Belfast in 1916, and 14-year-old Helen is shaped by her mixed background—rural, Catholic Irish values from her mother; urban, Protestant Ulster ones from dad. Her parents are relaxed in their politics but others in the family circle are more extreme: Aunt Violet is a die-hard anti-Home Ruler, while Uncle Sean is staunchly nationalist. Helen’s older cousin Sandy joined the army straight from school and has already seen action in France, while cousin Michael is deployed to Dublin to help quell the Rising, where he’s expected to open fire on his fellow Irishmen. Who and what are they fighting for?

Sheena Wilkinson is a winner of multiple Children's Books Irelands awards and one of Ireland’s most acclaimed writers of contemporary realistic fiction for young people.