14 year-old Jonny has enough to contend with at home, growing up on the Shankill in Belfast, trying to avoid his drunken father and take care of his struggling, penniless mother. This ordinary, football-loving young man has it tough.
When he gets caught up in the IRA's Shankill bomb in 1993, however, his life changes forever. His chance to play football for the county is pulled from beneath him. He inadvertently gets embroiled in a world of violence, bombing, guns, murders and the police. A chip pan fire kills his father and Jonny's life constantly teeters on the edge of danger.
But there is also plenty of light relief in Jonny's life, too. He is a funny, smart and hard-working character whose heart is in the right place. His relationship with Karen shows another side to his warm personality, his sneaky antics with the notorious Orange Lil round the back of the bar are hilarious. And when a large bundle of money comes his way, following the untimely death of its owner, he has a spending spree like no other.
This rollercoaster of a read is packed with twists and turns, Irish politics, working-class life, unexpected events and demonstrates just how easy it is for an ordinary boy to get involved with the ruthless, gangland mentality of Northern Ireland.
When he gets caught up in the IRA's Shankill bomb in 1993, however, his life changes forever. His chance to play football for the county is pulled from beneath him. He inadvertently gets embroiled in a world of violence, bombing, guns, murders and the police. A chip pan fire kills his father and Jonny's life constantly teeters on the edge of danger.
But there is also plenty of light relief in Jonny's life, too. He is a funny, smart and hard-working character whose heart is in the right place. His relationship with Karen shows another side to his warm personality, his sneaky antics with the notorious Orange Lil round the back of the bar are hilarious. And when a large bundle of money comes his way, following the untimely death of its owner, he has a spending spree like no other.
This rollercoaster of a read is packed with twists and turns, Irish politics, working-class life, unexpected events and demonstrates just how easy it is for an ordinary boy to get involved with the ruthless, gangland mentality of Northern Ireland.
