Fionn is a teenager who lives in Belfast and is very passionate about many things in life – her friends, her youth club, human rights – but she lacks confidence when it comes to putting that passion into words and speaking up in front of people. We meet Fionn in school where she is shy in speaking out in class, but she has a brilliant group of friends around her who help build up her confidence. Her best friend Aoibh is a wonderful character who, despite having her own problems at home, encourages and inspires Fionn. As is typical of teenagers, everyone has a nickname that shows their personality, Fionn’s group of close friends are made up of Aoibh #AgentofChaos Ní Chathasaigh, Nóra throdach Ó Muirí, Jomari an Gamer Salazar and ‘Fitzy’ na mbrionglóidí Fitzpatrick.
We also get insight into Fionn’s home life and her mother who doesn’t want her taking part in the language rights movement. There is lots of tension between the two as Fionn feels she can’t express herself to her mother who doesn’t support her passion. Fionn is at her most comfortable with her friends and activist group when they are planning campaigns and efforts to fight for Irish language rights in Belfast. When they are brainstorming how to gather more publicity for their campaign, Fionn thinks of her musical hero Diablo who she asks to speak out in support for the language. But all is not as it seems and she goes through a traumatic event. Will she be able to recover from it? Will she finally find her voice and speak out?
This is the second verse novel for teenagers from Máire Zepf after the hugely successfully Nóinín that was published in 2019. Máire has a unique skill in writing powerful books that handle heavy and dark themes of teenage life, all through beautifully poetic language. She uses an array of poetic techniques including rhyme, alliteration, assonance, metaphor, and she weaves in the lyrics of relevant songs which all add to the reading experience. The story moves along at a good pace while also giving time and space to the important, quieter moments. The story certainly doesn’t avoid the heavier themes of life and sexual assault and self-harm are addressed in a realistic, empathetic and age-appropriate way for teenagers.
The book also uses font to good effect, for example spreading words out through a page to represent confusion, repeated words to mimic a gun shooting bullets as Fionn answers her mother’s quickfire questions, capital letters to emphasize words and lyrics from relevant songs. The book also comes with its own playlist of songs that inspired Máire Zepf as she wrote Dearg. The likes of Kneecap, IMLÉ, Fontaines DC, Bob Marley can be heard on the playlist that is available on Spotify through a QR code at the back of the book. As well as that, the author has included a note on Irish language rights and the Lá Dearg that was held in 2022.
A powerful, important and modern story for teenagers and adults alike, told in a beautifully poetic and clever style.
