The Guns of Easter

a stirring account of the Easter Rising

'An impressive first novel'

'A fine, humane anti-war novel which young people will relish'

'A sensitive portrayal of a boy's forced and traumatic emergence into adolescence'

A striking first novel endowed with a strong sense of the conflicting passions of the time. Some of the scenes are as searing as anything in O'Casey's trilogy.

We sweat it out with Jimmy as he confronts horror at every turn. Physically and emotionally in a no-man's land, the boy's perceptions of good men killing one another leave him more scarred than any bullets.

Whelan immerses readers in a harsh, yet poignant, journey that finds Jimmy learning much about the Irish people, his family, and most important, himself. The exciting plot moves effortlessly, enhanced by plenty of details to add character depth and historical context, and Whelan wisely avoids both extreme tragedy and overzealous triumph. The result is a fine adventure, with some realistic, genuinely heart-tugging twists.

A wonderful and gripping class novel. Ideal for my 5th and 6th class, all boys!!They are currently engrossed with Jimmy Conway's life and in the capital!