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A Swift Pure Cry

(2007, Fiction - Literary Fiction, Written by Siobhan Dowd)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Irish teen gets accused of killing her baby.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Main characters shoplift with no consequences.

  • Violence:

    A boy is beaten up by a schoolmate. A baby is stillborn, another is left to die of exposure in a cave.

  • Sex:

    Young teens repeatedly have sex, not described, which results in pregnancy; kissing with tongue; a girl sees her father naked and aroused; references to periods, prostitutes, and abortion; a graphic depiction of childbirth.

  • Language:

    British slang: "fags" (for cigarettes), "shite," "ass."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Everyone, including young teens, smokes constantly. Teens drink, including sneaking the communion wine. A father is a drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About A Swift Pure Cry

Parents need to know that this book, based on a true story, depicts some horrifying events, including a graphic description of a young teen giving birth on the kitchen floor, assisted only by her much younger siblings, and the murder of a baby by exposure.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Shell's situation while pregnant. Why didn't anyone see what was happening and offer to help? Why didn't she ask for help?
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