Book Reviews
Mitchelstown’s Amy O’Brien is a 16 year old self confessed ‘activist and advocate’, passionate about equity and justice, with a love for reading and baking too.
Amy continues with her book review for readers of TheAvondhu. To access these books for free, visit your local library online or in person. This week’s book is:
The New Girl (by Sinead Moriarty)
The New Girl is Sinead Moriarty’s first ever venture into children’s books or writing for young readers, having written 15 books for adults and what an inspiring, humane and relevant novel start this is!
The novel’s dedication quote reads, ‘For my beautiful friend Sarra al Hariri and for all refugees who have had to flee their homes in search of safety.’
Just a little but perfect introduction to the story.
We meet Ruby first who is in 5th class, primary school and is friends with Denise and Clara who are each other’s best friends. At home, her whole life has been turned upside down since her brother was born. She lives with her parents, older sister Orla and Robbie who has learning disabilities. Money is growing short because due to paying for his speech and language therapy, her Dad is working much longer hours as a taxi driver and Ruby is scared he’ll fall asleep at the wheel, while her Mam is always tired and doesn’t have time to care for the two girls anymore.
When Safa, who is a refugee from Syria joins her class… some girls at school have told her to be careful because she might steal her stuff and lots of other lies. But very quickly, Safa tells Ruby about her experiences, why education is important to her, that her school at home was bombed and that her Baba or Dad is still at the refugee camp. She misses him and feels tired from having to act as an adult as well as a kid, translating for her mother wherever they go.
Their lives may seem very different, but their hearts are not. Two caring, empathetic and driven girls set out to help the other and become beautiful friends.
This is a heart warming story that will have you constantly turning the page but more than that, it teaches us about the power of listening to other perspectives and that no one is too small to create change!