Torn Away: Amazon.ca: James Heneghan: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

After his mother and younger sister are killed in a terrorist bombing in their native Belfast, Declan joins the Holy Terrors, a youth gang modeled after the IRA. When the authorities catch up with him, Declan is sent--very much against his will--to a small town in British Columbia, to live with his father's brother Matthew and his family. Angry, embittered and determined to return to Ireland as soon as possible, Declan has little affection for his gentle uncle, whom he considers a "meddling, do-good fixer" and a cowardly runaway. He himself undertakes several daring escapes. Gradually, however, the tranquility of his new home leads Declan to reexamine his notions of courage and heroism. Flashbacks give a bitter taste of the violence that forms a part of everyday life in Belfast and of Declan's impassioned fury. As the narrative moves to its easily anticipated happy ending, however, the plot starts seeming forced. Burdened by the novel's overaccentuated messages of pacifism, characterization suffers: Matthew and his wife, for instance, are so sweet-natured that they don't seem entirely real. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-After his mother and sister were killed in a bombing incident, 13-year-old Declan Doyle took to the streets of Belfast with a gang called the Holy Terrors. His pre-IRA training is now cut short when he is "torn away from his native soil" and sent to live with his deceased father's brother in western Canada. Driven by dreams of revenge, the boy runs away, planning to return home to Ireland. Unable to escape, he makes a deal to stay with his relatives in their idyllic Vancouver fishing village for three months. Adjusting to a new country and a new family, yet still nursing his hatred of everything British, Declan is befriended by his cousins and a classmate. Finally, he is comes to understand the futility of the violence in his homeland and realizes how attached to his new life he has become. Fast-paced action opens the novel and immediately engages readers. Contemporary language and vivid description add to the sense of reality and enhance the easily readable style. Heneghan avoids arguments on the rights or wrongs of the Irish conflict, focusing instead on the human issues: families destroyed and lives torn apart by terrorist warfare. A great title to booktalk.
Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews

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3.4 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Comment about "Torn away", Jun 25 2002

By

susanne (Germany-dithmarschen) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torn Away (Paperback)

When I started to read this book, I first found it boring. The beginning was very difficult to read,because I speak German and in the book were so many new english words.But after a few chapters, when Declan was in Canada, it became more interesting for me. The book became better, when Matthew told Declan the truth about his family. The theme of the book is very real, but I `m not so interested in this story.

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3.0 out of 5 stars A fixers world, Mar 17 2004

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Jacqueline (Gie�en, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torn Away (Hardcover)

Representation of real political problems or just English shoddy?

The book „Torn Away" deals with a boy, called Declan who is an Irish Catholic and lives in Falls Road/Belfast. His mother and sister died in a bomb attack which was organised by the Brits. Left alone and filled with wrath and anger, Declan joins the terror group "Holy Terrors". There youngsters learn to build bombs and plan attacks against the British army. However, he shell be brought to his uncle who lives in Canada. Declan tries to refuse because he thinks his uncle Matthew is a coward and a traitor of the country because of immigrating to British Columbia. After a lot of attempts to escape, police manages to take him into his uncle's custody.
Although, his aunt, uncle and the both adopted kids Ana and Thomas are very friendly and caring, Declan still has the wish to return. First a bargain makes him remain: If he stays until after Christmas and joins school, Matthew won't stop Declan leaving and pays his journey home.
But whilst time passes, Declan starts to accept Ana and Thomas as a real brother and sister. He is departed between the family feelings and the so-called "fixer's world", as he calls his new home.
The book "Torn Away" has its focus on the Northern Irish conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. The main reasons of fighting with each other are shown very clearly in this book. It recovers the means which the IRA uses to damage or kill their enemies, the Brits. I like the representation of the strong will-power which is in the Catholic and Protestant mind in order to get through their aim for their country. However, the realisation of the difficult topic about the young terrorist Declan isn't so convincing. At the beginning of the story, the rough reality is shown clearly. But the more Declan is "caught" by the family's generosity and kindness, the more the ending is absolutely clear. To put it in a nutshell: The character of the almost innocent family is too unrealistic and invisible to regard the story as a realistic happening within a Catholic boy's life.
So, thank you James Heneghan, but the moral of "Torn Away" is clear: Violence is never a solution!

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3.0 out of 5 stars Torn Away, July 16 2002

By

Sabine Schirm (Berlin, Berlin Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Torn Away (Paperback)

This book is about a thirteen-year-old boy, called Declan, who is torn away from Northern Ireland to Canada, to his uncle. Declan, who is a Catholic, thinks that his family has been killed by the Protestants. Therefore he hates all Protestants.
The author, James Heneghan, worked with several clichés. The poor boy with no family has to go to Canada. Then there is his new family who loves him so much but he doesn't like them. But fortunately after a while he does so. And finally there is an happy end.
On the whole it is a bit disappointing, because the title "Torn away" sounds exciting. Only until chapter 13 is it interesting and you can't stop reading, but then the plot is too boring and too easy to guess, especially the ending.
But of course the book does not only have bad sides. There are some advantages for unskilled reader.
It is written very simply. The vocabulary and the syntax are quite easy. Another positive aspect is that the book is quite short and that there is no unnecessary violence. It is also qualified for teenager to get informed roughly about the troubles in Northern Ireland because it is not very detailed but sufficient.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Torn away
The book "Torn Away" was written by James Heneghan. The story deals with a 13 - year old boy from Northern Ireland whose parents and sister died because of a bomb attack caused by... Read more

Published on July 16 2002 by Sabine Schirm

3.0 out of 5 stars Torn Away
I read the book "Torn away" and now you will get some information to know if it is necessary to buy the book. Read more

Published on July 16 2002 by Sabine Schirm