Ireland


45
Flegg, Aubrey
The cinnamon tree : a novel set in Africa
Dublin : O'Brien, 2000. – 208pp
ISBN 0-86278-657-6
Landmine - Arms trade - Child soldier - Friendship
The strong smell of cinnamon is the last thing Yola Abonda can remember. When she wakes up, she is in hospital. One of her legs is missing – it was blown off by a landmine. Aubrey Flegg succeeds in grounding the well-wrought and engaging story of a young girl in his extensive knowledge of African culture, compellingly raising the intricate issues of landmines, arms trade and child soldiers. His development of characters, particularly of Yola, is of great skill and psychological insight. An author's note provides additional facts about the political background of the novel as well as internet-addresses of humanitarian organisations. (12+) <>


46
Wood, John
Finnegan's wind
Dublin : Wolfhound Press, 2000. – 140pp
ISBN 0-86327-831-0
Change - Growing-up - Pig - Travellers
Callum's family are travellers, pig-talkers, mouse-callers and tricksters. When their reputation in one village gets too bad, they just pack up their caravan and move on. Young Callum wants to end the family's way of life forever and discovers that change is never as easy as it seems. This is not an easy novel exploring the nature of continuity and change of human existence: familiy traditions, growing up, leaving home, ageing and dying. As strong olifactory sensations mingle with the thoughts and shrill voices of pigs and mice to create a dense text rich in subtle metaphors, Callum listens for his own calling and successfully struggles to find his way. (12+)

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