Local students are the write stuff

A GROUP of Ballymun students have published an innovative novel aimed at making it easy for reluctant teenage readers to pick up a book and enjoy the experience.

The eight second year pupils from Trinity Comprehensive School decided to aim their novel

‘In Pieces’ at young people who prefer their books to be short and snappy.

The students teamed up with author Kevin McDermott as part of the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project to write their book and 1,000 copies featuring an eye-catching cover design by Michelle Anderson have been printed.

‘In Pieces’ will be distributed to over 200 schools that take part in the JCSP across the country as well as all primary and secondary schools in the Ballymun area.

The story is set in the Natural History Museum and Glasnevin Cemetery and the students visited both institutions to carry out research for the book.

Speaking at the launch, JCSP Librarian Joe Kelly said the book is aimed at young Irish people who want stories they can get through in a single sitting of about hour.

“Unfortunately there is a dearth of books matching these specifications,

? he said.

“As good as similar books set in Britain, America or Australia are, they are just not our own.

“We need more books that use

‘mam’ instead of

‘mum’ or that replace embarrassed with the much more descriptive

‘scarlet’. So what are we to do? Should we just accept that Irish teenagers are simply going to have to make do with what is out there?

“In JCSP Library Trinity Comprehensive School Ballymun, we decided to take a different approach and tackle the problem head on. We decided to write our own book, and

‘In Pieces’ is the end result.

?

Author Kevin McDermott said working on the project with the local students was a delight from start to finish.

“The novel really shows the imagination and emotional intelligence of the young writers,

? he added.

“They brought a sense of mystery and possibility to the story of a young boy coping with the loss of his mam.

?

The novel is about a teenager named Alan whose life seems to be going to pieces since his mam died. His friend Mary is there to help but she cannot protect him from the unwelcome attention of Andrew Stapleton. And his dad is too lost to stand up for his son.

But his mam isn’t as far away as he thinks. And when Alan discovers he has a special gift, he sets out on a ghostly adventure that will change his life forever.

JCSP student and author Demetrius Sheekey said the pupils really enjoyed the experience of working on

‘In Pieces’.

“I’d never really thought about writing a book or even speaking to an author before,

? he said.

“Kevin is a really sound fella, who loves his job and I really respect him for that. I wouldn’t work with any author apart from him.

?

‘In Pieces’ is the result of three months of collaborative workshops which the students participated in with McDermott who was recommended for the project by Elaina O’Neill of publishers, Little Island.

English teachers at Trinity Comprehensive were consulted to select the students and over the course of the project McDermott returned to the school eight times for workshops and meetings.

‘In Pieces’ was launched recently in the JCSP Library at Trinity Comprehensive by Mags Walsh, director of Children’s Book Ireland.