Sonny, aka Shorty, hasn't been in a classroom in years, and he
spends his days doing odd jobs on the dangerous streets of
Medellín, Colombia, South America. He and his best friend
Alberto have a regular gig running cigarettes for a
convenience-store owner, and in this line of work Alberto meets
El Fantasma, a soft-spoken crime leader with a reputation
for being merciless.

Soon after Alberto starts spending time away from Sonny, he shows
up with a gun and fifty American dollars. Sonny knows Alberto is
involved with something illegal, but rather than try to stop
Alberto, he's intrigued with his friend's new secrecy and
possessions. After all, the criminals in Medellín have better
lives than everyone else. They have money and power and they know
they're in control. Sonny, following Alberto's lead, convinces
El Fantasma to take him on as an employee, specifically an
assassin. What he doesn't know is that El Fantasma sees him
as nothing more than a disposable object.

Don't be fooled by the title and setting of this book. Even though
Sonny lives in poverty, abuse and violence, he is not a violent or
evil person. In fact, he cares greatly for his friends and takes
the assassin job because he believes it will help him support his
mother. Matt Whyman doesn't beat the reader over the head with
morality and lessons, either. Instead, he lets Sonny, a basically
good kid who does the wrong thing for what he believes is the right
reason, speak for himself.

BOY KILLS MAN is inspired by the true story of child assassins in
Colombia.

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