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skirteen's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
isadorareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
5.0
Some stories leaves and indelible mark on you. This is one such story. Set in Dublin, it tells the tale of two brothers, Joe (17) and Finn (12). The story alternates from Finn to Joe and back again. You know from the opening that Finn is seriously unwell, and facing the end of his short life. Joe perspective is later, when he has to deal with life without his little brother.
This is a heart breaking story, but there is so much humour too, particularly in the parts narrated by Finn. There is also love, so much love. Joe wants to protect his brother from the harsh realities of living on an estate, where their father is involved with the local gang leader. There is the love shared between friends, work colleagues and medical staff. And there is Annie, Joe and Finn’s mother, plunged into every parent’s nightmare, regardless of who you are or where you come from.
The language is brutally honest, the family come from a tough background and their language reflects this. It is full of fantastic turns of phrase that immediately place you in the location. Close your eye and you are watching children play football on a concrete square that was meant to be a garden, or you are inside the pub where Annie serves behind the bar.
What is the definition of a great story? One where you are no longer reading, you are experiencing. Yes, this is heart-breaking. Yes, you too may sob. Yes, you will think about Joe and Finn at random times days, even weeks and months later. It is a story that lodges itself firmly under the skin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, and Grief