One of the main characters in Wicked is Paris Alvaston who is in care. Paris has spent 13 years in care, enduring frequent moves between foster placements and children’s homes. He suffers horrific abuse at the hands of male visitors in the children's home. Paris loves reading. Books become his escape from misery, offering solace, intellectual engagement, and hope. But he's also part of a feared pupil group, the “Wolf Pack,” At Bagley Hall, a chaotic yet elite school, headmaster Hengist Brett-Taylor schemes to merge with failing Larkminster Comprehensive. Financial motives clash with forbidden attraction, wary parents, rebellious staff, and students ready for mayhem. A new head believes in Paris' potential and nurtures his love for literature.