Super Short Summary

In The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe, young Francie Brady's life begins to spiral out of control after a prank on a schoolmate incites the wrath of the boy's mother, Mrs. Nugent, leading to profound familial and psychological consequences for Francie, ultimately culminating in a tragic act that lands him in an institution. Themes of mental health challenges, familial abuse, and violence are present in the narrative.