Overview

"A bittersweet Northern Irish romance that takes a new look at teen pregnancy, the magic and mess of first relationships, and a young woman's right to choose her own future. ""A fantastically clever novel"" - Sarah Crossan ""Full of authentic humour, youthful hyperbole and hope"" - Books of the Year, The Big Issue ""Deeply true. A book to press into the hands of others"" - Deirdre Sullivan ""Warm and wise"" - The Bookseller ""Everyone who loved Derry Girls, this is the book for you!"" - Sarah Webb ""Bursting with humour, compassion, and characters that fizz with life"" - Padraig Kenny ""Romantic, funny, important"" - Jenny Ireland Beneath the New Year's Eve fireworks, shy science-nerd Mel and slacker songwriter Sid get pregnant on their first date. Any sixteen-year-olds would expect trouble – but this is Northern Ireland 2018, where abortion is still illegal. Mel's religious parents insist she must keep the baby, whilst Sid's feminist mum pushes for a termination. Mel and Sid are determined to do this together, but they soon discover that pregnancy is totally different for boys and girls. When their relationship starts to fall apart under all the pressure, Mel finds herself feeling alone with the impossible dilemma of the Little Bang growing inside her."

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9781406375725

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Reviews

Little Bang is both warm and wise and its exploration of teenage pregnancy and abortion feels rooted in reality. * The Bookseller * Great for young minds to read and see what life entails for a young parent and I think the realistic way the story is told will really resonate with readers. * NetGalley Reviewer * This book definitely shows the trials and tribulations of teen pregnancy and the conflicting attitudes of people. Enjoyable read overall. * NetGalley Reviewer * This is a book which has been a long time coming. A book for teens and young adults who may be struggling with the reality of an unwanted pregnancy. A book which deals honestly and openly with so many of the issues around abortion - and in particular, the issues in Northern Ireland, of which many readers will be unaware - in a respectful, nuanced and thought-provoking manner... This is such an important, ground-breaking book. It is entertaining, thought-provoking and compassionate, and I think it should be in every school and library, educating and supporting young people. * NetGalley Reviewer *

Great for young minds to read and see what life entails for a young parent and I think the realistic way the story is told will really resonate with readers. * NetGalley Reviewer *

Full of authentic humour, youthful hyperbole and hope… McCaughrain is careful not to be didactic or reductive. In the end this is a story about young relationships and concerns with believable, sympathetic characters. -- Books of the Year * The Big Issue * Little Bang is both warm and wise and its exploration of teenage pregnancy and abortion feels rooted in reality. * The Bookseller * I found myself both smiling and frowning as I read. A fantastically clever novel which feels completely relevant. -- Sarah Crossan Reading it, I had a sense that I was hand in hand with my teenage self… A book that prompts conversation and compassion; a book about choices and timelines and connection, and deep, lonely courage. -- Deirdre Sullivan, author of Savage Her Reply Romantic, funny, important. -- Jenny Ireland, author of The First Move

Little Bang is both warm and wise and its exploration of teenage pregnancy and abortion feels rooted in reality. * The Bookseller * Great for young minds to read and see what life entails for a young parent and I think the realistic way the story is told will really resonate with readers. * NetGalley Reviewer * This book definitely shows the trials and tribulations of teen pregnancy and the conflicting attitudes of people. Enjoyable read overall. * NetGalley Reviewer * This is a book which has been a long time coming. A book for teens and young adults who may be struggling with the reality of an unwanted pregnancy. A book which deals honestly and openly with so many of the issues around abortion - and in particular, the issues in Northern Ireland, of which many readers will be unaware - in a respectful, nuanced and thought-provoking manner... This is such an important, ground-breaking book. It is entertaining, thought-provoking and compassionate, and I think it should be in every school and library, educating and supporting young people. * NetGalley Reviewer * I found myself both smiling and frowning as I read. A fantastically clever novel which feels completely relevant. -- Sarah Crossan

Author Information

Kelly McCaughrain's debut novel, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, won an unprecedented hat-trick of awards at the 2019 Children's Books Ireland Awards, including Book of the Year, as well as the Northern Ireland Book Award. Kelly was the Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland 2019-2021 and she works at Belfast Met College as educational support for young adults with special needs. She says: “I get my best ideas from observing teens. I love their high ideals and natural barometer for injustice. I always want to write things that are worthy of their huge capacity to scrutinise the world and their place in it.” When she isn’t writing, she likes to travel with her 1967 classic campervan, Gerda, and her 1977 classic husband, Michael.

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