What do You think about Across The Barricades (1973)?
Across the Barricades was one of my favorite books as a child. Re-reading it as an adult has brought on such a wave of emotions. I know that this book effected me. It helped shape me and my beliefs. It encouraged me to look at the situation here in Northern Ireland from the viewpoint of everyone - to not just blindly follow everyone else on my side of the divide. I know this that it was used a lot as set reading in schools across the country over the years and many people resented being forced to read it, but it just captured my imagination and I loved it. It will always feel special to me.
—Nicola
I read this when I was 11 for English class, and decided to give it another go 19 years later after somebody mentioned it recently. It was quite good, and definitely a better read now than it was at 11. My English teacher, was English, and all my classmates were English so whenever a Northern Irish student started in his class he liked to use this as reading material, I think in the vain hope that we could really related to the characters. I couldn't relate, my area was nice and quite and mixed. Still a good read!
—Deborah
I first read this in school but recently re-read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is based in Belfast during the Troubles and tells the story of two kids who are on different sides of the sectarian divide, whose relationship blossoms when it shouldn't. Very much a modern Northern Irish twist on the traditional Romeo and Juliet story, the book is aimed at young adults but can be enjoyed by readers of any age. The characters are well written and the story manages to focus on the story between Kevin, Sadie and their friends and families rather than getting bogged down with the overall situation of the time.
—Sam
