Bog Child

by Siobhan Dowd
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The extraordinary story of one long summer in the life of an 18-year-old boy caught up in the chaos and conflict of Ireland in the 1980s.

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Synopsis

Digging for peat in the mountain with his Uncle Tally, Fergus finds the body of a child, and it looks like she's been murdered. As Fergus tries to make sense of the mad world around him - his brother on hunger-strike in prison, his growing feelings for Cora, his parents arguing over the Troubles, and him in it up to the neck, blackmailed into acting as courier to God knows what, a little voice comes to him in his dreams, and the mystery of the Bog Child unfurls.Bog Child is an astonishing novel exploring the sacrifices made in the name of peace, and the unflinching strength of the human spirit.

News & Blog

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Jun 26

BOG CHILD Wins Carnegie

by Random House Australia on 26 June 2009

BOG CHILD Wins Carnegie 0 comments

Siobhan Dowd wrote BOG CHILD in 2007, just before her death from cancer. It’s a beautifully written novel, set in Northern Ireland in 1981 at the height of the Troubles, and it tells a story of growing up against a background of sectarian violence. It features a wonderful male character, and is a leading example of quality YA writing that appeals to both teens (girls and boys) and adults.   'Siobhan...

Oct 7

UKLA Children’s Book Awards Longlist

by Random House Australia on 7 October 2010

UKLA Children’s Book Awards Longlist 0 comments

Two Random House authors on UKLA longlist

Editorial Reviews

"One of the joys of this book is its willingness to confront big themes. Within a faced-paced drama that any 14-year-old can enjoy, Bog Child explores political conflict, personal heroism, human frailty, love, and death. As a writer, Dowd appears to be incapable of a jarring phrase or a lazy metaphor. Her sentences sing, each note resonates with an urgent humanity of the sort that cannot be faked. Bog Child sparkles with optimism and a deep passion for living. Love falls from it in particles, like snow." - Meg Rosoff, The Guardian

"Telling two tales of sacrifice for peace, and offering an insight into Irish history, this book is sometimes funny, despite the seriousness of its subject. It is also psycologically and historically convincing, showing the impact of politics on domestic life. The work of an outstanding writer." - The Sunday Times

"A captivating first love affair, a hilarious red herring and profound truths about politics and family add up to a novel set to win awards in the coming year." - Geraldine Brennan, The Observer

"an unflinchingly honest and brave novel...this important, challenging and powerful book will grip any mature teenage or adult reader." - Irish Independent

"Only two months in, and I may have already found my favourite book of the year. Siobhan Dowd's Bog Child is an astonishing read and the kind of book that holds you in a trance." - Becky Stradwick, The Bookseller

"Dowd creates a complex world of death, morality, fear, the longong for a united republic, for freedom." - The Oxford Times

"A harrowing story of choice and obligation, peace and politics." - The Independent

"5 out of 5 stars" - Sunday Express

"A dramatic and poignant tale from a sadly missed talent" - Norwich Evening News

"Bog Child is a beautiful novel offering a unique insight in to Irish history." - The Irish Post

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