PIT bull terriers are regarded as the villains of the dog world, but this story will make its readers see them with different eyes. Mackenzie's pup, Cash, is a gift from his grieving, drunken dad.

She's an ideal companion for a 12-year-old who's recently lost his mother, but the neighbours are wary of her and, in a fit of rage, Mackenzie's dad takes Cash away and dumps her on some waste ground.

So follows a hard-hitting, adventurous tale of dog fights, theft and survival, with a slightly unlikely twist at the end.

A great read, though some animal lovers might find the realistic scenes of dog fighting hard to stomach. (Age 9-12)