This doesn't have the most promising opening. Hedley is facing the fact that his mum has died in a car crash and his dad is depressed. Hedley is sent to a special therapy unit at weekends to help him cope with his grief, and to give his dad a break. But Hedley worries about his little sister, and hates sharing a room with Aiden who beats him up and swears a lot.

However.

Hedley has a support worked called Nic who encourages Hedley to help out at a farm for alpacas. He reluctantly agrees and initially thinks it could actually be not that bad. But Aiden has to go with him and he gets them into trouble. One thing leads to another and before they know it, they're on the run, involved in a jewellery robbery and helping an alpaca to give birth.

Of course everything turns out alright in the end. Aiden and Hedley become friends, Hedley realises he can take risks in life after all, and his dad works through his depression. But there's quite a shocking twist at the end of the book. I didn't see it coming. Very clever, and simultaneously incredibly sad but also beautiful and hopeful.

An excellent book.