Stone Cold by Robert Swindells, 1993

Psychopath meets the homeless: the outcome seems bleak

As any serial killer knows, the easiest targets are those who wouldn't be missed - prostitutes, the homeless, the poor and alone. As for the homeless, no matter how streetwise, who can resist a couch for a night and a bowl of tomato soup? The book alternately guides us through the minds of a psychopath and a boy who has lost his way in life. On another level, it also shows how the System can spit out two human beings, turning them into something less. This is not a fairy tale and may leave your child cowering under his duvet. And yet, it may lead him to appreciate shelter, a warm bed and food in the fridge. And yes, to remember to have good friends and never to talk with strangers.