First published 2003
Lucy Gault wanders the glens and woods surrounding Lahardane in the summer of 1921. At eight years old, she cannot understand why her family must abandon their beloved house. Ireland has turned hostile to families like the Gaults, and danger lurks everywhere they once felt safe. Her parents prepare to leave, but Lucy refuses to accept their decision. She believes she can change their minds and force them to stay. Her stubborn determination leads her down a path she thinks will solve everything. Instead, her choice brings catastrophe to everyone she loves. This is a story about a child's fierce attachment to home and the terrible price of her desperate plan to keep it.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: child-protagonist, family-drama, home-and-belonging
Setting: Lahardane, Ireland
Period: 1921
240 pages · Paperback · PenguinBooks