Hoodlum

Huddy's a quitter. Left the Scouts, stopped going to church, dropped out of the football team. Even though people tell him he's gifted, talented, the words 'Could try harder' have followed him throughout school. He knows his relationship with the beautiful Ren is on the rocks but he's not sure how much he cares. When he was ten, he couldn't wait to be twelve. When he was twelve he was desperate to be fifteen. Now that he's sixteen, he honestly can't see what all the fuss is about.Everybody knows Ten Dennis. He operates a small but lucrative gang of teenage extortionists, bullies and thugs. He's witty, charming, effusive. He's conceited, sly, dangerous. He imagines the world is his to be owned, and then burned. He remembers Huddy from when they were younger and believes Huddy has certain talents that can be exploited. He thinks he can bend Huddy to his will. But for all Huddy's faults, there's only so far he's going to allow himself to be pushed. Keith Gray examines the themes of loyalty and friendship as he peels back the layers of individuality and peer pressure, ambition and adult expectation to confront exactly how it feels to be young and male.