“Writing in a child’s voice is risky, but Lisa O’Donnell pulls it off in her second novel. . . . Ms. O’Donnell avoids triteness in this story of lost innocence, favoring candor and dark humor in the aftermath of violence.” — New York Times
“There’s loss of innocence here, but the overwhelming tone is warm and sparky; O’Donnell shows how a shattered family can remake itself, and Michael’s narrative voice is delightful—observant, thoughtful, comical, and thoroughly believable.” — Sunday Times (London)
“An engaging page-turner that effectively explores the trials and tribulations of childhood with warmth and humor.” — Booklist (starred review)
“[O’Donnell] has fashioned yet another humane and compulsive read, grounded in a realism which, depicted through a child’s eyes—with that hint of a child’s surreal perception—gathers together violence, humor, and love in a most believable way.” — Scotland on Sunday
“A skillfully told story of a boy’s struggle to come to terms with family secrets and their potentially terrible consequences. A sharp, witty, and heartbreaking second novel from a dynamic new talent.” — Kitty Aldridge, author of A Trick I Learned from Dead Men
“Sweet and sad, this is a coming-of-age story with dark secrets—and love—at its heart.” — Karen Campbell, author of This Is Where I Am
“Closed Doors demonstrates just as much skill, empathy and insight as its predecessor….Closed Doors is all about the voice—Michael’s 11-year-old world is entirely convincing….a hugely accomplished and engaging piece of storytelling.” — Big Issue
“A dazzling new novel. . . . A moving story that stakes a lasting, and disturbing, emotional claim on O’Donnell’s readers.” — The New York Times Book Review