Brilliantly simple - an absorbing read with no fancy narrative tricks. It follows the life of a kid who starts stealing when his ill mother can't afford to feed him while she's undergoing cancer treatment. He gets so good at stealing that he attracts the attention of someone who forces him to keep doing it at that evil person's bequest. A master caper finally gets him out from under that man's thumb. Has a fascinating cast of characters, all distinctive and emotionally real. Extremely well done and enjoyable.