Rusty is a sensitive boy who is dismayed to learn that the father he loves is a thief. Supported by two friends, Willie and a West Indian boy Sylvester, he endures the taunts of the tough children at his school. His affection for his father never falters and when his father becomes involved in a prison escape against his will, he learns that his father can also be a hero. Willie is also involved in several misguided attempts to remove his grandmother from an old people's home, with Rusty and Sylvester lending a helping hand where they can! The three friends also come up with a plan to break down Sylvester's grandparents' prejudice against his white mother, but will it be effective? Rusty and Friends is a trio of stories that deal with a variety of social issues, including mixed race, the elderly and children with a parent in prison. It is a engaging book about family, friends and childhood that will be enjoyed by children aged 9 and up.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 9-12 years.

There are 200 pages in this book. This book was published 2014 by Troubador Publishing .

Marianne Parry is a retired primary school teacher from Birmingham. She currently volunteers to teach R. E. topics for local schools. Marianne enjoys writing short stories for children and her growing collection includes Tales of Wabasso, Rusty and Friends, Bruno and Little Donkey and Grappo the Gorilla.