Bog Child - by Siobhan Dowd (Paperback)

About the Book

While 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, a little voice comes to him in his dreams, and the mystery of the bog child unfurls.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2008:
"[A] painful and moving read."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, August 2008:
"This compelling read is lyrically written and contains authentic dialogue and challenging and involving moral issues."

Starred Review, Booklist, August 1, 2008:
"A strong story that is rich in language, setting, and theme."

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, July 28, 2008:
"Dowd raises questions about moral choices within a compelling plot that is full of surprises."

About the Author

Siobhan Dowd's novels include A Swift Pure Cry, for which she was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author, The London Eye Mystery, and Bog Child. She passed away in August of 2007 from breast cancer.