A Good Hiding

by Shirley-Anne McMillan

Nollaig needs a place to hide. Da's been drinking more and more. It makes him mean. She could stick it out if it was just her. But in 9 months' time, she'll have another life to consider - a life no one knows about yet. She wants to keep it that way.

Besides, her best friend Stephen's the only one who'll even notice she's gone and he knows all about hiding the truth. He knows when to stop being 'different' because it makes the other boys uncomfortable. He knows when to say nothing at all.

Stephen tracks Nollaig down to an old church not far from her home. It's a shelter - for now. But it soon becomes clear that they will have to choose what they want for the future: to stay in the shadows, or to live life in the open?

Genres: Young Adult, Ireland, Fiction, LGBT

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2016

About the author

Shirley-Anne McMillan was born in 1975 in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. She has studied at Queen’s University, Belfast and Manchester Metropolitan University. Shirley-Anne writes stories for children and young adults, and she has written and performed with Belfast-based arts collective, Ikon, for several years. She lives in South Down where she spends her time as a writer and schools worker.

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley.)

“Now there was a pregnancy test telling the story too: yes, you are going to have a baby, yes, you are going to be a mother, yes, yes, yes, this is real and there will be another person, there is another person under your skin.”

This was a YA contemporary story about a pregnant 15-year-old.

I felt really sorry for Nollaig in this, being 15 and pregnant couldn’t have been easy, especially with her alcoholic father and lack of friends and support.

The storyline in this was about Nollaig running away from home and hiding out in a church, with only her best friend Stephen knowing where she was. We also got a storyline about Stephen facing prejudice at school because of being gay, and a bit of blackmail going on later in the story.

The ending to this was fairly happy, and I was surprised that things turned out as well as they did.



6 out of 10

[David Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. Great characters and big issues, written with real kindness and hope. It's one of those books you'd describe as Important (and it is important), but with none of the worthiness that that suggests.

Irish YA is killing it lately, and this is no exception.

[Peterson Toscano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two things really delighted me as I read A Good Hiding.
1. I really had no idea where it was going. How boring to be able to predict the plot. Not with A Good Hiding. Set mostly in a church basement, it is amazing Shirley-Anne McMillan finds so much room for the many twists and turns in her story.
2. The voices of the two young people in the story are realistic and believable while also sounding fresh and unique. They are also complex characters. I bought into the range of emotions of the characters completely.

This book doesn't shy away from big issues--alcoholism, faith, LGBTQ, loss of a parent, teen pregnancy, abortion, and blackmail. But these big issues never distract us from the story and more importantly, the engaging characters in it.

[Emma Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read and parts of it were very enjoyable. That being said, for every one thing I liked, there was something I didn't like.
I liked the way the prominent topic of religion was handled in the novel. There was an interesting, even representation of views across characters, particularly given the setting.
On the topic of characters, Nollaig was a character I was immediately drawn to. She had great depth from the offset and I found her chapters very interesting at the beginning. However, as her pregnancy progressed, I felt that her concern for her unborn child replaced her sense of character, and she and her narrative became quite flat. I also found Stephen to be a very uninteresting until the final chapters, but by then, it was too late to become attached to him in any way. Similarly, I felt there were better ways to show the inner conflict of Brian, the vicar, rather than giving him his own chapters. The chapters felt redundant and a bit stereotypical, and it seemed like lazy writing to just tell us how this character was feeling, rather than perhaps showing it non-verbally through action or expression, or even verbally in conversation in the existing perspectives.

[Orlaith Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A good hiding" by Shirley-Anne McMillan is a well written book for young adults.

When I tell people that I've read a book about pregnant teenagers and vicars having affairs they look at me as if I'm crazy and that it isn't suitable for a 12yr old girl like me. But (and this is a very big but) I am here to tell you that this is a great book that kept me up half the night reading it. Most books I read are in the land of make believe, but what I like the most about this is that it feels so real. You feel their emotions. You cry when their sad and laugh when their happy. And you get a shiver up your spine when you imagine the Angel watching down on you. And some plots I read just make no sense. But the story of Nollaig and Stevens life is so understandable, it really complex yet so simple. There is a brilliant portrayal of the characters. If feels as if you've known Steven for years and Nollaig for even longer. As for the vicar, well, don't get me started. . .

I don't live in Belfast, but as I was reading, images of the city formed in my mind and I felt like it was my home town. So if you're twelve and up, and like a good read, then this is the book for you!

[MaryBrigid Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing read with a couple of twists I didn't see coming. looking forward to discussing it with my teenage bookclub and seeing what they thought of it.

[Máire Zepf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on a very long journey and was so glad that I didn't have to put it down at all. To list the 'issues' the book addresses would be to do it a disservice. It's a brilliant story - for me it is really about lies, how they grow and weave into a web you can't escape from. I loved it - def one to pass on to my daughter.

[Ellie Rose McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, fully fleshed-out characters dealing with a number of difficult issues. Despite the subject matter being quite bleak in places, the book as a whole is an easy pageturner. Great dialogue, and a nice little twist with one of the secrets. I found the ending satisfying.

[Mark Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with an interest as to what I could suggest as a gift for young adults, and would happily recommend this. Touching on big themes that affect both young people and adults, the story of Nollaig and her friend Stephen navigating Life's choices is very touching, while never being preachy. It even made me laugh out loud.
One to share with the young adults in your life.

[Schmiddylovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel had everything you need: very well crafted characters with a fascinating background story that unwinded itself over the course of the action; a pleasant tone of narration that not only always adapted to the situation but also kept you willing to read on at the end of each chapter and on top of all that quite a good bit of criticism of homophobia in the church.
I really hoped I would like this book because its author seems to be a lovely person and was very nice when I met her - I must say I was not disappointed at all, I was rather surprise of how good it actually was.
A really really good read and a definite must - read for everyone looking for a truly Belfast - novel.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't perfect, but for the most part I enjoyed it. I don't think I've read a book set in Ireland before, but I loved the tranquillity of it. You can't help but feel sorry for Nollaig and the horrible situation she's in, coupled with the lack of a support system except for one friend. I enjoyed the setting of the church and her growing relationship with the vicar. However, I started to get bored towards the end and found the slow pace, despite the constant twists and turns, to be tedious and just wanted it to be over.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)

I felt really sorry for the main character in this. Her home life, as well as being pregnant at her age, really couldn't have been easy.

This was an okay read, although after a while It starting feeling a bit slow for me. It wasn't too bad, I just wasn't finding it as enjoyable as the first chunk of the book unfortunately.

Overall, An okay read.

[Rheanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful.
There was an incredibly transphobic scene where the two protagonists laughed and make fun of a man who admitted to cross-dressing. They laughed and said, "what, are you gay or something?"

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super good. Loved the characters so much and the plot was very unique and engaging.

[Georgia Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow that was amazing. I just couldn’t put it down, it was such a heartwarming story. I could guess Nollaig’s secret, I thought Craig couldn’t have been mentioned so much at the beginning for him not to be a vital character, but it still came as a shock and I think that’s simply because it was all written and built up so well. However, Brian’s secret was a major shock and I can’t believe I didn’t suspect that outcome even a little bit, it was extremely clever. Nollaig was such a strong character and I loved her for that; I really respected her endless love for her unborn child and her devotion to building a better life for her. Calling the baby Maria was such a sweet addition as well, linking it back to the religious theme. I’m not big on religion myself but it was built up as such a special thing which I enjoyed reading about.

[Tessa Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley Anne McMillan’s books are always an absorbing read, with characters you care about. In this book, fifteen year old Nollaig is trying to hide her unwanted pregnancy from her alcoholic father and her teachers. The only person she can trust is her best friend, Stephen. With Stephen’s help. Nollaig makes a home for herself in the crypt of the local church – until the Vicar finds them. But the vicar too has secrets, and a spot of blackmail seems the only way to stop him handing Nollaig over to the authorities. I really enjoyed this story, which had an unexpected and satisfying conclusion.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review*

This story is relatively short, but has so much packed in to it. Two main narratives, following the stories of Stephen and Nollaig. Two 15 year olds from Ireland, Nollaig with an alcoholic da and pregnant; and her best friend Stephen who has a mysterious past.

A story of healing and facing your past, present and looking to the future.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much better than I expected!
The characters are so real and their stories so believable.
I really felt for our three main people and their individual battles.
The way the priests story was told through his prayers was such a good call.
Read it in one sitting x

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable, one-dimensional, chewing gum for the brain. Perfect for December sick days I guess...

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had a good beginning. I was almost hooked. Then I think the author tried to cram too much information in the final pages that the ending just felt anti-climatic.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good characterisation of Nollaig and Stephen, but the resolution seemed a little too tidy and happily-ever-after.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for young adults, lost a star as it wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly at the end. After tackling difficult subjects throughout, the ending felt hurried.

[Sara Camplisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an engrossing and ultimately life affirming book, which will appeal to young adults and other readers too. I immediately cared about the characters and felt that I knew them. The story is gripping and deals with serious and sometimes difficult real life issues and situations, but is written with an ear for the way people really talk and interact, as well a delicious sense of humour. I laughed and at the end I cried. Very enjoyable and restores your faith in humanity. Highly recommended.

[Judith Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very enjoyable and very hard to put down once you started reading it you just wanted to see what happened next. You could relate to the different characters and everything that was happening in their personal lives especially these days.I would highly recommend people to buy this book especially for their teenagers and when my kids get a little older I will be giving them this book to read .

[Norah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It entered very much into the teenage mind (I think I can still remember what that felt like!) as well as the bumbling old rector! And it covered so many of those areas so seldom discussed (especially here in Northern Ireland) - no spoilers here! A great second novel (I think). Congratulations, Shirley!

[Gretel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the Belfast setting, but there's too many difficult subjects crammed into only 250 pages. Alcoholism, teen pregnancy, domestic abuse and cross-dressing (amongst others) are subjects attempted to be tackled, but the book is far too thin and far too jovial in tone for this to really happen, leaving me with unanswered questions.

[Claire Fayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful and beautifully written story of teen pregnancy, bullying and prejudice set in modern day Belfast. The three main characters are sympathetically drawn and the story keeps up a good pace, switching between the three viewpoints. I especially liked the vicar and his down to earth conversations with God.