Product Description

In 1950s Ireland, Sixteen year old Stella's innocent childhood is shattered when charismatic Charlie comes into her life. Where Stella's family struggle to make ends meet, Charlie can have anything he wants, and that includes Stella, who is rapidly falling for him. Then Stella discovers she is pregnant. Suddenly Charlie is gone, and Stella is left with only the bracelet he gave her. Stella's devoutly religious mother, horrifed by the scandal, sends her errant daughter to a Magdalene Laundry convent, miles from home, where in return for daily and rigorous and endless chores, Stella will be able to have her baby in secret. The convent is bleak and austere, the nuns themselves cruel and lacking compassion. When Stella's baby girl is born, it will be taken from her for adoption, the only answer is to run away with her child. But Stella didn't expect the struggle and pain of being a single mother - with her family turning against her, who can she rely on for help. Out of the blue, comes support and love from an unexpected quarter, to finally make Stella's story a happy one. (20020701)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #517733 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

The Daily Express
'This warm and enchanting story of cousins growing up in Ireland during the war is going to become a classic.'

Review
'This warm and enchanting story of cousins growing up in Ireland during the war is going to become a classic.' (The Daily Express 20050307)

'One of the most powerful books I have read in a long time . . . This is a magnificent portrayal of a very real part of Ireland's history.' (The Bookseller 20050307)

Daisy Chain War: 'A wonderful book about growing up ... beautifully written in prose that is warm as a sunset on a hot summer's day.' (The Guardian )

This is an impotant, believably written account of a sad chapter from recent history. It shows how the fictional narrative can do far better than media presentations in portraying the ugly reality of the social and sexual attitudes of the recent past. (The Bookseller )

With Fallen Star Joan O'Neill brings all her trademark humour, warmth and insight to a subject close to her heart. (youngscot.org )

This is a poignant novel for confident, older readers, but one which is ultimately uplifting. (Norwich Evening News )

'... vividly described, and well-rounded characters keep the reader's interest until the last page.'

About the Author
Joan O'Neill is a well-established, best-selling author of adult fiction both in Ireland and the UK. Originally published over in Ireland, the Daisy Chain trilogy has been in print since 1990 and the reissues have proved to have enduring appeal to readers of 10 and above. Joan has three grown up daughters and lives with her husband in idyllic County Wicklow in Ireland. In between writing she is a keen water-colourist and travels frequently to Italy to gain inspiration and paint. Fallen Star is Joan's fifth young adult novel and its subject is one very close to her heart, as an ex-convent girl in Ireland. (20050201)

Customer Reviews

Thought-provoking theme for teenage girls
We are a school reading group of girlds aged 13-15. One of us recommended the book amd all of us, including our teacher (who will not give her age) enjoyed it. It took you back in time to 1959, with well-researched references to the music of the period and other historical markers. It gave a vivid flavour of life in Ireland at that time and of the scoial disapproval vented on school-age girls who became pregnant outside of marriage. It was interesting to read about the Magdalene Laundries, because some of us hadn't known about them. It acted as a warning about the perils of pregnancy; even though we are supposed to live in a more liberal age attitudes towards single mothers are often intolerant. We also felt that the boy involved was regarded with some sympathy, since he desperately wanted to be free of ties. But this did raise the issue of different expectations and treatment of the sexes in such a case. One of us felt that the ending was a little too good to be true and that Joan O'Neil had not described in sufficient detail the hard work and sleepless nights in looking after a baby. On the whole, though, we found this book a real page-turner and relevant to the lives of teenage girls today.