Frank, 67, lost his wife Marcie two years ago. He had a fallout at the funeral with son Mikey, and they haven't spoken since. He is now agoraphobic and almost exclusively sees and speaks to an apparition of his dead wife. Frank is lonely and grieving.

Red, 6, has had to move house and school, where he is bullied, after the breakdown of his parents' marriage, and ends up living next to Frank, with a shared garden fence that has seen better days. Red is lonely, sad and confused, but also very interested in the grump next door.

The two of them are not a natural fit and are only thrown together after Frank gives Red a tip against his bully that earns him a one week suspension - and Frank will have to look after him. 

Soon Red realises that Frank is estranged from his adult son and he hatches an utterly brilliant plan. Like most utterly brilliant plans hatched by six year olds, this one goes awry pretty soon - or doesn't it?

This must be one of the best debut novels I've ever read. The way those two lonely souls connect is nothing short of heartwarming. Talkative Red may be a bit precocious but he's also smart and kind, and Frank may be grumpy but he has a good heart, buried under grief and alcohol. When an unlikely friendship gets started, it has far-reaching consequences. Heartily recommended.