Solace of the Road

by Siobhan Dowd
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The mesmerising tale of Holly, who flees her foster-home life and, taking on the persona of Solace, finds herself in a road-trip adventure.

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Synopsis

Memories of Mum are the only thing that make Holly Hogan happy. She hates her foster family with their too-nice ways and their false sympathy. And she hates her life, her stupid school and the way everyone is always on at her. Then she finds the wig, and everything changes. Wearing the long, flowing blonde locks she feels transformed. She's not Holly any more, she's Solace: the girl with the slinkster walk and the super-sharp talk. She's older, more confident - the kind of girl who can walk right out of her humdrum life, hitch to Ireland and find her mum. The kind of girl who can face the world head on.So begins a bittersweet, and sometimes hilarious journey as Solace swaggers and Holly tiptoes across England and through memory, discovering her true self, and unlocking the secrets of her past. Holly's story will leave a lasting impression on all who travel with her.

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...

Editorial Reviews

". . . unexpectedly life affirming, wise and mature" - Amanda Craig, The Times

". . . a memorably touching story with a suitably emotional ending" - Julia Eccleshare, Guardian

"For readers more at home with awkward reality than sentimentality, Solace of the Road has a lot to offer. Siobhan Dowd meets every challenge with the authority of a born writer" - Nicholas Tucker, Independent

"Real, touching, at times gritty, but laced with humour throughout it will delight teenage and adult readers alike" - Irish Post

". . . this gritty, realistic novel which deploys Dowd's talent for humour, will appeal to the older teenage reader" - Daily Telegraph

"This page-turner invests mundane experience and every-day language with the resonance of poetry" - Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times

"Solace of the Road has it all really: grit, pathos, humour, sharp observation, and a central character who catches your heart and doesn't let it go. [A] Heartbreaking road trip novel with an unforgettable central character. Moments of intense pathos combine with humour to create a book of tremendous quality. Highly recommended." - thebookbag.co.uk

"An amazing book for those who love a road trip story with gritty drama and great laughs woven in." - Hannah Wood, Stoke on Trent Sentinel Series

"My first thought when I saw this book was how pretty the cover is...I enjoyed this story and I really liked the ending. I'd give this book 4 out of 5 stars." - Another Book Blog Whore

"Dowd's telling of the story is gritty, realistic and unflinching.
Solace of the Road is a novel that is ultimately full of hope... It's the kind of book that, from now on, I'll be pointing anyone who doubts the quality of YA fiction towards. If you're looking for a story with emotional depth and irresistible charm, this one has all that and more. It's just beautiful." - I Was A Teenage Book Geek

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