just finished the book.. its rather sad.. or should i say.. its really sad.. an innocent child's heart.. hardened by the harsh reality.. i wonder how many children in the world are facing this kind of things today.. its really lucky that dave is strong enough to look beyond his plight and start afresh.. how many others can be as lucky as him? child abuse and family problems, most of the time, are the roots of the many problems a child face and account for his behaviour when he grows up.. the importance of the family cannot be undermined.. if only everyone knew this.. and strive to give their child the best headstart before they enter the real world where they have to use their past experiences to guide them through..