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what_heather_loves's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"I reached under the bed for my torch, switched it on and went back to my book. In just a few pages, my mind and body quietened as the words performed their hypnosis. I knew that my favourite character, Georgina - known as George for her tomboy looks and something called 'pluck' - would not be frightened about moving or even about the Yorkshire Ripper. In fact, she would probably summon the rest of the Five to try to catch him.
What if someone caught him? I wondered, as I drifted off to sleep. What if the murders were to stop? And we could stay? Then I would never have to leave Sharon and we could be best friends always."
It's late 1979 in the town of Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire. Focusing on the life of 11 year old Miv and her best friend Sharon, Aunty Jean, haulage manager Dad, unwell Mum and neighbours, widow Mr Bashir and son Ishtiaq, Arthur and many more. All the adults talk about is the Yorkshire Ripper, who is yet to be caught, so Miv decides she and Sharon will investigate, creating her List Of Suspicious Things.
Reminding me of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and A Terrible Kindness, this is a nostalgic and heartwarming, coming of age tale. I adored Miv, finding her way, noticing suspicious men in her life (of which there were many!) and going to school whilst worrying about bullies, lipgloss, boys and her mum's quiet retreat from family life. Full of observant writing about human behaviour, with atmospheric dialect and affectionate humour: "gossip...filtered through Aunty Jean via washing line conversations - a route far more effective than the telephone..."and "Tupperware went up and down the streets of our town faster than the traffic." It has emotional depth and includes astute social and political commentary about how working class people lived, worked and behaved at this time, including the climate of fear that existed, especially in Yorkshire. Plenty of challenging topics are covered, including domestic violence, racism, grief, mental illness, suicide, death and of course the predatory murders of women, all seen through the eyes of Miv, her friends, family and neighbours. I adored reading this debut fiction and was sad it had to finish!
What if someone caught him? I wondered, as I drifted off to sleep. What if the murders were to stop? And we could stay? Then I would never have to leave Sharon and we could be best friends always."
It's late 1979 in the town of Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire. Focusing on the life of 11 year old Miv and her best friend Sharon, Aunty Jean, haulage manager Dad, unwell Mum and neighbours, widow Mr Bashir and son Ishtiaq, Arthur and many more. All the adults talk about is the Yorkshire Ripper, who is yet to be caught, so Miv decides she and Sharon will investigate, creating her List Of Suspicious Things.
Reminding me of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and A Terrible Kindness, this is a nostalgic and heartwarming, coming of age tale. I adored Miv, finding her way, noticing suspicious men in her life (of which there were many!) and going to school whilst worrying about bullies, lipgloss, boys and her mum's quiet retreat from family life. Full of observant writing about human behaviour, with atmospheric dialect and affectionate humour: "gossip...filtered through Aunty Jean via washing line conversations - a route far more effective than the telephone..."and "Tupperware went up and down the streets of our town faster than the traffic." It has emotional depth and includes astute social and political commentary about how working class people lived, worked and behaved at this time, including the climate of fear that existed, especially in Yorkshire. Plenty of challenging topics are covered, including domestic violence, racism, grief, mental illness, suicide, death and of course the predatory murders of women, all seen through the eyes of Miv, her friends, family and neighbours. I adored reading this debut fiction and was sad it had to finish!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Violence, Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Stalking
rosecahill's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Islamophobia, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Rape, and Suicide attempt
emmavardy2's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely lived up to all the hype.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault, Murder, and Pedophilia
gemloukay's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Having grown up in Yorkshire in the early 1980s, this book encapsulates the era and the area perfectly. I particularly enjoyed the “Thatcher milk snatcher” comments that still get bandied about today, and the references to a couple of real landmarks in Dewsbury.
The story mainly follows Miv, a 11 year old girl (at the start) who decides that she’s going to note down anyone that she thinks is suspicious and therefore could be the Yorkshire Ripper who is in the loose and she believes might lead to her family moving away to escape the danger. What Miv actually achieves is to give us a naive insight into the lives of everyone around her and their everyday struggles. Because we can understand what she does not, it softens the blow of all the tragedy and pain that everyone is going through.
The way that school is for Miv and how the teachers talk to her and her friends, the casual (at best) racism that is everywhere and the attitude of looking the other way when people are struggling that are still apparent in some ways even today. But also the strong sense of community and how they all pull together when someone is actually asking for help. It really does showcase the worst and best aspects perfectly.
It’s a cleverly written coming of age story told mainly from Miv’s POV but occasionally interspersed by a chapter from Mr Bashir the shopkeeper, Helen the Librarian, Arthur the rag and bone man and Miv’s dad Austin. Everyone feels well fleshed out and with their own personality and take on things. And unlike the book that Miv’s friend, Paul, is reading part way through (a Kestrel for A Knave), it has an enduring feeling of hope against all odds.
The story mainly follows Miv, a 11 year old girl (at the start) who decides that she’s going to note down anyone that she thinks is suspicious and therefore could be the Yorkshire Ripper who is in the loose and she believes might lead to her family moving away to escape the danger. What Miv actually achieves is to give us a naive insight into the lives of everyone around her and their everyday struggles. Because we can understand what she does not, it softens the blow of all the tragedy and pain that everyone is going through.
The way that school is for Miv and how the teachers talk to her and her friends, the casual (at best) racism that is everywhere and the attitude of looking the other way when people are struggling that are still apparent in some ways even today. But also the strong sense of community and how they all pull together when someone is actually asking for help. It really does showcase the worst and best aspects perfectly.
It’s a cleverly written coming of age story told mainly from Miv’s POV but occasionally interspersed by a chapter from Mr Bashir the shopkeeper, Helen the Librarian, Arthur the rag and bone man and Miv’s dad Austin. Everyone feels well fleshed out and with their own personality and take on things. And unlike the book that Miv’s friend, Paul, is reading part way through (a Kestrel for A Knave), it has an enduring feeling of hope against all odds.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Racism, Bullying, and Suicide
Minor: Hate crime, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
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