A review by serendipitysbooks
Duck Feet by Ely Percy

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

 Duck Feet is by a disabled author, but disability is not at the centre of this novel, a good reminder that disabled authors aren't and shouldn't be confined to writing about disability. Duck Feet is a Scottish coming of age novel that follows KirstyCampell through her six years at Renfrew Grammar. Two things really stand out about this novel. The first is that it's written in the Scottish dialect and used plenty of words and phrases that were unfamiliar to me. It looked intimidating, but I soon settled into the rhythm. While there were a few words and phrases, I couldn't find a meaning for it didn't impact my enjoyment or comprehension and created a really immersive experience. The second is how cleverly balanced the novel was. There is lots of tough stuff - racism, bullying, drinking, drugs, teenage pregnancy, crime, the impact of adult unemployment and, shocking violence. But somehow it never feels heavy due mainly  to the humour, but also the love and support of family and friends - even if the latter was complicated at times. The Kirsty at the end of the book had been through a lot that her younger self couldn't have imagined. I loved the way the ending showed her bravely, albeit with some nerves, stepping into a future adventure, despite the unknowns and uncertainties. It's a book I really enjoyed reading and, if plenty of other reviews are to believed, is an accurate depiction of working class teenage life in  mid-oughties Scotland. 
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