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Post by tintin on Dec 30, 2021 15:31:03 GMT 1
"The Troubles" in Northern Ireland are perhaps one of the most difficult subjects an author of fiction can address, still more so a childrens/young persons author, so Pat Smythe is to be commended for her courage.
This book is set in the midst of the IRA campaign of 1956-63. She hardly puts a foot wrong. Her portrayal is balanced, accurate and age appropriate and is actually a pretty good, gentle introduction to the subject. It is also quite obvious that she has a very close knowledge of some of the rather wild areas of Ulster that are on the Republic side of the Border. So much for the setting, what of the story?
This is a rollicking story of family conflict featuring point to point racing. There is certainly a "no children, no!" moment when they are covertly crossing the Border and avoiding Armoured Car Patrols. These vehicles were equipped with high powered Machine Guns so this is at the high end of childish pranks.
I sometimes wonder how much Pat Smythe knew and what her contacts with the Armed Forces were. D'Arcy, an RAF Officer, visits his counterparts in the Irish Air Corps HQ in Dublin. The book subtly hints that this is not unconnected with the issues being solved. D'Arcy is a test pilot of fast jets of which the Irish have never had any. I suspect he had another "informal" role.
It's a good solid book and one of the better written, more believable of the series. As usual the illustrations are great. Handling a sensitive subject sensitively pushes it up to 4 for me
Only one foot put wrong, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph" said no Orangeman ever
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Post by Claire on Jan 5, 2022 14:28:32 GMT 1
Great review. I don't think I have ever read this one in the series (or if I did it was so long ago I've forgotten it) so I think I'll have to dig out my copy and have a read.
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