Bruised by Siobhan Parkinson
Published by Hodder Children’s Books, 2011

Jonathan’s Grandma has died leaving him to take care of his little sister Julie with no help from their alcoholic mother. Their Dad has recently left for a new life with a new partner. When events at home lead to an unbearable existence Jono’s mind is made up. He must run away with his little sister to forge a life for her where she will never again be slapped, undernourished and mistreated. But winter is a bad time to be homeless and Jono has no easy task in ensuring their safety.

Tension mounts throughout the novel. The reader is never sure what to expect next and feels a continuous dread and worry for the pair who must make it on their own.

Despite the sense of foreboding and the harrowing issues that are expertly tackled in this teenage novel, Siobhan Parkinson’s well-rounded characters provide a generous balance of love and even humour.

Bruised will strike a chord with adult and teenage readers alike and will not be forgotten for a long time after reading.

Siobhan Parkinson is Ireland’s first Laureate na nÓg