Maura's Angel

by Lynne Reid Banks

It all started with a shattering bang. Maura found herself flat on her face on the pavement. For moments there was nothing, just blackness and silence. But she knew. Once again, a bomb had exploded in the streets of Belfast. And lying beside Maura, with her face buried in her arms, was a stranger. When the other girl moved her head sharply and looked up, Maura got the strangest feeling. It was like looking in a mirror, but not exactly... 00-01 Keystone to Reading Book Award Masterlist

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Ireland, Childrens, Angels, Young Adult

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1984

About the author

Lynne Reid Banks is a British author of books for children and adults. She has written forty books, including the best-selling children's novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and been made into a film.
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after the war was over. She attended St Teresa's School in Surrey. Prior to becoming a writer Banks was an actress, and also worked as a television journalist in Britain, one of the first women to do so. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960.
In 1962 Banks emigrated to Israel, where she taught for eight years on an Israeli kibbutz Yasur. In 1965 she married Chaim Stephenson, with whom she had three sons. Although the family returned to England in 1971 and Banks now lives in Dorset, the influence of her time in Israel can be seen in some of her books which are set partially or mainly on kibbutzim.

Reviews

[Marissa Elera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Lynne Reid Banks' writing style. It's really lovely, especially in her fairy tale style stories. That same voice is certainly present in Maura's Angel, but perhaps given the time and setting of the tale, the whimsy is a bit muted. And while this story has a fascinating premise, it leaves something to be desired. Maybe its wanting to know more about angels and the reasons Angela came to Earth, maybe its because despite her presence, but this does not seem like fairy story. I do, however, feel it is a good book that is part of an excellent children's author's body of work.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of Banks' novels that I've ever read, despite meaning to read The Indian in the Cupboard for years and years. My daughter found this book in a sale and picked it up because my name was in the title - so of course I had to read it! Set in the time of the Troubles in Belfast, it shows the effects of the religious-political fighting on an ordinary Catholic family. For the young reader, this is a good introduction to a slice of Anglo-Irish history (that I hope doesn't become relevant again because of Brexit). At the same time it's a little mystical and philosophical, giving the reader some food for thought.

[Devon Stearns (DevonsFairlyRelaibleBookPicks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maura is your typical school girl. As she talks about her daily events that lead up to meeting another version of herself out on the streets of Belfast, Ireland. An explosion went off sending her through the air and landing on the pavement. Beside her it was like looking in a mirror almost but not quite. The book was really good, my favourite character was Angela as she got herself into trouble but always wanted to make things right but however there were laws where she is from. What I liked about her was her sense of how caring she was in being able to help Maura. Even though Maura said her prayers somehow her prayers were being answered through the dire times of war.

It’s a bittersweet ending but it talks about what the human life definitely is like but from another perspective. Lynne Reid Banks really paints a good picture of what the human cycle would be like but from looking in as a mythical angelic character.

[Chandré De Wet]

I read this book, over and over and over as a child. I can even tell you the first page starts with her older sister singing, "All things bright and booniful!" I recently met someone from Northern Ireland, and told her she is Maura's angel. Would love to read this book again!

[Kylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not her best book. Just sayin'.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynne Reid Banks is one of my favorite children's authors, and I've been trying to read some of her lesser-known books. Maura is an 11-year-old girl growing up in Belfast during 'The Troubles'. Her working-class Catholic family has fallen on hard times: Her older brother, Kieran, is in prison, and her father left the family to join the 'Provos' (the Provisional Irish Republican Army). After a girl named Angela- who looks just like her- saves Maura's life during a bombing, little miracles start happening in Maura's life. Is Angela really an angel?

If you're looking for a cute/feel good story about angels, you might like this book. But Maura's life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. This is a story about war, so it's a bit darker and more realistic than most children's fairy tales. As Angela learns more about the human world, she starts asking questions like 'Why do bad things happen?' and 'Why do people choose to hurt others?'. I liked that the ending was bittersweet and not a traditional happy ending. I do think a few things could have been developed more. Why is Angela here on Earth? What is heaven like? Is she really Maura's twin sister who died as a baby? None of these questions are ever answered, and I thought that was a little disappointing.

This was a charming, thoughtful story, but not Banks' best work.

[juLiA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maura’s Angel
By Lynne Reid Banks
Recommend to age 9 ~ 12
Another make-me-cry novel that made me depressed even after finishing this book. Contains bombing and death. So good I finished in 1 day.
LiA@

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favs and I LOVE it. 😭 Its a little bit sad tough.

[Saga · Rating 5 out of 5]

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