Reissued in Penguin's ORIGINALS series of iconic teen fiction.
After Shell's mother dies, her obsessively religious father descends into alcoholic mourning and Shell is left to care for her younger brother and sister. Her only release from the harshness of everyday life comes from her budding spiritual friendship with a naive young priest, and most importantly, her developing relationship with childhood friend, Declan, charming, eloquent and persuasive. But when Declan suddenly leaves Ireland to seek his fortune in America, Shell finds herself pregnant and the centre of a scandal that rocks the small community in which she lives, with repercussions across the whole country. The lives of those immediately around her will never be the same again.
This book is part of a book series called The Originals .
There are 352 pages in this book. This book was published 2018 by Penguin Books Ltd .
Siobhan Dowd lived in Oxford with her husband, Geoff, before tragically dying from cancer in August 2007, aged 47. She was both an extraordinary writer and an extraordinary person.
Branford Boase Award
Coming Of Age in fiction
Pregnancy in fiction
Dating And Relationships in fiction
This book is in the following series:
The Originals
Penguins Originals series brings together iconic YA books from Penguin Publishing. Provocative, iconic and outspoken, these are the stories that have been influencing and inspiring generations for decades, and are considered the pioneers of YA. From political awakening, war and unrequited love to addiction, teenage pregnancy and nuclear holocaust, The Originals confront big issues and articulate difficult truths.
This book has been nominated for the following awards:
Branford Boase Award
This book was recognised by the Branford Boase Award. The Branford Boase Award is awarded annually for an outstanding first novel to a first-time writer of a book for young people. At the same time, it marks the important contribution of the editor in identifying and nurturing new talent.
Carnegie Medal
This book was recognised by the Carnegie Award. The CILIP Carnegie Medal is awarded by childrens librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people.
