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Bog Child |  | Author: Siobhan Dowd
Publisher: David Fickling Books
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $4.80
as of 11/22/2009 16:20 CST details
You Save: $12.19 (72%)
New (32) Used (19) from $4.68
Seller: in_love_with_books
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 23089
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.3
ISBN: 0385751699
EAN: 9780385751698
ASIN: 0385751699
Publication Date: September 9, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
DIGGING FOR PEAT in the mountain with his Uncle Tally, Fergus finds the body of a child, and it looks like she’s been murdered. As Fergus tries to make sense of the mad world around him—his brother on hunger-strike in prison, his growing feelings for Cora, his parents arguing over the Troubles, and him in it up to the neck, blackmailed into acting as courier to God knows what—a little voice comes to him in his dreams, and the mystery of the bog child unfurls.
Bog Child is an astonishing novel exploring the sacrifices made in the name of peace, and the unflinching strength of the human spirit.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 Even better than I thought it was going to be September 9, 2009
Lindsey Miller (Brooklyn, NY)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
To be honest, this book was so much better than I was initially expecting it to be. I guess that I shouldn't be surprised considering that it won so many awards, including the esteemed Carnegie Medal. Not to be redundant, but I have to reiterate how amazing this book was. Unfortunately for readers everywhere Dowd has passed away and the book has been published posthumously.
As for the details, Dowd's description of Northern Ireland during this tumultuous time is astounding. I truly felt the tension that Fergus felt and was able to get a clearer glimpse into the complicated world of Northern Ireland at the time. Fergus is an honest and compelling character who you can't help but root for as he directs his life through the myriad of issues that arise with his family, his country, his blossoming love life, and the girl he's found in the bog.
Having been to Ireland a few times myself, I believe that Dowd's account of the area is accurate in its culture and people. Also, it's refreshing to see a story told about this time period and area. I believe that readers need more historical fiction, especially regarding events throughout our history that have largely gone untold. The IRA and the fight for freedom from the British government, which is still an issue to this day, is something we rarely get a glimpse into.
I recommend this to all readers 15+.
-Lindsey Miller, [...]
 Unfortunate Death of the Author August 28, 2009
Kara Lang Guminski (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I enjoyed this book, but could sense that it wasn't quite right. Then, I found out that this book was in editing when the author died of cancer. It was published posthumously from her last draft. I wish we knew what was in the author's mind for this book. Otherwise, the story was heartbreaking and engaging.
Bog Child: A Wonderful Political, Emotional and Historical Tale June 29, 2009
Moniker (Takoma Park, MD United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Bog Child," as other readers have mentioned is about 18 year old Fergus McCann living near the Republic of Ireland and North Ireland border in 1981 during The Troubles, an extended period of political violence between (among others) the Provisional IRA and the RUC, British Military in Ulster. While with his uncle one day, he discovers the body of a child in peat bog; as officials look into the body he becomes involved with the investigation through his imagined history of the child and the two Dubliners there to examine the body. "Bog Child" progresses to tell how Fergus is involved in running packages for the PIRA and how he deals with his brother's hunger strike in The Maze, a British prison.
The good: I loved reading this book. I greatly enjoyed "A Swift Pure Cry" and was saddened to hear that Siobhan Dowd had died. This book was a perfect blend of history, politics, romance and imagination. Fergus was a believable and likable character and the descriptions of the country side really added to the story. For Irish history buffs, this book combines just enough of the old stuff and the current problems without becoming a tedious history lesson.
The bad: This wasn't a problem for me, but others might not understand the political setting of the story. For example, one not familiar with The Troubles, the PIRA or Bobby Sands/Gerry Adams/Sinn Fein would be confused for quite a portion of the book. Brush on Ireland's recent history before reading, I'd advise.
Overall, highly recommended. "Bog Child" blended several genres into a powerful and intriguing story. While the story of the actual bog child was interesting, I was struck by the moral dilemma Fergus' family faced at the end regarding the brother in The Maze. (I especially liked the parallels between Fergus and Mel, despite 2000 years). Thought provoking, interesting read.
Enchanting Storytelling April 13, 2009
Earthling (Fl, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A body is found preserved in a peat bog in Ireland in 1981. The story centers on solving the mystery of who the bog child is. The action bounces back and forth between the year 80AD and 1981 a time of great political upheaval in Ireland. I usually hate books with time shifts at every chapter but the prose are so beautiful and the plot and characters so interesting I was enchanted. I enjoyed the book so much I sought out other works by Siobahn Dowd. I found and read A Swift Pure Cry which was wonderful as well. I also learned that the author has passed from breast cancer. Very sad that we will see no more works from her but these two books are a treasure.
Growing Up On the Border March 30, 2009
Hallie Tibbetts
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Bog Child is a tapestry of a coming-of-age tale. Set in Northern Ireland in the 1980s, it follows Fergus, a young man just finishing his schooling and hoping his grades will position him for university, after which he'd like to be a doctor. When he and his uncle go out to steal peat to sell, Fergus discovers the body of a child in the bog, and dreams of this relic's life begin to haunt him. His days are haunted with matters both trivial and important--will he make it through his exams? How will he do on his driver's test? Should he cooperate with the Irish Republican Army? Can he be friends with a solider who might shoot his friends and family to keep order? Will Cora, the daughter of the archaeologist investigating the bog child, ever notice him? Will his older brother die from his hunger strike, and will Fergus's family survive the loss intact?
Readers without much knowledge of the conflict that is the backdrop for Bog Child might find the first third of the book is easier if they take a few minutes to review the history, and still others might struggle with unfamiliar terms and idioms; U.S. readers have few opportunities to hear such a voice among what's being published commercially. Still, the book is a satisfying read as the plot threads come together to form a wistful picture of growing up in modern-era wartime.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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