“Stone Cold” follows a teen named Link whose struggles at home force him onto London’s cold, hostile streets. There he meets other young runaways, each fighting to survive day by day.
Swindells vividly portrays the stark reality homeless youths face, from hunger to danger, fear, loneliness and despair. Link’s firsthand account brings readers close to the daily difficulties, ever-present risks, and the psychological toll homelessness takes on young lives.
The novel paints an honest, unflinching portrait of life on the streets—one readers will find difficult to forget.
Jeffrey Lionel “Maniac” Magee has no home. He runs through the town of Two Mills where tensions between races run high, forging friendships on both sides of the divide.
Magee moves from place to place, searching for belonging among various people who offer a temporary roof or meal. Spinelli’s novel tackles not just homelessness, but also the isolation and prejudice people experience while homeless.
Maniac Magee’s incredible running talent becomes a metaphor for his constant search—for family, stability, and acceptance in a divided, complicated world.
Steinbeck’s classic portrays the Joad family’s painful journey westward during the Great Depression. Forced from their Oklahoma farm by economic hardship and drought, they lose their home and livelihood.
Now migrants, they’re driven toward California, chasing a promise of jobs and stability. Instead, they encounter poverty, prejudice, and disillusionment.
The novel powerfully depicts homelessness not merely as being without shelter but as displacement of identity, dignity, and hope. Steinbeck illustrates society’s cruelty toward those who’ve lost everything, along with the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” tells the story of young orphan Oliver, thrust into London’s dark streets after fleeing neglect and cruelty in the workhouse system.
He becomes homeless and vulnerable, falling into the hands of pickpockets and criminals who take advantage of his innocence.
Dickens’ portrayal of homelessness in Victorian London reveals the grim reality for many orphaned children, forced into crime and poverty by a heartless society.
Oliver’s experiences put a human face on urban poverty, highlighting the desperate circumstances faced daily by thousands of innocent children.
In this gritty autobiographical account, Orwell documents his personal experiences of poverty and homelessness in two major cities. He shares vivid vignettes filled with stark details, chronicling struggles for basic needs like food, shelter, and work.
Orwell introduces a whole community overlooked by society: beggars, cooks, dishwashers, street people.
He breaks down myths and stereotypes about homelessness, uncovering the harsh realities of life at society’s margins while highlighting the profound humanity, humor, strength, and resilience he finds among the down-and-out.
In Curtis’ heartfelt novel, Bud, a lovable ten-year-old orphan, embarks on a journey across Depression-era Michigan in search of his unknown father. Bud has nowhere to call home, relying on his resourcefulness, humor, and courage to survive the challenges of homelessness.
Along the way he encounters kind families, musical bands, and soup kitchens, revealing hope, dignity, and joy amid struggle.
Ultimately, the story shows homelessness through a child’s eyes—not just hardship, but also friendship, adventure, and optimism even in the toughest times.
Michael Brock seems to have it all: a well-paying job, luxury lifestyle, and bright future at a prestigious law firm. But after witnessing a shocking event involving a homeless man, he’s shaken to the core.
Determined to find answers, Michael leaves wealth and status behind to advocate for the rights of Washington D.C.'s homeless population. Grisham’s novel delves into urban homelessness and the social injustices that perpetuate poverty.
Readers follow Michael as he confronts corruption, learns compassion, and commits himself fully to those society often forgets.