Cry Out Loud

Gr 9 Up–Tensions come to a head between Irish teen Nell and her emotionally unavailable mother, so arrangements are made for Nell to stay with family she has never met. Nell is apprehensive, but with things so strained with her mom, she resigns herself to the inevitable and moves in with her mysterious aunt and uncle. Though her relatives prove to be strange and unfriendly, Nell bonds immediately with Caoimhe, an older local woman with a dark past. When Nell realizes that she’s in serious trouble, Caoimhe sends her back in time to get her out of harm’s way, though Caoimhe’s motives may not be as selfless as they seem. Readers will be thrust into a time travel adventure as Nell’s journey leads to a world of ghosts, a blood ritual, and, eventually, a plan to destroy a horrible tradition to save Ireland’s future first-born daughters. O’Connor explores several complicated relationships, all within a colorful backdrop of Irish folk horror. Themes of family trauma, LGBTQIA+ issues, and cultural history are handled honestly and sensitively, and make for an affecting read. The supernatural elements deliver enough whimsy and levity to offset the difficult family dynamics, as do the brightly colored and endearing illustrations. Nell, her family, and Caoimhe are white.