Author Origin: born in Dublin, Ireland. Currently lives in London, Ontario.
Page Count:291
Genre: Fiction
Difficulty: Easy
Grade Level: 9-10
Key Talking Points: doing what you believe vs. doing what is morally or socially right, questioning of religion, the rights of a child vs. the prerogative of a parent
Sensitive Subject Matter: death, famine, questioning religion.
Summary: An English Nurse of the highest order is called into the Irish countryside to act as an unbiased observer to a "miracle" taking place. She holds her reputation and professionalism in the highest regard, being completely convinced she will be able to catch out the child and her family as perpetrating a hoax for personal fame and gain. However, as the nurse begins her incredulous watch, she struggles to find any evidence the disproves that the child is anything but a saint in the making. That is, until the child starts to die.
The premise of this one was very interesting, right off the bat. It felt new and fresh, and I really appreciate that after having read so much over the years. The narrative voice of Lib, our English Nurse, is strong and clear, although the first half of the novel showed little character growth on her part as she stuck stubbornly to her beliefs. This, at some points, felt a little stiff and repetitive. Once she started to change, however, as a reader I felt much more connected to her uncertainty and self-questioning. A lot of her doubt surrounds the Roman Catholic doctrines that the Irish subscribe to, as she is not religious herself, and science and religion clash magnificently, over and over again. Then Lib finds herself needing to use those same holy texts in an attempt to persuade the child to save herself, making her wonder if there is something she can believe in them. As someone who isn't religious myself, I found this a pretty cool bit of logic.
There is also a big city smarts vs country ignorance motif, and this ends up being a little too cliched at times, but is necessary for the development of the main plot. Many of the country characters along the periphery have moments of interesting development that helps to flesh out the world, but these moments are brief and I wish I knew a little bit more about them. The relationship between Lib and her charge is, thankfully, fully developed, and is the most interesting of all- driving the whole heart of the story.
Teacher Note: This novel would work perfectly for a course with themes about identity, as Lib struggles with all the different sides of herself and the job she is tasked with. Students could investigate how the people we come into contact with and the experiences we have shape who we become as individuals and challenge our long-held beliefs. The novel also lends itself well to a feminist critique, but the reading level is a little too easy for a senior level course.
Final Thought: This is a perfect book to start your summer on: it is an easy read that has enough intrigue to keep the pages turning while also asking challenging questions to stimulate your sun-drenched mind.
📚 Ms. CAN Lit
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