Kid

<p>In <i>Push</i> Sapphire told the story of Precious Jones and in 2009 her book was adapted into the Oscar-winning film <i>Precious</i>. <i>The Kid</i> is Sapphire's heartbreaking sequel to <i>Push</i>.<br><br>Abdul is nine years old when his mother dies. Parentless, he is sent to a foster home and then to a Catholic orphanage. But the priests charged to care for him abuse his trust terribly.<br><br>Abdul reacts in the most frightening way imaginable. Soon he is trapped in a dark cycle of sexual violence and betrayal. Yet through dance, in controlling his body, he discovers a way he might somehow break free and become himself . . .<br><br>A harrowing and powerful novel set in New York, <i>The Kid</i> is a portrait of a boy growing up in a cruel world.<br><br>'Prepare to be harrowed; I was sobbing by the end of the first chapter . . . Sapphire writes with a burning anger that gives this novel an explosive power' <i>The Times</i><br><br>'Hardcore. Brave, bold, uncompromising. The breathtaking velocity and visceral power of Sapphire's prose soars off the page' <i>Observer</i><br><br>'Captures the gruelling heartbreak of trying to love anything when the world doesn't love you enough' <i>New York Herald Tribune</i><br><br>'A dark and punishing tale' <i>Big Issue</i><br><br>'A fearless writer and thinker of enormous talent, insight and skill. Abdul's story is frighteningly realistic. A consummate work of art, style and brains. Full of the energy of pain, rage, grief and doubt' <i>List<br><br></i>'Devastating. An accomplished work of art . . . hard to forget' <i>Los Angeles Times</i><br><br>'Urgent, troubling, harrowing, masterfully narrated, powerful' <i>Diva</i><br><br>Sapphire is the author of two poetry collections, <i>Black Wings and Blind Angels</i> and <i>American Dreams</i> and the bestselling novel <i>Push</i>. The film adaptation of her novel, <i>Precious, </i>received the Academy Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress - for actor Mo'Nique - in addition to the Grand Jury Prize and Audience awards in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance. In 2009 she was a recipient of a United States Artist Fellowship. She lives in New York City.</p>