Customer Reviews

Bog Child

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One wouldn't think that an Iron Age maiden, an archaeological discovery and Northern Ireland's infamous "Troubles" could be combined into a successful, even riveting, work of fiction. But talented author Siobhan Dowd does just that in BOG CHILD, a captivating novel that intertwines two eras of history in the story of one young man's coming of age.

Eighteen-year-old Fergus McCann is having a rough go of it. His older brother Joe, the "soldier" of the family, is incarcerated as a political prisoner because of his involvement with the Provisional Irish Republican Army. His parents are sick with worry, especially when Joe, inspired by the martyrdom of other high-profile prisoners, begins a hunger strike protest in jail. His younger sisters don't understand why everyone is so worried, or why Joe just can't get better and come home. As for Fergus, he has the dual worries of preparing for his driver's exam and his A levels. If he does well enough on his college prep exams, he'll be able to get into a pre-med program in Scotland --- and escape the violent Troubles in Northern Ireland once and for all.

The year is 1981, and IRA activity is at a peak. Fergus and his family live right on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, so close that he can cross the border into Ireland when he goes for a long run or (as they do at the novel's opening) when he and his uncle go to poach peat to sell for use as heating fuel.

That's when Fergus makes a discovery that will change everything. Peat moss has an uncanny ability to preserve whatever falls into it. So when Fergus finds a young girl's body, he is at first convinced that it's another IRA murder victim dumped in the bog. But when an Irish archaeologist (accompanied by her fetching daughter) confirms that the body instead belongs to a girl from the year AD 80, Fergus's dreams grow haunted by the girl, nicknamed Mel, whose story is so different from --- and yet startlingly similar to --- his own.

Many young American readers will find not only Mel's story but also Fergus's an eye-opening account of history. Dowd does a commendable job of explaining the Troubles to her audience without ever dumbing down the narrative for them. In fact, the writing throughout is lyrical and complex enough to satisfy any reader, whatever their age.

Fergus is a thoughtful, intelligent boy who takes issues of right and wrong seriously. His primary moral crisis --- which culminates in two surprising twists (one humorous, one tragic) --- is not an easy one; nor is the difficult decision that faces the McCann family near the end of the novel and threatens to tear them apart. BOG CHILD handles the big questions --- about personal responsibility, sacrifice, political action, love and borders --- with appropriate gravity, respect and thoughtfulness. And, as Fergus balances counting up the days of Joe's life-threatening hunger strike with his own eagerness to embrace his future, it also manages to sustain suspense from the very first page to the last.

BOG CHILD, which has been short-listed for the Guardian Prize, is the work of an author at the peak of her powers. I read, and loved, Dowd's LONDON EYE MYSTERY last year; with her current book, Dowd shows the true extent of her talent. I was saddened to hear that this promising author died last summer after a long battle with breast cancer. Literature for young people has lost such a gifted writer; those who have been fortunate enough to discover her work can be grateful that, in BOG CHILD and one additional novel to be published next year, her voice lives on.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

"Bog Child," as other readers have mentioned is about 18 year old Fergus McCann living near the Republic of Ireland and North Ireland border in 1981 during The Troubles, an extended period of political violence between (among others) the Provisional IRA and the RUC, British Military in Ulster. While with his uncle one day, he discovers the body of a child in peat bog; as officials look into the body he becomes involved with the investigation through his imagined history of the child and the two Dubliners there to examine the body. "Bog Child" progresses to tell how Fergus is involved in running packages for the PIRA and how he deals with his brother's hunger strike in The Maze, a British prison.

The good: I loved reading this book. I greatly enjoyed "A Swift Pure Cry" and was saddened to hear that Siobhan Dowd had died. This book was a perfect blend of history, politics, romance and imagination. Fergus was a believable and likable character and the descriptions of the country side really added to the story. For Irish history buffs, this book combines just enough of the old stuff and the current problems without becoming a tedious history lesson.

The bad: This wasn't a problem for me, but others might not understand the political setting of the story. For example, one not familiar with The Troubles, the PIRA or Bobby Sands/Gerry Adams/Sinn Fein would be confused for quite a portion of the book. Brush on Ireland's recent history before reading, I'd advise.

Overall, highly recommended. "Bog Child" blended several genres into a powerful and intriguing story. While the story of the actual bog child was interesting, I was struck by the moral dilemma Fergus' family faced at the end regarding the brother in The Maze. (I especially liked the parallels between Fergus and Mel, despite 2000 years). Thought provoking, interesting read.

I'm in my 50's and I enjoyed this book a great deal. Beautiful writing and a good story carry the day for readers of all ages A touching book; Really wonderful.

Talk about a rollercoaster of emotion while I was reading Siobhan Dowd's newest novel for teens! Bog Child had me both loving it at times and really not understanding it (both plot and dialect of characters) as well as being almost bored from it at times...all mixed into one novel. Yep, it was a doozy of a read for me.

In the bogs of Northern Ireland, we meet Fergus, along with his Uncle Tally who happen to be in the bogs illegally and find the body of what appears to be a child. Fergus makes a mental connection to this child, probably a murdered child, and she comes to him in his dreams, almost haunting him. While trying to deal with this girl in his head, whom he's nicknamed "Mel," Fergus is also hurting over his brother in prison, who has decided to join the hunger strikers and starve himself, as well as the "Troubles" his parents are constantly fighting over, and his growing feelings for the daughter of the woman working on the bog child.

In the midst of all the emotion, Fergus is blackmailed into becoming a courier for unknown packages, which deep down he feels are drugs, carrying them along the troubled border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, with the constant fear of being caught, but having no choice but to continue. Though very aware of right and wrong, Fergus knows that this is just another instance of complete "wrong" that has wormed its way into his life, with no sign of leaving anytime soon.

The Irish dialect is, at times, incredibly difficult to understand and though there is a huge dose of history in Bog Child, it's so blatant....too obvious for my liking. Which led to boredom on some pages. And that stinks! I wanted to love it it....

So how do I put a rating on Bog Child? How do I tell you all whether or not to go out and read it? Did I love it? No. Did I like it? Sometimes. Was it exciting? Sometimes. Do I think teens will read it? No. Do I think adults will enjoy it? Probably.

Dowd writes heavy, intense, books and that's really all there is to it. So if you're willing to wade through the heaviness, not to mention the language and dialects of the Irish she has written about, then I really think you'll enjoy her books. I, unfortunately, don't think I'm that reader. Especially when I'm reading with the hopes that I've found a great book to recommend to my teens at the library...this is not that book. Adults will get the recommending of Bog Child to them, teens, probably not.

It's very difficult for me to just not "get" a novel, when I've read plenty of other blogger's rave reviews, not to mention reviews in School Library Journal and Kirkus....all loving this one. So take my review as you will. I...me...Amanda...didn't enjoy it. That doesn't mean you won't!

Bog Child is a very well-written book. It wasn't one I had to consume in one sitting, but I didn't set it aside for something more exciting either. Not knowing much about the history of Ireland, except in the vaguest of ways, I thought this book brought a lot issues to light without making them too heavy.

Set on the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the story follows a few months in the life of Fergus, an 18-year-old boy. Fergus and his uncle discover the well-preserved body of a girl in the peat bog, which brings a love interest to Fergus in the form of Cory, an archaeologist's daughter. Fergus' brother is also in prison and on hunger strike, and Fergus himself is being blackmailed by his brother's friend into smuggling illegals across the border of the two countries.

As I mentioned, I'm not familiar with what I've now learned are called "The Troubles." Although I knew Northern Ireland has been, recently, embroiled with strife, it was difficult to read in about car-bombings and prison hunger strikes and keep in mind that the story also takes place in a first-world country in the '80s. Every now and then Fergus would bring up more-recent bands, and I would have to shake myself to put the story back in its correct time period (my mind kept wanting to place it in the '60s).

I can't say exactly what I like about the story. There's not much in the way of suspense, mystery, or even climax. But the simpleness of the story works for it, and of course, being well-written is always a positive. I might have been partial to the story just because I like the UK so very much and got a kick out of seeing my favorite words, like "minging" and "suss," which I had assumed were more-recently made-up words.

All in all, this is worth a read if you're interested in The Troubles and want to get a glimpse into the situation without becoming completely overwhelmed and depressed. The book never gets too heavy, just as it never treats the situation too light-handedly. Bog Child also gets into the history of Ireland just a bit, and the story lines of friendship, love (or maybe it's just lust), and growing up in general, fit well within the greater context.

A body is found preserved in a peat bog in Ireland in 1981. The story centers on solving the mystery of who the bog child is. The action bounces back and forth between the year 80AD and 1981 a time of great political upheaval in Ireland. I usually hate books with time shifts at every chapter but the prose are so beautiful and the plot and characters so interesting I was enchanted. I enjoyed the book so much I sought out other works by Siobahn Dowd. I found and read A Swift Pure Cry which was wonderful as well. I also learned that the author has passed from breast cancer. Very sad that we will see no more works from her but these two books are a treasure.

Upon reading this book, you wouldn't necessarily know that it was written as juvenile fiction. Based on the historical truth of ancient bodies discovered in bogs, it blends, Irish culture and history, archaeology, and the politics of Northern Ireland.

The characters are likeable, to story enjoyable, and the book an overall good read, especially on a cold and rainy day with a warm cup of tea to keep you company.

Bog Child is a tapestry of a coming-of-age tale. Set in Northern Ireland in the 1980s, it follows Fergus, a young man just finishing his schooling and hoping his grades will position him for university, after which he'd like to be a doctor. When he and his uncle go out to steal peat to sell, Fergus discovers the body of a child in the bog, and dreams of this relic's life begin to haunt him. His days are haunted with matters both trivial and important--will he make it through his exams? How will he do on his driver's test? Should he cooperate with the Irish Republican Army? Can he be friends with a solider who might shoot his friends and family to keep order? Will Cora, the daughter of the archaeologist investigating the bog child, ever notice him? Will his older brother die from his hunger strike, and will Fergus's family survive the loss intact?

Readers without much knowledge of the conflict that is the backdrop for Bog Child might find the first third of the book is easier if they take a few minutes to review the history, and still others might struggle with unfamiliar terms and idioms; U.S. readers have few opportunities to hear such a voice among what's being published commercially. Still, the book is a satisfying read as the plot threads come together to form a wistful picture of growing up in modern-era wartime.

To be honest, this book was so much better than I was initially expecting it to be. I guess that I shouldn't be surprised considering that it won so many awards, including the esteemed Carnegie Medal. Not to be redundant, but I have to reiterate how amazing this book was. Unfortunately for readers everywhere Dowd has passed away and the book has been published posthumously.

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. 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.

Having been to Ireland a few times myself, I believe that Dowd's account of the area is accurate in its culture and people. Also, it's refreshing to see a story told about this time period and area. I believe that readers need more historical fiction, especially regarding events throughout our history that have largely gone untold. The IRA and the fight for freedom from the British government, which is still an issue to this day, is something we rarely get a glimpse into.

I recommend this to all readers 15+.

-Lindsey Miller, [...]

I was given a list of novels to choose from to read for an English assignment.....the trick was no two people could read the same book and my top choices were already chosen, so I went for "bog child" without much hope for it; suprise suprise I loved it! Siobhan Dowd did a wonderful job writing this story that takes many unexpected twists and turns, her writing provoked emotions ranging from joy to anger to a sorrowful feeling. I have to admit this book brought some tears and made me really think and ponder the message the author was trying to get across. I would recommend to anyone if you are intrested in a book that has some historical facts but is also in the supernatural or you just need something to pick up for a light read.