A review by serendipitysbooks
The Raptures by Jan Carson

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 The Rapture is the set in a fictional Northern Ireland village called Ballylack in 1993. Hannah is eleven years old when one by one her classmates become sick and die. After their death they each make one visit to Hannah, sharing details of their life on the other side. Hannah’s voice is a delight - a perfect blend of perceptive and naïveté. The author also manages to create an in-depth picture of the the village and its varied inhabitants. I really felt as if I knew them all. The mystery of what is causing the illness wasn’t that hard to figure out, but I don’t think that is really the point. Once Hannah herself became sick the tension really ramped up as family members argued over how she should be treated and the reader wonder whether she would survive. A thoroughly readable story with interesting insights into mass trauma, and survival. It’s an interesting lens through which to consider the legacy of The Troubles.
 
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