Hooky the Cripple is a dark and violent tale for our times. Set in 16th century Italy, it tells the story of a young hunchback who, persecuted beyond endurance, fights back against his tormentor and then must face the grim consequences.

With striking illustrations by Adam Cullen, Mark "Chopper" Read's tale will shock, amuse and inspire.

The notorious Mark Brandon Read is one of Australia's biggest-selling authors. His first book Chopper from the Inside was published in 1991. This book and the subsequent eight books published in the "Chopper" series have all been reprinted at least once. Moreover, Read's books inspired one of the most critically and commercially successful Australian films in the past decade - Chopper (2000). Hooky the Cripple is his first fairytale.