Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra
Published by Arrow

This is a harrowing and disturbing account of ruined childhood.   Lorenzo and his friends are taken from their rough New York neighbourhood after a thoughtless dare went tragically wrong.   In the reformatory school they are tortured by the guards who have the tacit approval of the authorities.   Their childhoods destroyed, the four friends go their different ways until two murder one of the torturers.   In a dramatic trial they struggle to find natural justice.