A raw and often funny snapshot of 7-year-old Tommy's brutal young life amid the derelict terraced houses of Manchester's Hulme. This is one boy's year of adventure, abuse, crippling poverty and encounters with the welfare officers, the nuns, the police - and the Moors Murderers.



***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***

'Tommy's book is a stark but funny and heartwarming snapshot of one year growing up in crippling poverty in an Irish traveller family ruled by an abusive, alcoholic father and a drunken, neglectful mother.' Daily Mirror

Amid the derelict terraced houses of Manchester's Hulme, one boy experiences adventures, abuse, crippling poverty and an encounter with the Moors Murderers.

A raw and often funny snapshot of 7-year-old Tommy's brutal young life. He moves us through his daily struggle with poverty and neglect in 1960s Manchester like it's the most natural thing in the world.

Tommy lives at the heart of a large Irish family in derelict Hulme, ruled by an abusive and alcoholic father and a drunk, negligent mother. Alongside his siblings he begs or steals a few pennies to bring home to his parents to avoid a beating, while looking for something to eat and a little adventure along the way. With an unlikely sense of fun and a huge dose of good humour, Tommy introduces us to his foul-mouthed and chaotic family members. Deeply flawed they may be, but amongst the violence, grinding poverty and distinct lack of hygiene and morality lies a strong sense of loyalty and, above all, a spirit of survival.

During this single year before his family implodes and his world changes forever, young Tommy almost falls foul of the school welfare officers, the nuns, the police, and Myra Hindley and Ian Brady.

Tommy's story continues with Boy Number 26 - also available now.

Readers love 1963: A Slice of Bread and Jam:
'A beautiful book, humbling, sad and funny all at the same time. It will stay with me forever'
'A must-read'
'A wonderfully atmospheric and emotive story'
'So sad and still hilariously funny'
Real reader reviews from GoodReads.com