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amelieeee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Medical content, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, Medical trauma, and Death
Minor: Cursing
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
I have been looking forward to reading this for months after seeing glowing reviews from some of my favourite Irish authors. It did not leave me disappointed. This book invites you into a small rural community in Northern Ireland where children are dying of a sudden and mysterious illness. It might not be something that people want to read during a pandemic and I was a little hesitant at first, but after just a few pages I was utterly captivated.
Hannah is ten years old and part of the class of children who are dying. She lives with her strict religious parents and begins to question everything as this epidemic begins. Jan Carson wonderfully creates Hannah’s young voice and her chapters tore me apart at times as she is burdened with things at such a young age. Her sense of guilt over what is happening is utterly heartbreaking and you would love to rush in and tell her she has done nothing wrong. Though we do get other points of view, Hannah’s was the most powerful for me as she dealt with such challenging and overwhelming thoughts and emotions while going through an horrific ordeal.
Carson explores many things within this book, from religion, to small community relations, to family, and much more. I found this book to be very powerful with many nuances to living in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Carson’s writing evokes so many emotions while reading that you become utterly transfixed and end up reading on the edge of your seat due to the tension. This is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a while.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book. This review is unbiased and honest.
Hannah is ten years old and part of the class of children who are dying. She lives with her strict religious parents and begins to question everything as this epidemic begins. Jan Carson wonderfully creates Hannah’s young voice and her chapters tore me apart at times as she is burdened with things at such a young age. Her sense of guilt over what is happening is utterly heartbreaking and you would love to rush in and tell her she has done nothing wrong. Though we do get other points of view, Hannah’s was the most powerful for me as she dealt with such challenging and overwhelming thoughts and emotions while going through an horrific ordeal.
Carson explores many things within this book, from religion, to small community relations, to family, and much more. I found this book to be very powerful with many nuances to living in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Carson’s writing evokes so many emotions while reading that you become utterly transfixed and end up reading on the edge of your seat due to the tension. This is a brilliant book that will stay with me for a while.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for a copy of this book. This review is unbiased and honest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content
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