The Kid of the Chaaba), translated into English as Shantytown Kid by Naima Wolf, is an autobiographical novel by Azouz Begag about his life as a young Algerian boy growing up in a shantytown next to Lyon, France, called the Chaâba by its inhabitants.
He lives in Chaaba, a slum on the outskirts of Lyon, in a miserable hovel with neither water nor electricity, amongst other Arab families.
Even if they do well at school, they are required to work menial jobs at the shops in order to make a little money for their families.
Later, his uncle, who is estranged from Azouz's father and who also lives in Chaaba, is arrested by the police because he is involved in black-market sales of meat.
He will be instrumental in helping Azouz with his work, and a warm friendship grows between the two, as they speak of their shared experiences of Algeria and learn each other's slang.