Shuggie Bain

Agnes's determination to look glamorous and the blunt exchanges around her can be very funny, even as her addiction damages the family. Stuart keeps Shuggie's tenderness close to the material and emotional work he is left to perform. This is among the hardest books here: neglect, sexual assault, poverty and homophobic cruelty are substantial. The humour belongs to people trying to retain pride and connection in a brutal situation, and offers no guarantee of safety.