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The Girl with Special Knees
A child who doesn’t want to live.
A mother in distress.
A beautiful sister who feels invisible.
A father who needs to keep on keeping on and avoid the fragrant Shirley Lovett at all costs.
The Redmond family is in trouble.
One day, a mysterious African doll arrives in the post, and something magical happens.
This is a poignant story about family relationships, about courage, hope, and renewal . . . and the power of dreams to heal the human heart. "A sad, beautiful novel, challenging, ambitious and life affirming in the very best ways. The compelling clarity and delicate touch of Eleanor O'Kelly-Lynch's writing ensures that The Girl with Special Knees can't fail to capture hearts and resonate deeply with readers. A triumph of a book." Billy O'Callaghan author of Life Sentences A few years ago, I was watching TV on my sofa. My daughter lay next to me, curled up, self-injuring her face. Lauren was born with a rare debilitating condition. Her life was a battle. As many readers will know, it is heart-breaking to watch someone your child love suffer. Later as I voiced my despair, my sister said, ‘Maybe, inside her head or across the universe, she’s living another life in a parallel world and she’s having a ball.’ The thought lifted me. I’d read about parallel universes, where time can fork off into different realities and where we live different versions of ourselves. Imagine if Lauren could escape her half-life, slip through a portal, live her dreams. And so, The Girl with Special Knees was born. While the book is written out of my lived experience, it is a work of fiction. The story follows the other family members a mother in distress, a sister who feels invisible, a father in denial. When I started out, I thought the book would be about escaping the bonds of grief and loss. When I finished, I saw then that the book was really about how courage matters and how we find it within ourselves. Scroll up and buy now!
A mother in distress.
A beautiful sister who feels invisible.
A father who needs to keep on keeping on and avoid the fragrant Shirley Lovett at all costs.
The Redmond family is in trouble.
One day, a mysterious African doll arrives in the post, and something magical happens.
This is a poignant story about family relationships, about courage, hope, and renewal . . . and the power of dreams to heal the human heart. "A sad, beautiful novel, challenging, ambitious and life affirming in the very best ways. The compelling clarity and delicate touch of Eleanor O'Kelly-Lynch's writing ensures that The Girl with Special Knees can't fail to capture hearts and resonate deeply with readers. A triumph of a book." Billy O'Callaghan author of Life Sentences A few years ago, I was watching TV on my sofa. My daughter lay next to me, curled up, self-injuring her face. Lauren was born with a rare debilitating condition. Her life was a battle. As many readers will know, it is heart-breaking to watch someone your child love suffer. Later as I voiced my despair, my sister said, ‘Maybe, inside her head or across the universe, she’s living another life in a parallel world and she’s having a ball.’ The thought lifted me. I’d read about parallel universes, where time can fork off into different realities and where we live different versions of ourselves. Imagine if Lauren could escape her half-life, slip through a portal, live her dreams. And so, The Girl with Special Knees was born. While the book is written out of my lived experience, it is a work of fiction. The story follows the other family members a mother in distress, a sister who feels invisible, a father in denial. When I started out, I thought the book would be about escaping the bonds of grief and loss. When I finished, I saw then that the book was really about how courage matters and how we find it within ourselves. Scroll up and buy now!
318 pages, Paperback
Published November 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 6, 2023
I must say I really enjoyed this book! It’s a heartwarming story of a family in crisis and a little girl who learns all about courage! I loved the depiction of family dynamics and the author captures the nuances of relationships very well. Intertwined with the family story is the adventure or quest that Doll must undertake so the novel is a combination of genres.
The writing is descriptive and realistic and the author has a wonderful way with humour which lifts the story and eases the underlying sadness.
A page turner for me and I look forward to her next novel !!
The writing is descriptive and realistic and the author has a wonderful way with humour which lifts the story and eases the underlying sadness.
A page turner for me and I look forward to her next novel !!
April 6, 2023
My Rating ~ 3.5*
The Girl with Special Knees by Eleanor O’ Kelly-Lynch was published with Orla Kelly Publishing November 24th 2022. It is described as ‘a poignant story about family relationships, about courage, hope, and renewal . . . and the power of dreams to heal the human heart’.
To meet Eleanor O’ Kelly-Lynch is quite an invigorating and inspiring experience. The Girl with Special Knees is her debut novel and, although fiction, it is loosely based on Eleanor’s personal story. Eleanor’s daughter Lauren, now aged 30, was born with a rare genetic disorder, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS). Eleanor and her family have watched over Lauren and cared for her for years, while also maintaining a work-life balance that can only be marvelled at. Eleanor’s love for her daughter is written all over her face but her love could only do so much. Frustrated, and following a conversation with her sister, Eleanor began to imagine a world where life might be different for Lauren, where a multi-universe existed, one where Lauren could be living a more fulfilling life and, from this, The Girl with Special Knees was born.
“A few years ago, I was watching television at home on my sofa. My daughter lay next to me, curled up, self-injuring her face. Lauren was born with a rare debilitating condition. Her life was a battle. As many readers will know, it is heart-breaking to watch someone you love suffer, especially when it’s your child.
Later that evening, when Lauren had gone to bed and I voiced my despair, my sister said, ‘Maybe, inside her head or in some far-off place across the universe, she’s living another life, a wonderful life…in another dimension. Maybe there’s a parallel world and she’s having a ball.’ The thought lifted me.
I’d read about parallel universes, where time can fork off into different realities…the multiverse. Other worlds where we live different versions of ourselves. Imagine if Lauren could escape her half-life, slip through a portal, take flight, live her dreams. And so, The Girl with Special Knees was born.
Through the book, I could give her wings. She would ride a horse, eat sweets, experience friendship, danger, adventure…and I could help free her spirit – the smart, funny, courageous girl who was there all the time, just buried under the rubble of despair.
While the book is written out of my lived experience, it is a work of fiction. The story follows the other family members too, the relationships inextricably connected.“
The Girl with Special Knees is the story of Doll Redmond and her family. Doll lives with a disability that has impacted her life and the life of Sally, her mum, Dan, her dad, her sister Andi and brother Will. On the cusp of her 11th birthday Doll is angry with herself and her inability to do the most basic of daily tasks. While her family chat with her in cheery voices, trying to make her feel better about herself, Doll is all too aware of the fact that she can’t function like them. There is a clarity of thought in Doll’s chapters and you can sense her frustration like an onlooker gazing upon a world that she cannot actively participate in.
Sally and Dan are struggling as parents. This was not the life they expected. They are both exhausted and trying to stay afloat but, somewhere along the way, Sally and Dan have started to lose each other. Andi is conscious of Doll’s condition every minute of her life. Through Andi’s eyes, Doll gets all the attention and energy from Sally and Dan, leaving Andi alone and sad. As a teenager, she has her own issues. School is where Andi can get the attention she craves but it’s not necessarily the right kind of attention. Andi is confused. She loves her family, including Doll, but life is hard for Andi as she navigates the trials and tribulations of these formative years and there are days when it just all gets a little too much for her.
Will is in Africa and when a package arrives for Doll’s birthday with an African postmark, it is assumed by all that it’s a present for Doll from Will. Inside the packaging is a doll, with the following message:
‘This is Nan-Nan, your soul doll, drawing good energies into your life. Do not leave your doll unattended for long. Wrap her in a clean cloth when not in use. Nan-Nan’s necklet is made from tourmaline. It brings with it the scared gift of driving away sadness and is most powerful by moonlight. Whoever carries this soul doll is safe from his enemies, cannot drown in water, nor can any unjust sentence be passed on him, so help me…’
Doll is dismissive of this strange looking doll but, unbeknownst to her, Nan-Nan is a very unique and special doll, one that will change Doll’s life forever.
Eleanor O’ Kelly-Lynch takes her readers on a magical adventure through a sliding door into a world where Doll Redmond is a hero, a world where her disabilities are non-existent and where she can live a life that she has only ever dreamt of but never thought possible. As Doll journeys through space into another dimension, her family become more aware of their lives and the destructive paths they are embarking on. Both stories run seamlessly in parallel, allowing Doll to soar and to discover the courage that she has within herself while Sally, Dan and Andi rediscover the importance of living as a family and loving each other unconditionally again.
Eleanor has written a book that does cross genres and age-levels which makes it a very difficult book to pigeon-hole. I was definitely more drawn to the family relationships within the book and had great empathy for Sally’s character. Doll’s magical adventure is told through the eyes of a child so it does require a mental shift to get into her head but it is all seamlessly intertwined through the chapter layout and with Eleanor’s writing style.
The Girl with Special Knees is a very charming and heartening tale about a family that is splitting at the seams. With a little touch of magic their lives become enhanced, as they all find courage in the most unexpected places. With another two books on the horizon, it will be lovely to see where Doll takes the reader to next as she ventures further into new lands with all its hidden places.
“When I started out, I thought the book would be about escaping the bonds that hold us back, untangling the fallout of grief and loss. When I finished I saw then that the book was really about how courage matters, how it comes in different guises and how – if we look long and hard enough – we find it within ourselves. Looking back now, I can see that this was the lesson I had to learn – and am still learning.” – Eleanor O’ Kelly Lynch
The Girl with Special Knees by Eleanor O’ Kelly-Lynch was published with Orla Kelly Publishing November 24th 2022. It is described as ‘a poignant story about family relationships, about courage, hope, and renewal . . . and the power of dreams to heal the human heart’.
To meet Eleanor O’ Kelly-Lynch is quite an invigorating and inspiring experience. The Girl with Special Knees is her debut novel and, although fiction, it is loosely based on Eleanor’s personal story. Eleanor’s daughter Lauren, now aged 30, was born with a rare genetic disorder, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS). Eleanor and her family have watched over Lauren and cared for her for years, while also maintaining a work-life balance that can only be marvelled at. Eleanor’s love for her daughter is written all over her face but her love could only do so much. Frustrated, and following a conversation with her sister, Eleanor began to imagine a world where life might be different for Lauren, where a multi-universe existed, one where Lauren could be living a more fulfilling life and, from this, The Girl with Special Knees was born.
“A few years ago, I was watching television at home on my sofa. My daughter lay next to me, curled up, self-injuring her face. Lauren was born with a rare debilitating condition. Her life was a battle. As many readers will know, it is heart-breaking to watch someone you love suffer, especially when it’s your child.
Later that evening, when Lauren had gone to bed and I voiced my despair, my sister said, ‘Maybe, inside her head or in some far-off place across the universe, she’s living another life, a wonderful life…in another dimension. Maybe there’s a parallel world and she’s having a ball.’ The thought lifted me.
I’d read about parallel universes, where time can fork off into different realities…the multiverse. Other worlds where we live different versions of ourselves. Imagine if Lauren could escape her half-life, slip through a portal, take flight, live her dreams. And so, The Girl with Special Knees was born.
Through the book, I could give her wings. She would ride a horse, eat sweets, experience friendship, danger, adventure…and I could help free her spirit – the smart, funny, courageous girl who was there all the time, just buried under the rubble of despair.
While the book is written out of my lived experience, it is a work of fiction. The story follows the other family members too, the relationships inextricably connected.“
The Girl with Special Knees is the story of Doll Redmond and her family. Doll lives with a disability that has impacted her life and the life of Sally, her mum, Dan, her dad, her sister Andi and brother Will. On the cusp of her 11th birthday Doll is angry with herself and her inability to do the most basic of daily tasks. While her family chat with her in cheery voices, trying to make her feel better about herself, Doll is all too aware of the fact that she can’t function like them. There is a clarity of thought in Doll’s chapters and you can sense her frustration like an onlooker gazing upon a world that she cannot actively participate in.
Sally and Dan are struggling as parents. This was not the life they expected. They are both exhausted and trying to stay afloat but, somewhere along the way, Sally and Dan have started to lose each other. Andi is conscious of Doll’s condition every minute of her life. Through Andi’s eyes, Doll gets all the attention and energy from Sally and Dan, leaving Andi alone and sad. As a teenager, she has her own issues. School is where Andi can get the attention she craves but it’s not necessarily the right kind of attention. Andi is confused. She loves her family, including Doll, but life is hard for Andi as she navigates the trials and tribulations of these formative years and there are days when it just all gets a little too much for her.
Will is in Africa and when a package arrives for Doll’s birthday with an African postmark, it is assumed by all that it’s a present for Doll from Will. Inside the packaging is a doll, with the following message:
‘This is Nan-Nan, your soul doll, drawing good energies into your life. Do not leave your doll unattended for long. Wrap her in a clean cloth when not in use. Nan-Nan’s necklet is made from tourmaline. It brings with it the scared gift of driving away sadness and is most powerful by moonlight. Whoever carries this soul doll is safe from his enemies, cannot drown in water, nor can any unjust sentence be passed on him, so help me…’
Doll is dismissive of this strange looking doll but, unbeknownst to her, Nan-Nan is a very unique and special doll, one that will change Doll’s life forever.
Eleanor O’ Kelly-Lynch takes her readers on a magical adventure through a sliding door into a world where Doll Redmond is a hero, a world where her disabilities are non-existent and where she can live a life that she has only ever dreamt of but never thought possible. As Doll journeys through space into another dimension, her family become more aware of their lives and the destructive paths they are embarking on. Both stories run seamlessly in parallel, allowing Doll to soar and to discover the courage that she has within herself while Sally, Dan and Andi rediscover the importance of living as a family and loving each other unconditionally again.
Eleanor has written a book that does cross genres and age-levels which makes it a very difficult book to pigeon-hole. I was definitely more drawn to the family relationships within the book and had great empathy for Sally’s character. Doll’s magical adventure is told through the eyes of a child so it does require a mental shift to get into her head but it is all seamlessly intertwined through the chapter layout and with Eleanor’s writing style.
The Girl with Special Knees is a very charming and heartening tale about a family that is splitting at the seams. With a little touch of magic their lives become enhanced, as they all find courage in the most unexpected places. With another two books on the horizon, it will be lovely to see where Doll takes the reader to next as she ventures further into new lands with all its hidden places.
“When I started out, I thought the book would be about escaping the bonds that hold us back, untangling the fallout of grief and loss. When I finished I saw then that the book was really about how courage matters, how it comes in different guises and how – if we look long and hard enough – we find it within ourselves. Looking back now, I can see that this was the lesson I had to learn – and am still learning.” – Eleanor O’ Kelly Lynch
Read
December 11, 2022This is an amazing novel and such a joy to read. Eleanor writes with such passion and clarity that you feel part of the family and can understand their pain and hopes. Cannot wait for your next novel.
May 1, 2023
This is a very special book. Admittedly I was more invested in Andi, Dan and Sally’s POV than Doll’s story but this is due to my own personal preference. My childhood was littered with hospital appointments and overnight-stays so that’s a POV I have a smidge of understanding about, even if my circumstances are different to Doll’s. To a degree, it’s what I already know, so what I enjoyed about this book is that it gives a different perspective too. That being, what the impact of having an unwell child has on the family unit. I am intrigued by the concept of the glass child so Andi’s POV was particularly enjoyable for me. a result, The impact of this on siblings is rarely portrayed in media (Wonder by R. J. Palacio being one of the few) so I really appreciated that it is shown here.
I found the reality-based obstacles the other family members endure more interesting than Doll’s fantasy-based storyline. I wanted more of Andi and less of Doll The weaving of genres here is innovative though, and well executed. I also understand the purpose of such a storyline. It offers hope. It took me a while to adjust to the writing style because it’s different to what I’m usually used to. It has a relaxed, conversational, colloquial quality that adds vibrancy to the characters.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I would read a book just from her POV because as the Redmond family would say; she’s topper!
3⭐️
Huge thanks to Eleanor for sending me a copy. Very grateful to experience this story.
I found the reality-based obstacles the other family members endure more interesting than Doll’s fantasy-based storyline. I wanted more of Andi and less of Doll The weaving of genres here is innovative though, and well executed. I also understand the purpose of such a storyline. It offers hope. It took me a while to adjust to the writing style because it’s different to what I’m usually used to. It has a relaxed, conversational, colloquial quality that adds vibrancy to the characters.
Overall, an enjoyable read. I would read a book just from her POV because as the Redmond family would say; she’s topper!
3⭐️
Huge thanks to Eleanor for sending me a copy. Very grateful to experience this story.
February 24, 2024
Loved this book!
Beautifully told story with warm slightly flawed characters who engage your friendship right away as the reader.
Truthful emotions help heal in difficult situations.
I have learned a lot from this wonderful story, about real love, relationships in families and acceptance of all that is not entirely normal.
Highly recommend. No-one who reads this one will be disappointed in anyway.
Beautifully told story with warm slightly flawed characters who engage your friendship right away as the reader.
Truthful emotions help heal in difficult situations.
I have learned a lot from this wonderful story, about real love, relationships in families and acceptance of all that is not entirely normal.
Highly recommend. No-one who reads this one will be disappointed in anyway.
December 29, 2024
This is a really enjoyable, relatable and well written book. The character’s voices are very clear throughout. Eleanor managed to weave a very difficult family story together with a story of hope, resilience and triumph. I’m not normally a reader of fantasy but I was rooting for Doll and the other characters on her adventure. I was absorbed right to the end.
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the author over the past few months and am delighted to give this a five star review.
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the author over the past few months and am delighted to give this a five star review.
May 11, 2023
A really fantastic read
I read this over the weekend and loved the story line
Eleanor’s real life story and inspiration for this book makes it so magical
I also loved how each family member got such an intricate story line
It was filled with tension, hilarity, sadness, elation and bravery
Highly recommend !
I read this over the weekend and loved the story line
Eleanor’s real life story and inspiration for this book makes it so magical
I also loved how each family member got such an intricate story line
It was filled with tension, hilarity, sadness, elation and bravery
Highly recommend !
October 6, 2023
Here's a very moving, beautifully written tale of a family coping with an impaired child (Doll) and the adventure she partakes in classic fairytale style.
It reminded me of such classics as Labyrinth, The Neverending Story and of course The Grimm fairytales.
This is a strong and memorable debut novel, well done Eleanor, I enjoyed it.
It reminded me of such classics as Labyrinth, The Neverending Story and of course The Grimm fairytales.
This is a strong and memorable debut novel, well done Eleanor, I enjoyed it.
June 14, 2024
This is a captivating story and I really enjoyed reading "The Girl with Special Knees". It is a very moving story, with happy and sad times. I particularly enjoyed the character Andi. An amazing debut novel from Eleanor O'Kelly-Lunch.
June 16, 2023
I really enjoyed reading ‘The Girl with Special Knees’. I found this book very moving, and full of hope! Very compelling first novel from Eleanor O’Kelly-Lynch.
January 21, 2024
I enjoyed reading it, good story!
March 27, 2023
I wanted to take my time to write this review as I believe this is a special book.
Eleanor kindly gifted me a copy in January and I was excited to have the opportunity to read it.
Loosely inspired by her daughter, Eleanor shows the impact, living with a child with a serious health condition, can have on a family.
From that aspect, it is quite emotional while also inspiring.
Besides the family storyline, she adds a second one introducing us to this parallel universe to which the daughter escapes, this universe where she is not held back by all the ailments that restrict her in her daily life.
I will admit that initially, I struggled to get into this storyline because I was so wrapped up in the "family drama". However, as time passed I could see the beauty in it. The hope, that this child has a place to escape to, away from all her struggles, and can feel what it's like to be "normal".
Overall, a very touching story, that was written with so much tangible love and grace. Definitely worth the read.
Thanks again to Eleanor for sharing this with me!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Eleanor kindly gifted me a copy in January and I was excited to have the opportunity to read it.
Loosely inspired by her daughter, Eleanor shows the impact, living with a child with a serious health condition, can have on a family.
From that aspect, it is quite emotional while also inspiring.
Besides the family storyline, she adds a second one introducing us to this parallel universe to which the daughter escapes, this universe where she is not held back by all the ailments that restrict her in her daily life.
I will admit that initially, I struggled to get into this storyline because I was so wrapped up in the "family drama". However, as time passed I could see the beauty in it. The hope, that this child has a place to escape to, away from all her struggles, and can feel what it's like to be "normal".
Overall, a very touching story, that was written with so much tangible love and grace. Definitely worth the read.
Thanks again to Eleanor for sharing this with me!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
March 8, 2023
This is a beautifully written story about a family in crisis. When I came to the end of the book I was sad to let the characters go. When you finish the book you will feel uplifted. It’s that kind of story. Well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews