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A review by katykelly
Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
5.0
Easy A, Sex Education, Election combined - witty and engrossing school/family situation.
Oh I loved reading this. The three films/TV series above seemed to interplay to form the plot. But Aideen is a novelty of a protagonist, with a lot going on.
Caught in her own home-life issues of a borderline-poverty single-parent household, her Mum keeps waiting for her married Dad to give her some love and attention, and returns to drinking when the attention wanes. Aideen is on another border - her homework and attendance at school come second, and her lifelong best friend Holly has changed lately into someone Aideen is struggling to find common ground with.
By chance one day, after seeing the Tracy Flick-like Maebh announce her unopposed candidacy for Class President, she discovers that the head's daughter is actually run ragged with classes, clubs, work and schedules and offers her help... admittedly the off-the-cuff suggestion she push her down the stairs to give her some breathing space isn't well thought-through... but Maebh takes her up on it.
Aideen unwittingly finds herself now seen as someone who can do favours for other students, help them out. She may have her own issues that she refuses to tell others about, but at least she can make other people's lives better... right?
A wonderful cast of new acquaintances and quirky, madcap situations ensues for this pint-sized but spirited hero, as she continues to keep an eye on her Mam at home while handing in ridiculous ("Syphilis?!" notes to get herself out of PE at school.
It morphs into a multi-pronged plot of loyalties, of growing up, of romances, and was a thoroughly enjoyable Irish-set school story I was impressed by. Original with points to make, food banks make an appearance, texts and the real world of real people are the backdrop to a highly entertaining YA story.
Oh I loved reading this. The three films/TV series above seemed to interplay to form the plot. But Aideen is a novelty of a protagonist, with a lot going on.
Caught in her own home-life issues of a borderline-poverty single-parent household, her Mum keeps waiting for her married Dad to give her some love and attention, and returns to drinking when the attention wanes. Aideen is on another border - her homework and attendance at school come second, and her lifelong best friend Holly has changed lately into someone Aideen is struggling to find common ground with.
By chance one day, after seeing the Tracy Flick-like Maebh announce her unopposed candidacy for Class President, she discovers that the head's daughter is actually run ragged with classes, clubs, work and schedules and offers her help... admittedly the off-the-cuff suggestion she push her down the stairs to give her some breathing space isn't well thought-through... but Maebh takes her up on it.
Aideen unwittingly finds herself now seen as someone who can do favours for other students, help them out. She may have her own issues that she refuses to tell others about, but at least she can make other people's lives better... right?
A wonderful cast of new acquaintances and quirky, madcap situations ensues for this pint-sized but spirited hero, as she continues to keep an eye on her Mam at home while handing in ridiculous ("Syphilis?!" notes to get herself out of PE at school.
It morphs into a multi-pronged plot of loyalties, of growing up, of romances, and was a thoroughly enjoyable Irish-set school story I was impressed by. Original with points to make, food banks make an appearance, texts and the real world of real people are the backdrop to a highly entertaining YA story.