A Swift Pure Cry
A Swift Pure Cry
A Swift Pure Cry
Siobhan Dowd
Ireland 1984.After Shell's mother dies, her obsessively religious father descends into alcoholic mourning and Shell is left to care for her younger brother and sister. Her only release from the harshness of everyday life comes from her budding spiritual friendship with a naive young priest, and most importantly, her developing relationship with childhood friend, Declan, who is charming, eloquent, and persuasive. But when Declan suddenly leaves Ireland to seek his fortune in America, Shell finds herself pregnant and the center of a scandal that rocks the small community in which she lives, with repercussions across the whole country. The lives of those immediately around her will never be the same again.This is a story of love and loss, religious belief and spirituality—it will move the hearts of any who read it.

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Fiction
  • Juvenile Fiction

Age Level: 

  • 12 and up
Profile Picture

When 15-year-old Shell's mam died, her family was messed up. Her father started to drink whiskey every night, her little siblings are not acting well, and Shell is in on a bad group at school. Then, Father Rose, the new priest, comes and her whole world changes. She can feel her mother's spirit again and truly believes in God! Later, the most horrible thing happens, Shell gets pregnant and the babies father mysteriously went away to America, leaving Ireland and Shell completely behind.

To add your comments, login above or request a LitPick membership.