Books for children

Taking Flight, by Sheena Wilkinson (Little Island; €9.99) Fifteen-year-old Declan lives with his wastrel mother, whose life is dominated by booze. She will go with the lowest of the low to get it.

At the other end of the scale is his cousin, Vicky, whose upper-class life is a hedonistic round of posh school friends, parties and horse-riding.

When Declan’s mum is hospitalised, his wealthy aunt takes him in. Spoilt Vicky resents this lower-class boy in her home, and shows it. Between his rough school and coming home to Vicky’s hurtful remarks, Declan is in despair, until the day he is taken to the stables to meet Vicky’s horse, Flight.