A Swift Pure Cry - Siobhan Dowd

Recommended for ages 13-18.

A Swift Pure Cry is not a recent novel, but it still has relevance today because of the big issues it touches. All too frequently adults approach kids unaware of the things they have witnessed and survived. This novel is a fitting reminder of the tough and traumatic situations kids and young adults have to deal with, often on their own.

Set in 20th century Ireland, A Pure Swift Cry explores the life of 15 year old Shell Talent. After having lost her mum a year earlier, Shell now has to deal with a distant and delusional father and the everyday care of her two younger siblings - as well as making her way through the mindfield of spiritual, boyfriend and friendship crises that accompany a girl of 15.

The novel's Irish context means that religion plays a central role in both the lives of the characters and the storyline as a whole. Particularly well-written is Shell's spiritual growth and development as she moves from the world of childhood to adulthood in the space of a year.

Not for the faint-hearted, this novel is a poignant coming of age tale with some heartbreaking lessons about how not to treat your friends and the strength of a girl when tested to the extreme.

Recommended for girls aged 13-18 because its themes are of particular relevance to them.