I've just finished reading two superb Irish YA books: Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd and War Children by Gerard Whelan. Both are powerful works of fiction that taught me far more about "The Troubles" than I've ever learned from a history book.
In case you're interested, here's the cover description for Bog Child:
"Digging for peat in the mountain with his Uncle Tally, Fergus finds the body of a child, and it looks like she's been murdered. As Fergus tries to make sense of the mad world around him - his brother on hunger-strike in prison, his growing feelings for Cora, his parents arguing over the Troubles, and him in it up to the neck, blackmailed into acting as courier to God knows what, a little voice comes to him in his dreams, and the mystery of the bog child unfurls."
"Bog Child is an astonishing novel exploring the sacrifices made in the name of peace, and the unflinching strength of the human spirit."
And for War Children:
"Six stories -- one set in Dublin, the others in the countryside -- about children who get caught up in the War of Independence and suffer dire consequences."
"These stories bring to life one of the most dramatic periods in Irish history."
They're sobering books, but well worth reading. I highly recommend them!
3 comments:
Hello Doborah Hodge,I am a student at a school doing a research projet on non-fiction authors, we're cuurrently researching facts on you, like birthdate and family members, but i can't find nothing! Well not exactly nothing but I really need your help. I know you are born in 1954 because I checked your website but plese send me some information if you can.
Hello Deborah, again. I'm still trying to find facts but i still can't find anything, if you have any information please inform me, I'll be checking daily for new information, bye!
PLease send me some information, please Deborah, from now on I'll comment as amnah.
sincerely, amnah
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