In The Brats we embark on a gripping tale of maritime misadventure inspired by the haunting recollections of the author's great-grandfather, one of seven young stowaways featured in the harrowing true story. Our journey begins on a fog-laden quay at Victoria Harbour, Greenock in 1868, where a band of schoolboys, driven by dreams of adventure, sneak aboard the SS Arran, a small sailing vessel bound for Quebec, unaware of the grim fate that awaits them.

When the boys are discovered, their innocent fantasies of adventure quickly dissolve into a nightmare. Tasked with gruelling labour on deck, they face the unforgiving elements and the cruel whims of a sadistic captain and his heartless mate. Starvation and brutality shape their harrowing Atlantic crossing, testing their resolve as they cling to each other and the hope of reaching land.

As they draw closer to the fabled Banks of Newfoundland, the boys believe their suffering is nearing an end. Yet, unbeknownst to them, the true trials of their journey are only just beginning. Will they find the strength to survive the perils ahead, or will the sea claim them as its own?

The Brats is a heart-pounding tale of resilience, friendship, and the fight for survival, where the bonds of brotherhood are tested against the darkest depths of human cruelty. Join the boys on an unforgettable journey where adventure and survival collide, and discover their remarkable story that sparked a public uproar in their hometown and in Canada when the truth of their ordeal became known.