Transition Year Citywide Reading Campaign 2024
Published on 13th November 2024
The Citywide Read is making a return this Winter and for the first time is aimed at Young Adults in Transition Year (TY).
This year’s choice is The Gone Book by Helena Close, published by Little Island Books, a dark and gritty Young Adult novel full of twists and turns highlighting the anguish of an absent parent and the strife of teenage friendships.
The campaign promotes the joy of reading through an initial visit by TY classes to their local library where students will learn what resources the library has to offer, pick up a library card and receive a free copy of The Gone Book.
The same students will then make a return to the library some weeks later for creative writing workshops and conversation with the author.
“Matt’s mam left when he was ten. He writes letters to her but doesn’t send them. He keeps them in his Gone Book. Five years of letters about his life. Five years of hurt.
Since Matt’s dad gave up the drink all he does is run and pray. His older brother is taking drugs and owes money to bad people. His friends Mikey and Anna are the best things in his life, but Matt keeps pushing them away.
Matt just wants to skate, surf and forget. But now his mam is back in town with her new family and Matt knows he needs to find her, to finally deliver the truth.”
About the Teen Citywide Read
The Teen Citywide Read is co-ordinated by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Dublin City Libraries and is supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.