genre: contemporary young adult fiction
Iona and Aiden, two teens living in Derry, know exactly where the lines are drawn - even though the Troubles are technically over. Aiden knows that he belongs with all the other Catholics in Bogside and Iona, she's in a family that's rooted in Protestant policing and religion. With their family histories and the current state of politics, there is no way that these two people should become friends. Except, after one tragic night, they can't help but being in each other's orbit. And by then - it's too late to forget.
I really liked this story of modern Northern Ireland - the way that the children of those who endured The Troubles have had their own lives upended by the history and politics of their country. Both characters have very realistic challenges - although Aiden's story felt a bit more expansive - and I appreciated how well this book illustrated how limited your choices can be when you're living in a post-war environment, surrounded by the fall-out. Some of it was sadly upsetting, thinking about how these kids have all kinds of ideology and hatred shoved at them how through no fault of their own, they have to work so much harder than anyone else to NOT see the world through hate-tinted glasses.
It's definitely a romantic Romeo and Juliet type story but with a firm grounding in reality - sometimes it really is this hard to have a relationship with someone who doesn't come from the same side of a conflict that your family does. I'm glad I read this powerful story.
PS Shoutout to the awesome staff at The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus, UK! I had a lovely explore in their shop and this book was recommended to me, I even got a signed copy!!
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