Zero Rising Series by Jackie Keswick

When a homeless boy meets an ace hacker… Twelve-year-old Jack Horwood has run from the pimp his mother sold him to, preferring to take his chances on the streets. A house with a cheerful, red door—and a classic convertible out front—prompts him into a spot of breaking and entering, and soon he has a warm, dry basement to squat in. Until the owner of the house, Jamaican hacker Rio Palmer, discovers his hideout. Rio offers Jack a safe place to stay. Jack doesn't believe a word the man says... moreWhen a homeless boy meets an ace hacker… Twelve-year-old Jack Horwood has run from the pimp his mother sold him to, preferring to take his chances on the streets. A house with a cheerful, red door—and a classic convertible out front—prompts him into a spot of breaking and entering, and soon he has a warm, dry basement to squat in. Until the owner of the house, Jamaican hacker Rio Palmer, discovers his hideout. Rio offers Jack a safe place to stay. Jack doesn't believe a word the man says. He runs, but Rio can't forget the youngster who is scared and vulnerable, and stronger than many men Rio has met. Finding Jack is a tiny challenge. Teaching him to trust is like climbing a mountain. But when faced with a true zero and its power, Rio can do nothing else. *** An earlier, shorter version of this story was published in the Kickass Anthology to help Eric Arvin and his family. It has since been edited and significantly extended. All profits from the sale of this book go to the Albert Kennedy Trust, which supports LGBT youngsters who are homeless or in danger, and the Banbury Young Homelessness Project, which helps homeless young people in Oxfordshire. less

A mistake. A drastic fix. And the person most hurt by Jack’s choice turns out to be… Jack.Five years after joining the army, Jack is back on civvy street and struggling to find his feet.He knows he’s made the wrong choice. He knows he needs to move on... moreA mistake. A drastic fix. And the person most hurt by Jack’s choice turns out to be… Jack.Five years after joining the army, Jack is back on civvy street and struggling to find his feet.He knows he’s made the wrong choice. He knows he needs to move on. But how can he choose a new direction when he feels so lost?Jack asks advice from friends and strangers, but he won’t find his lifeline until he remembers who he is, what he stands for, and what first Rio and then Gareth have taught him*** This is the second book of the Zero Rising series.A part of this story was published in the Kickass Anthology in 2014, helping to raise funds for author Eric Arvin and his family. The story has since been significantly modified and extended. less