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A Swift Pure Cry - Siobhan Dowd


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This young adult novel is one of the best books that I have read this year.

 

Set in Ireland, it follows the story of 16 year old Shell as she comes to terms with her Mam's death, her alcoholic fathers frequent absences and caring for her younger siblings, Trix and Johnny. On top of this she is growing up and trying to battle the teen angst that is so familiar to any 14-17 year old. When her situation changes, she finds herself in the middle of something that is going to change her world and that of all those around her.

 

Siobhan Dowd writes with a true Irish lilt in her text. The accents and the locations flow out of the book, and the language she uses is purely magical. She handles difficult situations well, putting all her narrative into context without being patronising.

 

This has been shortlisted for the 2007 Carnegie Medal, and I will be mightily shocked if it doesn't win.

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