Gypsy boy : my life in the secret world of the Romany Gypsies

 by Mikey Walsh.  A runaway number-one best-seller in the UK following its 2009 release, this controversial memoir is being made into a feature film and has already spawned a sequel. Having written the book under a pseudonym to protect himself and his family, Walsh has ongoing concerns for his safety after leaving the highly secretive Romany Gypsy community 15 years ago, and his true identity has not been publicly revealed. He claims his ultraviolent father once put a contract out on his life. He was born into a roving caravan of outsiders, brutally abused as a child (both physically by his father and sexually by an uncle), and never received any formal education growing up. He is also gay. This kind of harrowing life story is a publisher's dream and, in our post-James Frey world, skeptical detractors have made accusations regarding the book's authenticity. But none of that would make a lick of difference if this wasn't a gripping and heartfelt page-turner. Calling it enjoyable, however, is a big stretch. There are gasp-worthy moments on almost every page, and, if every word is true, it's a miracle Walsh survived at all, let alone found happiness and success. --Booklist (Check Catalog)