Bog Child

I wasn't aware of Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd, which was published earlier this year, until I read this article informing me that she had been posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal. I immediately borrowed the book from the library and upon doing so realised that it was the cover of Siobhan Dowd's debut novel, A Swift Pure Cry, that had been tempting me for some time.

This year I have read some very good Young Adult novels, my first for some time, but Bog Child is exceptionally good. In some aspects Dowd's writing reminded me of that of Meg Rosoff and they were actually friends during the last year of Dowd's life, a friendship originating from their mutual experiences of breast cancer and of writing. I was also reminded somewhat of Brian Friel's fabulous play, Translations, in its subject matter.

Fergus McCann, an eighteen year old boy living in a Nationalist community in Northern Island, is digging for turf with his Uncle Tally when he discovers the body of a child, preserved by the bog. Living during the Troubles, as the Hunger Strikes in Long Kesh Prison -also known as HM Prison Maze- of 1981 are taking place, Fergus thinks that the child has been murdered by "the Provos" but things are not as they appear. Mel, the bog child, is actually from the Iron Age and her story parallels that of Fergus throughout the novel; a novel of sacrifice and betrayal.

I am so thankful that I came across Bog Child, that the librarians' award brought it to my attention, because I adored it. It is a clever, perceptive, and beautiful novel; it is also tragic and heartrendingly sad in parts, in both Fergus and Mel's stories. This is not a subtle or mild novel but one that contains some violence and trauma; it is a coming-of-age story set in a country rife with politics. The political setting is intrinsic to the plot and I wondered how difficult the politics would appear to a child, or young adult, as it isn't easy to understand anyway ... or is that in itself the point, that it is nonsensical but that a child may make more sense of it than an adult and see what needs to be done? I also wondered if the subject matter would even be of interest to a younger audience who hadn't lived through the Troubles? From the reviews I have seen from younger people, these doubts aren't of issue, although teachers -the older audience- seem to be the ones who think that they are. I remember reading or being taught literature that was set during the Troubles and my interest was not adversely affected so I am apparently approaching the subject now as an adult.

This is an incredibly good book and I highly recommend it; it makes compelling and quick reading but is thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking.

Some examples of the writing and passages I liked:

The girl in the bog. Somebody murdering her.
He bit his lip. He couldn't get those little hand, the spools on the finger-pads, the coiled metal of the bangle out of his mind. In his head there was a strange explosion, as if his brain had collapsed like a clapped-out star. He threw down his pencil and shut his eyes.

The tarpaulin around the bog child was pinned down. There was an expectant feel to it. The archaeologists were on their way and the girl inside was waiting. He put his hand to the khaki-green side, itching to see what lay within. But the tarpaulin was weighted down and seamless. It was wrong to disturb her.

My life fell apart like two halves of an apple, with Rur's hand that day on my shoulder being the knife.

I held the life of the person I loved most like a frail moth in the palm of my hand. But it was safe there. Safe always.