Matthew Sweeney (1) (1952–2018)

An easy to read book that talks about friendship in the most unlikely places. Gerard Lavelle is a young boy ( about 10) who has moved with his family to the city. Gerard struggles to fit in at school and often gets into trouble for fighting etc so he has been in and out of numerous schools. His very busy, working parents warn Gerard that he needs to settle in to his new school and make friends. On his way to school, Gerard sees a homeless, grumpy looking man sitting in a doorway, wrapped around his neck is a fox. His red brush of a tail hangs down one side, while his little head with bright eyes, watch intently from the other side. The fox is a living scarf!' Gradually the man, Gerard and fox strike up a friendship, and Gerard finds he has much to learn from the man on the street. Sadly the man goes missing from his usual haunts and Gerard sets about finding him. His inquiries see Gerard befriending various homeless people that teach Gerard more than he realises. Gerard finds the homeless man in an old car crushing plant, where he has made his home. Unfortunately he is not well and Gerard gets his mother to help get the man to hospital, where he is identified as a Mr Black. Mr Black's diagnosis of pnuemonia is not good and he passes away. Gerard inherits the fox and so begins the next circle of life ' a boy and fox'. A touching, moving story about a boy learning more about the world - and growing up… (meer)