Blog by: Úna Nic Cárthaigh
In this YA novel, we meet Éanna Ó Corra or ‘Éanna Corr’ as his fellow students in secondary school call him. Éanna is a loner, a person on the edge who doesn’t have many friends until a new student arrives – Síomón Collina. Síomón is the polar opposite of Éanna – he is confident and self-assured. When he shows an interest in Éanna and wants to be his friend, Éanna’s life changes. But all is not as it seems and Síomón isn’t completely genuine in his friendship with Éanna – he wants to recruit Éanna for a group of which he is a member ‘An Teampall Nua’. Síomón’s parents Val and Anna are also members of this group and when they show interest in Éanna, an interest which he has been starved of in his own family, Éanna is tempted to join the cult. While Éanna’s parents aren’t there for him, his sister Brídín who is a journalist, shows up to try and protect her brother. But can she save him in time?
This is a powerful and moving story that would appeal not only to teenagers, but to adults as well. It shows how vulnerable those on the edge of society are, and what can happen to those who don’t experience love or friendship. It also shows the influence of stronger, more confident people on these characters. When Síomón stands up for Éanna, Éanna is so overcome with gratitude that he feels almost like he owes Síomón. Antain Mac Lochlainn powerfully and realistically portrays emotional manipulation as he shows the love and attention that Síomón, Val and Anna shower on Éanna at the start of the story, and how this gradually sours into pressure and threats.
There is a tension throughout the book as Síomón and his parents are on their recruitment mission. The characters are well drawn and as the story is told from the varying viewpoints of Éanna, Síomón and Brídín, readers get to see the story from different perspectives therefore gaining a better understanding of Éanna’s vulnerability, Síomón’s cleverness and motivations, and Brídín’s desperate concern for her brother.
This story is especially relevant in the current day and it is sure to connect with readers as it addresses themes including friendship and bullying, family conflict, emotional manipulation and vulnerability. A real page-turner.
