A masterly piece of storytelling

Not for the faint-hearted, opening with a sickening scene of incest forcing a 16-year-old boy to leave home and gathering momentum with gritty, though never gratuitous, scenes of painful childbirth, pigeon neck-ringing and exploding pheasants. But it works

Exceptional and so heartbreakingly real

Paulsen's coming-of-age memoir is nearly Steinbeckian in its unadorned but effective prose, and the events of the author's young life have a universality that will draw in readers heading for their own rites of passage

Is a challenging story of friendship set against difficult and topical subject matter

This is a brave and successful attempt to help readers understand a complex, topical situation in our real world

Thought-provoking book with sensitivity, wit and warmth . . . Its admirable message comes wrapped in a fast-paced and exciting adventure story populated with well-rounded characters

'Thought-provoking ... strong second novel'

'A poignant, delicately composed novel that doesn't stint on the wreckage of violence.'

McKeon ... is a writer to watch. He conveys how people who cause harm can sometimes be victims, in their own way, and that takes skill. If you enjoy Colum Mcann's work, this novel is for you.'

'... beautifully written, placed in those grey shadows between right and wrong and profound, terrible loss.'

A beautifully crafted story about the legacy of trauma

A supreme storyteller