Bad Dad by David Walliams. Ages 8+.
Bad Dad (2017) is a caper adventure with genuine emotional depth. Frank's dad Gilbert — a former champion racing driver — is in prison. Frank loves his dad despite everything, and when Gilbert is pressured by a criminal gang (led by the terrifying Mr Big) to take part in a robbery, Frank is determined to save him.
The novel involves car chases, disguises and the criminal underworld, but at its core it is about a boy who refuses to give up on his father despite everyone telling him his dad is a lost cause. Gilbert is not a glamorous hero — he is weak, easily led, and has made genuinely bad choices. Frank loves him anyway. This unconditional love is the novel's most powerful element.