Author: Siobhan Dowd
Publisher: Random House Children's Books, 336 pages.
Copyright: 2008
Summary:
Plot: "Bog Child" is a historical novel set in 1981 Northern Ireland during the Hunger Strike at Long Kesh.
Major Characters: Fergus, Uncle Tally, Joe, "Mel"
Major Subjects: Historical Fiction, Ireland, Political Prisoners, Mystery
VOYA Review:
When Fergus McCann finds a 2000-year-old body of a young girl buried in a bog, his life begins to unravel. As Fergus tries to solve the mystery surrounding the body, he gets word that his jailed brother, Joe, has begun a hunger strike protesting the Troubles in Ireland. His family also begins to crumble as his father and mother argue over whether Joe's decision is noble or a pointless path to slow death. Fergus is directly drawn into the Troubles between Ireland and England when he is blackmailed into becoming a smuggler, he believes, for the IRA. Amidst the conflict, Fergus falls for a girl examining the body in the bog. He also struggles to study for exams so he can keep alive his dream of becoming a doctor and the first McCann to attend college. Set during the early 1980s in Ireland, the novel expertly uses the country and its conflicts as a backdrop for this coming-of-age novel. Dowd realistically depicts a character trapped between Irish Republicans and loyalists, between his mother and father, and ultimately between boyhood and adulthood. A few surprises keep the reader moving along as the novel juggles several story lines. The conclusion, however, although interesting seems a bit too tidy and slightly abrupt. Dowd, who died of cancer in 2007, has an ear for dialect and an eye for detail that creates a powerful novel filled with tension, strife, and subtle humor. Reviewer: Jeff Mann
Review:
Fergus McCann, the 18 year old protagonist, and his Uncle Tally, discover the 2000 year old body of a young girl in the bog while stealing peat for fuel. Felicity O'Brian, the archaeologist in charge of the find, arrives with her daughter Cora to examine the body. Dowd slowly reveals to the reader, through clues and Fergus' dreams, the story behind the death of the 2000 year old girl who Fregus names "Mel." This plot is interwoven with the story of Fergus' family who is dealing with the older son, Joe's, decision to become a part of the Hunger Strike at Long Kesh, where he is a political prisoner.
What makes Bog Child an award winning book? It isn’t that you can’t put it down, although that is true, but for me it was knowing that as I read, I was becoming a better person. The genre is historical fiction, and to fully appreciate the story the reader needs to research and understand the very complicated religious, political mess that is Ireland’s history. Fergus is an honest and compelling character who you can't help but root for as he directs his life through the myriad of issues that arise with his family, his country, his blossoming love life, and the girl he's found in the bog. The family is there in this story, its ups and downs, its sound in the dialogue, its personal pain, its laughter and its tears. For me this book had it all: plot, characters, theme and the beauty of words.
As for the details, Dowd's description of Northern Ireland during this tumultuous time is astounding. I truly felt the tension that Fergus felt and was able to get a clearer glimpse into the complicated world of Northern Ireland at the time.
Bog Child is a beautifully written work; the dialect had me repeating lines out loud, trying to imitate their sound. The imagery is vivid. The plot is full of surprises. Many things occur that I had no idea were coming.
Reading Level: Intermediate
Notes about Audience: Recommended for tweens and teens, ages 12 and up.
Other books by Siobhan Dowd:
You might also enjoy:
The Dog in the Wood by Monika Schroder
A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
No comments:
Post a Comment