Nickel Plated by Aric Davis

Nickel Plated

Nickel lives in a single-family home in Michigan.  Regular place: yard, garage, nothing conspicuous.  Nickel masks the marijuana plants with corn.  Keeps a small arsenal under the bed.  Uses the garage to build pipe bombs.

Nickel was ten when he escaped from foster care.  Now he's twelve and he's making sure he never goes back.  Marijuana pays the bills.  That, and the money Nickel extorts from online child predators.  He also takes the odd job.  Okay, those jobs aren't always legal, but if you've got a complicated problem, Nickel understands discretion.


And certain kinds of jobs Nickel will do for free.

Aric Davis has written one hardboiled kid, but don't let the tough talk fool you; Nickel is a survivor who has overcome overwhelmingly bad odds, and not a day goes by that he doesn't recall the kids who didn't make it.  This book has got plenty of funny matched with plenty of tension.  It's also got a big heart.