Fourteen-year-old Georgie hasn’t spoken in years. Withdrawn, isolated and full of rage, no one trusts him and no one gets close to him.
But then he is moved to a new home in the Welsh countryside. Instead of an empty room with a bare mattress on the floor, he has a proper bed, a music system, a mirror. There even seems to be someone here who might want to be his friend.
Is this the place where Georgie can finally overcome his fears and start to unlock the secrets of his past?
A raw, gritty, yet hopeful and uplifting story about mental health and the power of care and kindness.
About the Author :
Malachy Doyle has written over 120 books, from picture books to teenage novels. His books have won the Nestle Smarties Prize, the Tir na n-Og Award and the English Association Award. Malachy spent twenty-five years in Wales, before returning to Ireland, where he lives on a tiny island with his wife Liz and collie dog Treacle.
Review :
Georgie by Malachy Doyle is the story of a ‘nasty, horrible boy’ in a home, whose hate and fear are laid to rest by imaginative understanding. It’s headlong and compelling, and I read it between breath and breath: Kevin Crossley-Holland, Guardian Books of the Year
'Doyle's subtle and perceptive portrait of Georgie's persecutory inner world is told in a daringly understated way' Books for Keeps Editor's Choice
‘…the character of Georgie and the narrative voice are compelling, and I flew through it…’ – Claire Fayers
Doyle hits the heartstrings hard with Georgie’s tortured narration and with the unearthing of his repressed memory about his past, and the traditional appeals of the rescue fantasy will make this compelling reading for many: Bulletin for the Centre for Children’s Books (US)
This enthralling powerhouse of a novel takes you to hell and back as Georgie struggles to face up to the secret of his past: Daily Telegraph
Breaks new ground in portraying the interior world of a deeply disturbed boy. It is powerfully written: Dinah Hall, Sunday Telegraph
‘tackles a difficult subject very well' The Observer
'It's powerfully told and strong' The Observer
‘It contains strong language and provocative imagery and would be an engaging read for the most advanced young reader' Ireland on Sunday
'a remarkable and outrageous debut’
'astonishing novel' The Irish Times
"It's headlong and compelling, and I read it between breath and breath." Kevin Crossley- Holland The Guardian
'A stunning cover and a powerful story' Irish Post
'A beautiful and moving account of a therapeutic process, painful, yet full of hope.' Children's Book news
‘the novel brilliantly takes readers inside a damaged psyche. This book is exceptionally well crafted, from its gripping opening to its hopeful conclusion.' School Library Journal (US)
'Georgie is an emotional, gripping read dealing with child mental health. An excellent book.' Jenny Wilson, age 14, Feedback Magazine (Plymouth Young people's review)
