Rachel Ross spends much of her time outside school caring for her mother, who suffers from depression, and her younger sister; but the highlights of her week are the drama group sessions she belongs to. She feels safe there … a different experience to school, where she is bullied because of her disability. Tir na n-Og Award Winner 2021.
Children’s Books (Novels and Short Stories)
Novels and Stories For Young Adults
15.12.20
Even though the author’s been busy promoting the book over social media, I still feel that #Helynt slipped out rather quietly (so many books coming out right about now it’s hard to keep track), so I wanted to draw attention to it, because it’s a cracking story! It makes quite a nice change having a Welsh book that has been set outside the ‘Fro Gymraeg’ (Welsh strongholds). There are children and young people growing up in a Wales that’s a far cry from the relatively middle-class world of Eisteddfodau, Chapels and Cerdd dant choirs and I think this novel reflects that.
I’m glad that the author has left bits of English dialogue in the novel that reflect the linguistic nature of living in Welsh so close to the border. We don’t get a romanticized picture of the place, but one that feels very authentic – one that doesn’t shy away from discussing the poverty, the drugs, violence and dark alleys.
Rachel, the main character, is a high school goth with quite a lot on her plate. Lack of money fuels an unstable home situation. Her dad works long hours (but it’s never enough) and her mum lives with depression which means that Rachel ends up raising her little sister as well as keeping on top of schoolwork. We also learn that Rachel is an amputee with a prosthetic leg which makes things difficult at school, but she’s not one for complaining. The way she just deals with it and gets on with things is testament to her strength as a person. I love her as a character because of her straight-talking, no messing attitude. Her shoot first, ask questions later mentality may very well keep her from harm, but it can certainly attract some #helynt (trouble).
Apart from Dalian from Bethan Gwanas’s Y Melanai trilogy, I haven’t come across many characters without a leg in Welsh books, and it was an eye opener. #respect. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, it’s good to see a bit more diversity coming into Welsh literature.
Without revealing too much, Rachel’s adventure begins after she decides to skive from school with a friend after missing the bus. Following a dodgy encounter with some suspicious men in a nightclub, Rachel meets a man who knows a lot more about her than she does about him. What he has to say will have life-changing consequences!
I found it hard to put this book down. A DPD driver came to the door as I was getting to a good bit and well, safe to say he didn’t get much of a reception as I was desperate to get back to the book!
Rachel’s journey throughout the novel was engrossing, and although her witty comments are both amusing and funny, parts of the book were quite hard-hitting. Yes, the domestic abuse is insidious and shocking – but what is truly sad is that this is the reality of life for many.
The characters and their actions were very credible. One example of this was Rachel’s father, Jason. A complicated character, on some occasions he showed that he could be supportive, and was generally protective of Rachel. But there was another, darker side to his personality. A well-hidden side that his wife often bore the brunt of. We soon see his true colours, and although I don’t condone or justify his disgraceful behaviour, we can see the many things that add up in his life that have driven him to this. We also see some of the reasons why Rachel’s mother has put up with his controlling, degrading behaviour for so long. Things are never simple or black and white!
This is a witty and contemporary novel that feels very relevant today. It’s quite a different Welsh-language novel and an important addition to the range of Welsh books that will appeal to young people. Although teens are the target audience, adults will certainly enjoy #Helynt as well. I’m confident that the book will appeal to those who don’t usually read in Welsh and I encourage teachers to read it so they can introduce it to those pupils.
