone has their price.

"The taut story line subtly illustrates the many levels of personal, social, and political costs of the shocking violence created and perpetuated by the largely U.S.-driven international drug trade. . . . The book will interest and educate readers about a world they might know nothing of otherwise."  —School Library Journal

"Readers will feel haunted by Sonny's bleak choices, the brutality, and the heartbreaking conclusion."  —Booklist

Matt Whyman is the author of The Savages.