Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Girl in Between
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Dublin
STATE:
COUNTRY: Ireland
NATIONALITY:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2144547/sarah-carroll * http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/meet-sarah-carroll-author-of-the-girl-in-between-35709210.html * http://www.theethicalvolunteer.com/about.html
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; husband’s name, Bob (a broadcaster and filmmaker); children: May.
EDUCATION:Received degree in geology.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and volunteer coordinator. Hostel operator, Tanzania, 2007-10; founder, Ethical Volunteer, Dublin, Ireland, 2010–.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Irish writer Sarah Carroll’s debut novel is The Girl in Between, a story that explores themes of homeless and abandonment in modern Dublin. “This part fractured fairy tale, part fable,” declared Briana Shemroske in Booklist, “is sure to cast a delightful yet devastating spell.” “Homelessness is at the core of the novel,” stated Sophie White in the Irish Independent, “and for Carroll social issues have always been an interest. In 2006 she set up a hostel in Tanzania which then inspired her to start the Ethical Volunteer, a website informing would-be volunteers how best to ditch the ‘I’m saving the world mentality’ and make a positive impact in developing communities. It also led her to now-husband, broadcaster, film-maker and kindred spirit, Bob.” “Carroll lives on a houseboat moored in Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock, with husband Bob and their nine-month old daughter, May,” explained Jenny Lee in the introduction to an interview with the author in the Irish News. “The view from her window is the abandoned Boland’s Mill, a multi-story warehouse building, parts of which date from the early 1800s. The mill, which is now surrounded by high-tech multinationals including Google, Facebook and Airbnb, stopped production in 2001. Only the facade of the building currently remains, as work continues in transforming it into to Boland’s Quay, accommodating new residences, commercial and retail spaces.”
The protagonist of The Girl in Between is a young girl who has fled with her drug-addicted mother to a safe haven—a place based on Boland’s Mill—that she refers to as “the Castle.” The unnamed protagonist “must stay inside the closed mill they’re squatting in and remain out of sight,” declared Susan Elkin, writing in the School Librarian, “lest ‘the authorities’ take her away.” Left on her own, stated Michael Marie Jacobs in School Library Journal, the girl “spends most of her time exploring the depths of an abandoned factory she sees as her castle.” “Her rich imagination has her investigating a possible ghost,” explained Katrina Hedeen, writing in Horn Book, “and she enjoys observing people outside through the binoculars Ma gives her.” “I wondered what it would be like to be a young girl growing up without a physical place to provide the safety, comfort and belonging we all need,” Carroll declared in an interview in Tales of Yesterday. “And when she found something that she could call home, as the girl does with the Castle, I wondered what lengths she would go to stop it from being torn away. I also knew from the get-go that the opening line would be I’m invisible because the most vulnerable so often are. I wanted to step over the stereotypes and see what was going on behind the begging cup.” “The story,” said Ruth Ng in the Bookbag website, “deals with some dark issues, from a child’s point of view. As well as the issues of being homeless, the girl’s mother is dealing with depression, and alcohol and drug addiction. These are handled sensitively, I felt, and somehow without being too graphic the book depicts the hardships faced by children of addicts, as well as the struggles of a parent who is trying to stay clean.”
Although the girl and her mother are the primary characters in the story, there are others that play important role. One is the homeless man called the Caretaker who sleeps nearby. “Of course, the main inspiration for his character was the homeless man who used to sleep in the shadow of Boland’s Mills. The idea of him selling books, however, came from a British man who used to sleep rough in Dún Laoghaire. Like Caretaker, people could buy his second-hand books or swap theirs for a few pounds,” Carroll explained in an interview with Claire Hennessy in the Irish Times. “The reference to Caretaker’s Arctic travels comes from a wandering Irish man that I met in Spain one February. He was homeless and each year he migrated south to escape the bleakness of living on the streets throughout the Irish winter.”
Critics celebrated Carroll’s depiction of homelessness in the midst of modern Dublin. The Girl in Between “is a sensitive portrayal of a timely issue, presented in a unique and nonjudgmental fashion,” opined Sharon Martin in Voice of Youth Advocates. “The sorrow, futility, beauty, and … hope will stay with the reader.” “The story explores the concepts of loneliness and the permanence of memories,” stated a contributor to First to Read. “I found myself being inexplicably drawn to this book – even though this is normally not the sort of thing I read.” The author “is especially perceptive,” said a Publishers Weekly reviewer, “about the mix of deep love and anger a child bears for an abusive parent.” “Although the story features a child protagonist,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor, “it’s meant for older, thoughtful readers who can sift through the despair.” “This eerie, gritty debut,” stated Jen Hubert in Reading Rants, “blends suspense, survival and magical realism into a satisfyingly spooky stew that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.” “The ending is absolutely brilliant and made me cry,” declared a reviewer on the With Love for Books website. “The Girl in Between is a unique story and Sarah Carroll’s amazing writing makes it come to life incredibly well. I loved this brilliant book and think it’s a definite must-read.” The novel “was magnificently structured, with allusions and hints to how the story might end, how it would end,” said a contributor to the First to Read website. “Yet it still takes the reader by surprise, grasping at those heart strings. For a debut novel, it’s powerfully written with masterfully told.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, May 15, 2017, Briana Shemroske, review of The Girl in Between, p. 50.
Horn Book, September-October, 2017, Katrina Hedeen, review of The Girl in Between, p. 86.
Irish Independent, May 15, 2017, Sophie White, “Meet Sarah Carroll, Author of The Girl in Between.“
Irish News, May 22, 2017, Jenny Lee, “Sarah Carroll: A Child’s Eye View of Homelessness.”
Irish Times, September 20, 2017, Claire Hennessy, “The Invisible Girl: An Irish YA Novel about Homelessness.”
Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2017, review of The Girl in Between.
Publishers Weekly, April 17, 2017, review of The Girl in Between, p. 67.
School Librarian, autumn, 2017, Susan Elkin, review of The Girl in Between, p. 180.
School Library Journal, May, 2017, Michael Marie Jacobs, review of The Girl in Between, p. 94.
Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 2017, Sharon Martin, review of The Girl in Between, p. 76.
ONLINE
Bookbag, http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/ (April 22, 2017), Sarah Ng, review of The Girl in Between.
Compass Book Ratings, http://www.compassbookratings.com/ (July 2, 2017), review of The Girl in Between.
Ethical Volunteer, http://www.theethicalvolunteer.com/ (January 10, 2018), author profile.
First to Read, https://www.firsttoread.com/ (January 10, 2018), review of The Girl in Between.
Penguin Random House Website, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/ (January 10, 2018), author profile.
Reading Rants, http://www.readingrants.org/ (March 24, 2017), Jen Hubert, review of The Girl in Between.
With Love for Books, http://www.withloveforbooks.com/ (June 22, 2017), review of The Girl in Between.
Who are we?
Sarah Carroll: After volunteering in Northern Tanzania in 2006 for seven weeks with a well-known international volunteer agency, Sarah remained in Tanzania and opened a hostel for volunteers on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. The hostel provides accommodation for volunteers and works alongside local grassroots organisations, while helping to connect volunteers with local organisations.
In 2010, Sarah passed on the management of the hostel and returned to Ireland to work on her new initiative, The Ethical Volunteer. The Ethical Volunteer is expanding the initial concept of Sarah's hostel into a worldwide volunteer movement that promotes local businesses and grassroots organisations and helps volunteers to make the right decisions when organising an international volunteer placement.
She has a degree in Geology, which, surprisingly, is of little use in her new role with The Ethical Volunteer.
Meet Sarah Carroll, author of The Girl In Between
Sarah Carroll writes for the sheer love of it, although she swapped the garret for a houseboat, says Sophie White
Sarah Carroll on the houseboat she shares with her family near Boland’s Mill, Dublin. Picture: David Conachy
Sarah Carroll on the houseboat she shares with her family near Boland’s Mill, Dublin. Picture: David Conachy
May 15 2017 2:30 AM
Ten-year-old Sam is the titular Girl In Between of Sarah Carroll's debut novel. Resourceful and clever, she is far from average but then so is her creator, Sarah. In fact Sam and Sarah have a lot in common. Tenacious, fearless and funny, both also possess the ability to create rich worlds full of beauty and intrigue.
Sam creates her vivid world to escape the bleak reality of her life as the daughter of a homeless addict. Sarah, on the other hand, creates these worlds as a result of a completely inescapable impetus.
"You just write because you can't not write, because you love it," she says. Shoes kicked off, she is curled up on a chair in The Marker hotel, a stone's throw from Boland's Flour Mill, the setting for her YA novel that inspired a bidding war between some of the giants in publishing.
Sarah is describing most aspiring author's dream scenario: taking meetings with HarperCollins, discussing further book ideas and the mad expectation put on young writers to produce a book a year. "'Oh you're more literary,' they told me, 'you could probably take a year and a half for each book!'" Indeed Sarah's novel is that rare and wonderful thing: writing that combines lyrical prose with a plot that keeps you hungry for that final, harrowing page.
Success has been hard-won. The Girl In Between is Carroll's second completed work, her first unpublished book was a five year toil that she describes as "terrible" though this seems highly unlikely. "I had six years of writing before I got paid for it. I just really enjoyed it and now I'm just so grateful that it's worked out and I can actually do it full-time."
Carroll is not a person who sees the slog of writing as a hardship, though the uncertainty of the life is difficult.
"You have to 100pc live with the idea that you're good enough to get published and on the other side, you have to 100pc believe that you will never get published because the chances are so small. The reward is in the graft. You finish a day with a little high because you did an amazing little paragraph."
And the book is full of amazing little paragraphs. absolute gems to savour. A girl's laugh is like "rain hitting a tin roof" while Sam's anxiety is like "a bag of spiders" released inside her body.
Arresting imagery, pitch perfect dialogue and engrossing characters make for a contemporary ghost story that monopolises the reader's thoughts and crucially makes us think.
Homelessness is at the core of the novel and for Carroll social issues have always been an interest.
In 2006 she set up a hostel in Tanzania which then inspired her to start the Ethical Volunteer, a website informing would-be volunteers how best to ditch the 'I'm saving the world mentality' and make a positive impact in developing communities. It also led her to now-husband, broadcaster, film-maker and kindred spirit, Bob.
"We were at a dinner party on Achill Island and he was doing a show on the Travel Channel called The Ethical Hedonist and I was running The Ethical Volunteer at the time. We went our separate ways. Two months later, I thought 'I must get in touch with that guy, I'd love to get out and film these small projects with him.' When I got home, I'd gotten an email from him! So we went filming together for a few months. We started dating about three weeks into it. I think I knew I was going to marry him before I even kissed him."
Carroll has always done her own thing. She recalls in college queuing up with friends to get the J1 visa. "My friend turned to me and said, 'This is so cool everyone we know is going to Canada!' And I thought 'God she's right. Everyone we know is going to Canada.' I stepped out of the queue and went to get a visa for Australia." The couple now live in an urban idyll in a houseboat with their nine-month-old daughter, May.
Spending winters abroad meant that Carroll completed the novel in Mexico where she and Bob wed, and May got her first taste of beach life.
"Having Bob with me full time was brilliant. May couldn't latch so I pumped for six months. In the beginning it was really hard. 45 minutes to feed, 45 minutes to settle her, 45 minutes to pump. I'd be up from 2am to 5am. Then sleep from 5am to 8am and then get up and go back to work. I went back to work 17 days after having her because the book had to be edited."
The thoughts of taking a brand new baby travelling would fill most first-time, or even second or third-time parents with terror but Carroll has just one main fear in this world: "I fear security. I always have. Security breeds habit and habit breeds fear of change. But if you're always changing you don't get scared of what will happen. If I run out of money I'll work, I'll find something, I'll be fine."
Right now, Carroll is something of a 'girl in between' herself. She is in her routine of exercising each morning, plotting the day's writing and enjoying a slightly off-grid existence in Dublin's docklands. This anonymity is unlikely to last as Carroll is on the verge of big things. She won't be fine, she'll be fantastic.
The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll (Simon & Schuster) is available now
Sunday Independent
Photo: © Bob Kelly
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Carroll currently splits her time between a houseboat in Dublin and travel abroad. She recently returned from five years in Tanzania, where she founded and ran a hostel while working to support local community projects. She continues to promote ethical overseas volunteering through her blogs and films while planning her next book. The Girl in Between is her debut novel.
The Girl in Between
Katrina Hedeen
The Horn Book Magazine.
93.5 (September-October 2017): p86.
COPYRIGHT 2017 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Full Text:
The Girl in Between
by Sarah Carroll
Middle School, High School Dawson/Penguin 255 pp.
5/17 978-0-7352-2850-3 $15.99
An unnamed young girl and her mother live in "the Castle": an abandoned, dilapidated mill in a city that's
flourishing all around them. Though she misses living at Gran's, the narrator is grateful for their Castle and
for Ma's devotion: even when Ma goes out and sees drug dealer "Monkey Man," she always returns. The
girl must stay inside the mill to avoid the "Authorities," but she entertains herself well enough: her rich
imagination has her investigating a possible ghost, and she enjoys observing people outside through the
binoculars Ma gives her. The first-person narrative is clearly a child's voice, but a perceptive one, with
naively poignant observations about people she sees, Ma (who is a sympathetic character that even the girl
can see is "drowning"), their harsh reality, and her own "invisibility." As flashback chapters periodically
recall one step after another in the pair's homelessness, each anecdote heartbreaking in its credibility,
readers will mourn how the characters' situation has deteriorated. Ultimately, developers come for the mill
(machines are "creeping closer, as if there's a building that's bleeding and they can smell it and they are
coming to devour it"), which leads to a devastating conclusion that urges reexamination of the story. This
mature, chilling, and compassionate depiction of homelessness will remain in minds and hearts. KATRINA
HEDEEN
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Hedeen, Katrina. "The Girl in Between." The Horn Book Magazine, Sept.-Oct. 2017, p. 86. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A503641804/ITOF?
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Carroll, Sarah. The Girl in Between
Sharon Martin
Voice of Youth Advocates.
40.2 (June 2017): p76+.
COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
4Q * 5P * M * J * S (a)
Carroll, Sarah. The Girl in Between. Kathy Dawson/Penguin Random House, 2017. 256p. $16.99. 978-0-
7352-2860-3.
The Girl in Between is a poignant, heartbreaking, and, ultimately, healing debut novel. This is the story of
an unnamed young girl and her drug-addicted mother who are homeless, told from the girl's perspective in
alternating chapters of flashbacks and the present. Their journey to homelessness is described from living
with a grandmother to living on a beach and, eventually, to finding their dream Castle (in reality, an
abandoned building). The girl desperately wants a home--a place for just the two of them--and it seems like
the Castle might be it. Soon, though, others show up: a scary former boyfriend and then contractors who
want to develop the old building. As the story progresses, Ma's grasp on life and parenting becomes more
and more tenuous. Past and present finally meet as readers learn exactly what happened one cold night,
leaving readers to discover just who--or what--was in the Castle all along.
Because this is told from the girl's perspective, there is matter-of-factness about the details of being
homeless. The girl is a keen observer of the life around her, accepting the reality of dumpster-diving for
supper, being on the run from the "Authorities," and making fun for herself by creating stories about and
trying to understand the people she observes. This is a sensitive portrayal of a timely issue, presented in a
unique and nonjudgmental fashion. The sorrow, futility, beauty, and, finally, hope will stay with the reader.
This is for every reader who enjoys stories of family, love, and loss, mystery, and the power of hope and
optimism. --Sharon Martin.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Martin, Sharon. "Carroll, Sarah. The Girl in Between." Voice of Youth Advocates, June 2017, p. 76+.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A497860375/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=6be26921. Accessed 24 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A497860375
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The Girl in Between
Briana Shemroske
Booklist.
113.18 (May 15, 2017): p50.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Girl in Between. By Sarah Carroll. June 2017. 256p. Penguin/Kathy Dawson, $16.99
(9780735228603). Gr. 8-11.
It's been one year and eight months since "the night in the alleyway"-and since Ma's had a drink. After
sleeping along sand dunes and squatting in sheds, Carroll's eponymous girl-the unnamed narrator of this
debut-and Ma have at last secured shelter in an abandoned mill. With its high gates and trapdoors, the girl,
smitten with fairy tales, dubs the mill "the Castle," and she's certain it has a story. But the girl has a story,
too. As Ma's alcoholism resurfaces and the mill simmers with seemingly supernatural phenomena, past
traumas come reeling into the present. Though a somewhat cliche final twist seems mismatched with the
books earlier charms, Carroll's lovely prose, laced with gothic imagery and canny clues, will carry readers
through this slow-burning exploration of homelessness, the haunting hold of memory, and what it means to
forget, to forgive, and, just maybe, to move on. Like the stories our unlikely heroine adores, this part
fractured fairy tale, part fable is sure to cast a delightful yet devastating spell all its own.--Briana Shemroske
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Shemroske, Briana. "The Girl in Between." Booklist, 15 May 2017, p. 50. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A496084857/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3fee5da1.
Accessed 24 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A496084857
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The Girl in Between
Publishers Weekly.
264.16 (Apr. 17, 2017): p67.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Girl in Between
Sarah Carroll. Penguln/Dawson, $16.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-7352-2860-3
Carroll's poignant and unsentimental debut, about an unnamed homeless girl and her alcoholic Ma, offers an
unfiltered glimpse into the daily realities of life on the streets and, for much of the book, in an abandoned
mill the twosome dub the "Castle." The protagonist holds fond memories of the comforting routines of
Gran's house, where she and Ma once lived, going to school, sleeping in her own bed, and never being
hungry; Ma's drinking only minimally affected her. That secure life ends when Ma, for an unrevealed
reason, fights with Gran and takes off with her daughter. Living in constant fear of run-ins with the
"Authorities" who will take her away from Ma, and of a ghost she is sure haunts the Castle, the girl spends
much of her time observing other people's lives with a pair of cast-off binoculars and drawing on the Castle
walls. Carroll is especially perceptive about the mix of deep love and anger a child bears for an abusive
parent. The unsettling story's chronological jumps make for an ambiguous, though moving, ending. Ages
12-up. Agent: Claire Wilson, Rogers, Coleridge and White. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Girl in Between." Publishers Weekly, 17 Apr. 2017, p. 67. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A490820861/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7658b45b.
Accessed 24 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A490820861
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Carroll, Sarah: THE GIRL IN BETWEEN
Kirkus Reviews.
(Apr. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Carroll, Sarah THE GIRL IN BETWEEN Kathy Dawson/Penguin (Children's Fiction) $16.99 6, 20 ISBN:
978-0-7352-2860-3
A skillful debut presents a nuanced view of homelessness.An unnamed girl, whose age and race are not
given, lives in an unnamed town with her mother. Dubbed the Castle because of its spaciousness, their
current place to live is actually an abandoned mill. While the girl's mother spends the day outside, begging
for spare change, the girl knows to remain invisible, hiding in the shadows or staying inside so the
Authorities don't try to take her away again. Related in the girl's naive voice, indicative of someone who has
been sheltered much of her life, the story alternates between the pair's current state and the girl's harsh
memories. These realistic remembrances reveal a mother who wants what's best for her child but lets her
guilt and depression give way to alcohol, drugs, and other bad decisions. The girl counters the isolation,
poverty, and fear with an insatiable curiosity, friendliness toward a neighboring squatter, and her hypothesis
that the Castle may be haunted. Although the story features a child protagonist, it's meant for older,
thoughtful readers who can sift through the despair. Its fairly slow pace may lose readers along the way, but
those who persist through the heartbreakingly beautiful prose will discover a chilling conclusion. The blend
of dark and lovely will appeal to David Almond fans. (Fiction. 13-adult)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Carroll, Sarah: THE GIRL IN BETWEEN." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A489268458/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=c1ba69e6.
Accessed 24 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A489268458
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Carroll, Sarah: The Girl in Between
Susan Elkin
School Librarian.
65.3 (Autumn 2017): p180.
COPYRIGHT 2017 The School Library Association
http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
Full Text:
Carroll, Sarah
The Girl in Between
Simon & Schuster, 2017, pp256, 6.99 [pounds sterling]
978 1 4711 6062 2
This book has an over cover which declares in a faint font 'No one sees me. I'm Invisible.' It is a great credit
to Sarah Carroll's writing that I was within twenty pages of the end before I realised what that actually
meant, although it's regularly repeated as the narrative progresses. We're in Ireland where the narrator and
her Ma are living rough, having fallen out with the conciliatory Gran. Ma begs, drinks, takes drugs,
prostitutes herself and mixes with some pretty dangerous people--although she genuinely tries to be a good
mother. Her daughter must stay inside the closed mill they're squatting in and remain out of sight, lest 'the
authorities' take her away.
There are shifts in time both forward and backward as Carroll gradually drip feeds the information the
reader needs, building up a lot of page-turning curiosity as she goes. Nothing is, of course, quite what it
seems although there's a hopeful upbeat ending in a novel which explores guilt, forgiveness and
reconciliation from an unusual perspective.
Suffice it to say that this is a very original novel and Carroll has brought off with aplomb exactly what I
used to tell my secondary school students you can't do in a story.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Elkin, Susan. "Carroll, Sarah: The Girl in Between." School Librarian, Autumn 2017, p. 180. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A506957464/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=ba121a95. Accessed 24 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A506957464
12/24/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Carroll, Sarah. The Girl in Between
Michael Marie Jacobs
School Library Journal.
63.5 (May 2017): p94.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
CARROLL, Sarah. The Girl in Between. 256p. Penguin/Kathy Dawson Bks. Jun. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN
9780735228603.
Gr 6 Up--An unnamed homeless girl who tends to blur reality and imagination follows her unstable mother
throughout a bustling city that's seemingly crawling with "Authorities" and social workers. The girl spends
most of her time exploring the depths of an abandoned factory she sees as her castle. Her main priority is to
stay invisible to the outside world. She ruminates on the days before the safety of the castle, when she
watched her Ma slowly descend into a world of alcoholism and drug addiction. Carroll depicts a young girl
at the mercy of adults. The girl's thoughts and actions are reminiscent of the subject's of Jeanette Walls's
The Glass Castle as she is forced to assume the responsibilities of a parent. Carroll's writing shines with true
originality. The plot is comprised mostly of the protagonist conquering her various fears, many of which
spawn from her imagination and memories. There is very little dialogue driving the story, so the narrative is
propelled by the girl's introspection and somewhat confusing dips back into her past. There are several
heartrending reveals that keep the novel from becoming stagnant, but the tinges of magical realism may not
be appreciated by all readers. VERDICT For libraries looking to add literary and gritty' YA to collections
lacking in books about teen poverty or homelessness.--Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Jacobs, Michael Marie. "Carroll, Sarah. The Girl in Between." School Library Journal, May 2017, p. 94.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491032130/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a6076d52. Accessed 24 Dec. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491032130
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Publisher's Note:
Told in the naïve voice of a homeless girl sheltered by her mother from the world, this is a moving debut perfect for fans of David Almond, A Monster Calls, and Room.
I'm invisible. Ma says I'm supposed to be so the Authorities don't get me. She goes out into the streets almost every day but I'm not allowed. I've got to stay inside the mill so they don't see me.
In an old, abandoned mill, a girl and her ma take shelter from their memories of life on the streets, and watch the busy world go by. The girl calls it the Castle because it's the biggest place they've ever stayed, a home of her own like no other. The windows are boarded up and the floorboards are falling in, but for her neither of those things matter.
Then developers show up, and it's clear that their lives are about to change forever. Desperate to save their refuge from the Authorities and her mother from her own personal demons, the girl seeks out the ghosts of the mill. And with only Caretaker—the old man who's slept outside the mill for decades—around to answer her questions, she begins to wonder what kind of ghosts are haunting both the mill and her mother.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Kathy Dawson Books
The Girl In Between
by Sarah Carroll
Review Date:
07/02/2017
Recommended Age:
12+
Overall Rating:
****1/2
Profanity / Language Rating:
***
Violence / Gore Rating:
***
Sex / Nudity Rating:
*
Overall Review:
A girl and her Ma live in an abandoned mill. The day they left Gran's house Ma promised the girl that she would find them a castle to live in. To the girl that is exactly what the old building is--her castle.
Sarah Carrol's debut novel The Girl In Between is a haunting story of both hope and hopelessness. The heavy weight of family, homelessness, and substance abuse is lightened somewhat as it is viewed through the eyes of a child too young to fully comprehend the events happening around her. By having our main character and narrator known to us only as 'The Girl' Carroll has created an everyman vacuum that places the reader firmly in the position of the protagonist. Through this innocent lens readers are given the opportunity to peer into the everyday lives of many people that are so often taken for granted--as well as life on the streets. With a twist ending that leaves the reader both heartbroken and uplifted, The Girl In Between is a tale of beautiful contradictions and the strength of the human spirit.
Review of an Advance Reader Copy
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 18 religious exclamations; 6 mild obscenities; 1 offensive hand gesture.
Violence/Gore: Many references to the danger of an abandoned building; several instances of a woman warning a girl of the danger of the authorities; girl knocked over by object; woman threatens to slap girl; woman trips over bicycle; girl hit by door; woman recalls acts of petty vandalism; girl falls; girl hit with shoe; boy tries to push girl in water; references to baby ducks being eaten by predators; woman throws glass at wall; a reference to a baby dying; woman slaps girl; girl attacked by man; girl falls; girl imagines machines eating buildings with people inside; girl chased by men; references to girl's death.
Sex/Nudity: References to a man kissing a woman; brief reference to a nursing mother.
Mature Subject Matter:
Homelessness, substance abuse, alcoholism.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Many references to and scenes of adults abusing drugs and alcohol in the presence of minors.
Reviewed By Amberle
No image available
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Book Review - The Girl in Between by Sarah Carroll
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Review by Suze
Life is good when the girl lives with her grandmother, but Ma wants them to move out. They don't have any money and they have nowhere to go. The girl and her mother end up on the streets until they move into an old mill they call The Castle. Ma forgets to feed the girl, she takes her daughter to scary places she doesn't want to be and the girl doesn't go to school. Ma has told the girl to stay away from the Authorities, they're after her and want to take her with them, while leaving Ma behind. Every time they arrive the girl hides, so the Authorities won't find her. The girl made her mother promise something, but Ma isn't sticking to it. Life at the mill is lonely and the girl only has one friend. The mill might be haunted and the girl is afraid, but she's built herself a safe house, she'll be fine, won't she?
The Girl in Between is an original and impressive story. The girl is being taken away from the home she loves by a mother who can't take care of them. Life on the streets isn't easy and the girl is glad when they find the mill. They at least have a roof over their heads. My heart ached for her because of the unfairness of her situation. Her mother makes wrong decision after wrong decision, but the girl keeps loving her unconditionally. She wants to go back to her grandmother, but her mother doesn't put her daughter's needs first, which is such a sad situation.
I liked the ghost aspect of the story, which gives it even more layers of depth. The mill is supposed to be haunted and the girl is trying to lure the ghost. I was fascinated by the way she tries to discover more about the mill's history. Something must have happened there and finding out more about it kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the way Sarah Carroll plays with tension, she's keeping tight control and her timing is perfect, which makes her story incredibly strong. The Girl in Between is hauntingly beautiful and I loved every single page.
Sarah Carroll writes about a girl without a proper childhood, friends her own age and a school she can go to. The girl doesn't have much in her life, but because of her optimistic personality she keeps trying to find ways to keep herself busy. She's being neglected and Sarah Carroll writes about that in a raw and honest way from the point of view of the child, which made it extra moving. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns and I loved how I was being surprised over and over again. The ending is absolutely brilliant and made me cry. The Girl in Between is a unique story and Sarah Carroll's amazing writing makes it come to life incredibly well. I loved this brilliant book and think it's a definite must-read.
Advice
The Girl in Between is a beautiful impressive story and I think it's suitable for both teenagers and adults.
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Labels: Suze's Reviews
The Girl in Between by Sarah Carroll
The Girl in Between
Sarah Carroll
The Girl in Between explores themes of loneliness and grief with effortless warmth and an unforgettable voice that will stick with you long after you've finished.
"A deeply moving story of family, homelessness, and the ghosts that won't let us go. Haunting and unforgettable."—Megan Shepherd, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
Told in the naïve voice of a homeless girl sheltered by her mother from the world, this is a moving debut perfect for fans of David Almond, A Monster Calls, and Room.
I'm invisible. Ma says I'm supposed to be so the Authorities don't get me. She goes out into the streets almost every day but I'm not allowed. I've got to stay inside the mill so they don't see me.
In an old, abandoned mill, a girl and her ma take shelter from their memories of life on the streets, and watch the busy world go by. The girl calls it the Castle because it's the biggest place they've ever stayed, a home of her own like no other. The windows are boarded up and the floorboards are falling in, but for her neither of those things matter.
Then developers show up, and it's clear that their lives are about to change forever. Desperate to save their refuge from the Authorities and her mother from her own personal demons, the girl seeks out the ghosts of the mill. And with only Caretaker—the old man who's slept outside the mill for decades—around to answer her questions, she begins to wonder what kind of ghosts are haunting both the mill and her mother.
The Girl in Between is a compelling, witty, and at times heartbreaking novel that explores themes of loneliness and grief with effortless warmth and an unforgettable voice that will stick with you long after you've finished.
Advance Galley Reviews
by Cynthia Ayala, Hollywood
A beautiful story about the relationship between daughter and mother. But it’s not the typical story. Both are homeless, living in an old abandoned mill. But there is some tension to the relationship as the mother, who falls into the darkness of alcohol and drugs. What’s powerful about the novel is that nothing is explicit but the danger is still there. What also works so powerfully is the way that novel functions, going back and forth between the past and the present. The reason it works so well is because the author separates the structure of the past and the present but ties the past to the present by exploring the past as it connects to something specific in the present. The anxiety is there, the tension is there and emotional resonance that connects to the character and her relationship with her mother. That structure works so well because it focuses the reader’s attention to the story and the events. There is nothing lost, nothing to confuse the reader and the past is given just as much attention as the present is, helping the story be cohesive. Those elements of the past highlight’s the narrators naïve understanding of the world but they also highlight the dangers for her. The reader understands her danger better than she does, and that works to create tension and empathy for the narrator. There’s so much going on that the innocence doesn’t quite understand but that the reader does. And that works so well to grab the reader’s attention. It’s not even that the narrator’s mom is a bad mom, she’s lost, but her loss isn’t helping her daughter, in fact, it’s putting her in such terrible danger. This is a remarkable debut novel because it touches on homelessness, it touches on the bonds between mother and daughter, how they can sometimes be damaging, no matter the love that there is. There are always wrong ways to love, selfish ways to love, and that concept is expressed so beautifully here. It’s a haunting novel because of that, because of the past and how it can haunt and damage someone, how it can hurt a person’s heart and soul. Personally, I loved that because that only made it more engaging to read. There is also the fact that this novel is not without its twists. The biggest one being at the end and so heartbreaking. But it was magnificently structured, with allusions and hints to how the story might end, how it would end. Yet it still takes the reader by surprise, grasping at those heart strings. For a debut novel, it’s powerfully written with masterfully told.
by Weezie L, Swanzey
This was a very sad book. A girl and her mother are homeless and move around a lot. They squat in abandoned buildings and sleep on beaches. The mother is an alcoholic and a druggie and possibly has mental issues. The girl makes up things to keep herself company and stays innocent of the dire situation they're actually in.
by McKinlay Dennis, Jupiter
It expired before I could finish because i'm stuck in a horrible reading slump, but what i read, i liked.
by Tracey Sirles, Ashland
Hard. So hard. This book is emotionally charged for both the people in it and the reader. While it draws comparisons to Room by Emma Donoghue, it stands so uniquely on its own. From the first look at this book, the cover, I felt a connection with the girl. Mostly because I also drew on the all of my bedroom at a young age, and it was also a castle. Our circumstances for doing so are incredibly different, but at the same time, the parallel was a bit uncomfortable. Especially whereas I kept drawing and covering it up with posters so that no one could see, until the picture was so large it couldn't be contained. But that's another story entirely. The Girl In Between is told in first person perspective, which is one of my favorite POVs as it lends to gaining great depth and a narrow view of the world. Which especially highlights the isolation or exuberance of the character, and amplifies their emotions like no other POV can do. And for a novel like this... one so heartbreaking and gritty... it can leave you feeling unprepared at any given moment. It's also a little eerie as the girl is young and witnessing the "Authorities" and ghosts while she is trying to help her mother and preserve her sense of home. Ultimately this was a haunting tale, though at times a bit predictable. Nevertheless, I feel like fans of Room will find a new favorite in The Girl in Between.
by Nicole Dumas, Oro valley
So, I finished this story in one day. It was a very fast-paced read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although, it was a little predictable once I got to that halfway point in the story. I must admit, that even though I knew what was coming, I still got a little teary eyed at the end. 3.5 stars only because I wish it hadn't been so predictable, but otherwise I loved the writing style and was pleasantly surprised that I didn't hate it being in first person!
by Suze Lavender, Sarasota
Life is good when the girl lives with her grandmother, but Ma wants them to move out. They don't have any money and they have nowhere to go. The girl and her mother end up on the streets until they move into an old mill they call The Castle. Ma forgets to feed the girl, she takes her daughter to scary places she doesn't want to be and the girl doesn't go to school. Ma has told the girl to stay away from the Authorities, they're after her and want to take her with them, while leaving Ma behind. Every time they arrive the girl hides, so the Authorities won't find her. The girl made her mother promise something, but Ma isn't sticking to it. Life at the mill is lonely and the girl only has one friend. The mill might be haunted and the girl is afraid, but she's built herself a safe house, she'll be fine, won't she? The Girl in Between is an original and impressive story. The girl is being taken away from the home she loves by a mother who can't take care of them. Life on the streets isn't easy and the girl is glad when they find the mill. They at least have a roof over their heads. My heart ached for her because of the unfairness of her situation. Her mother makes wrong decision after wrong decision, but the girl keeps loving her unconditionally. She wants to go back to her grandmother, but her mother doesn't put her daughter's needs first, which is such a sad situation. I liked the ghost aspect of the story, which gives it even more layers of depth. The mill is supposed to be haunted and the girl is trying to lure the ghost. I was fascinated by the way she tries to discover more about the mill's history. Something must have happened there and finding out more about it kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the way Sarah Carroll plays with tension, she's keeping tight control and her timing is perfect, which makes her story incredibly strong. The Girl in Between is hauntingly beautiful and I loved every single page. Sarah Carroll writes about a girl without a proper childhood, friends her own age and a school she can go to. The girl doesn't have much in her life, but because of her optimistic personality she keeps trying to find ways to keep herself busy. She's being neglected and Sarah Carroll writes about that in a raw and honest way from the point of view of the child, which made it extra moving. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns and I loved how I was being surprised over and over again. The ending is absolutely brilliant and made me cry. The Girl in Between is a unique story and Sarah Carroll's amazing writing makes it come to life incredibly well. I loved this brilliant book and think it's a definite must-read.
by Jessica Jackson, Wichita
This was a very interesting read and even now, weeks after finishing it, I am finding a hard time collecting my thoughts. It took awhile to get into this book. Not only is the story a bit slow at first, but the writing style is a bit different. We occasionally get flashbacks immersed in the present and it takes some getting used to. Once I got used to it, I was deeply invested in the story. The story is terribly sad and it hurt my heart seeing her living lie this, especially since she is happy with this life and expects them to go back to Grandma soon. Part of what also invested me was to see how things connected together. The flashbacks go in sequential order, with the present story in between, so I was flipping through the pages to find out what made them live in the mill and I really wanted to see her get a happy ending. One of the biggest factors of this book, though, was the ending. I did not expect that ending! Maybe I should have. There was a moment when I guessed something similar, but I did not guess correctly. I am torn about this book because of the twist. It's a great twist, but some things don't completely add up. Maybe if I reread the book it might make more sense, but I feel like there are a few things that aren't really clarified, so while the twist was interesting and surprising, it made me confused. Overall, I did like this book. Though, like is a weird description for how this book made me feel. This book hurt my heart and surprised the heck out of me, whilst making me deeply invested in the storyline. This is a really sad book, of course, so if you want a sad realistic story, with a twist, pick this one up. I think I will be picking up future books by this author.
by Jerricka Habib, Clovis
This book is very sad. A girl and her mother are homeless and the mother struggles with addiction. The girl dreams of castles and princesses and going back to her Gran's house. She worries about everything she says to her mother because it could make her mother stressed enough to go out for beer or drugs. Absolutely heartbreaking and the ending made me cry.
by stephanie olivieri, Los Angeles
I wanted to LOVE this book, but it was a bit slow for me. I felt like it was also a bit confusing throughout, but I think it's because it didn't hold my attention until about the middle. I can't say that I loved it or hated it. I'm somewhere in the middle on this one. I would say if you are reading the synopsis and think you'll like it, you probably will. It's a realistic take on addiction and life on the streets. I didn't see the ending coming. The book is a bit sad as well. Again, I'm in the middle on this one.
by Dana DeBruine, Plymouth
A haunting version of the book "Room". A story told from the Daughter's point of view. A tale of an alcoholic Mother's struggles to "get it together" on the streets for her Daughter. A Daughter's obsession with staying unseen from the public. Danger of being "evicted" from the abandoned Mill where they reside. And a deep, dark secret that will throw you for a loop!
by Emily Smith, Wantagh
I felt sad for this young girl throughout the story. She seemed always worried about either her mother (not returning or being drunk) or the authorities catching up with her. Not that every book is happy or has a happy ending...but to me this book was filled with nothing but worrying and fear. Not sure I would feel comfortable recommending it to the age group it is geared toward.
by Valerie He Said Book, Springfield
Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to get this one finished before the expiration. It sounds interesting in premise. Will look for it in the future!
by Michelle Routhier, Southern Pines
I see what the author wanted to do but the execution did not work.
by Breana Jamison, Pasco
I made it 100 pages in and unfortunately could not finish. This book didn't grab my attention or keep me interested. I don't usually not finish books, so I'm thinking this one just wasn't for me.
by Judith Taylor, Sweetwater
I didn't really enjoy this book, although it was well written and has paranormal elements, the ending left me with more questions then answers. The novel has a sad, realistic quality to it. being homeless, being an addict and seen through the eyes of young girl who truly does not deserve to live this life, because of her mother. The book will stay with you for awhile after you finish it.
by Nada A., Livingston
The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll is the kind of story that stays with you. The young main character and the protective emotions the writing elicits; the fact that it takes on the very serious issue of being homeless; the fact that the book stresses the universality of this story by not naming its characters; and the fact of a seemingly abrupt ending are all reminders of a harsh reality and the makings of a memorable book. Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/06/the-girl-in-between.html. Reviewed for Penguin First to Read program.
by Vicki Hancock, Brigham City
I really enjoyed this book told entirely by a young girl who is homeless with her Mother. After many nights on the street, they finally find their "castle", an old abandoned mill that sits next to a dirty river. It's a sad tale of homelessness and the demons of the past catching up. I really would have given 5 stars had their been more explanation about certain events. I felt I was left hanging and for that I dropped a star. A solid read of a little girl and her Mom. Will definitely recommend! 4 solid stars!!! Thank you to First to Read for a review copy.
by Rachel Baumgartner, Decatur
Definitely a paranormal feel with this one. I don't want to give anything away though. It was good, it kept me interested. I love the story and the way it's told. I'm not a fan of the ending because I'm still left with questions but I'm guessing it's supposed to make you think. Definitely give it a read as I did really enjoy it. :)
by Jill F, New York
I didn't love this one. But I didn't love the Sixth Sense either, so...
by Jenelle McAdams, Dresher
I wish The Girl in Between had a different title because I wanted to hold on to the mystery just a bit longer. The melancholy and wistfulness this girl feels is palpable. The longing to be those other school girls; the wanting to be involved in the lives of the shorter man and the taller lady; the nothingness felt by the woman and the girl in the glass house; desiring a stronger relationship with her Ma and grandmother. It makes sense why the girl seeks out the Caretaker and his ghosts for her answers. That her Ma spends what little is left of her life "drowning" her misery in alcohol and drugs makes sense once you hear the whole story. This is a hard topic to cover, and yet the author manages to make it feel real. That this little girl has to fight for her life - and then afterlife - is too sad to forget. At least the ending is bittersweet.
by Lindsay Cronin, Pittsburgh
Although I wasn't a huge fan of this book, it really stuck with me for a long time after I finished reading it. The writing style emphasized the narrator's innocence, which makes the whole story more heartbreaking. The story jumps back and forth between their lives before and after they came to the castle. This book deals with some very tough topics like homelessness, addiction, and loss, but the ending left me with some hope for their futures, even with that twist.
by Marla Hanover, Kansas City
This book is sad in so many different ways. It shines a spotlight on addiction, parenting on the streets, the relationship between a mother and daughter and how drugs can make someone selfish. No child should live on the streets. I kind of suspected the ending but not until I had about 40 pages to read. Definitely recommend this book. It was such a good story.
by Angela Killion, Nowhere
It reads like no other short story you've ever read in a full length novel. A heartbreaking, tragic viewpoint of homelessness, addiction, and alcoholism from a young girl. It's imaginative, 6th sense-ish and soul shattering in less than 300 pages. This one will stay with me for a long time.
by Jillian Barndt, Los Angeles
I have mixed feelings on one hand. I definitely got some "Room" vibes as I started, but the book took a lot more time to get into. Once I got to the twist, I blazed through the end of it. (Kudos to Sarah Carroll; I didn't see that twist happening at all.) Now knowing the twist, this is a book I could see myself reading again to analyze, but at the end of the day, I don't think this is one I'd pick up again. Interesting concept, but it moved too slowly for me and seemed to jump all over the place with the narrative. .
by Bonnie Plante, Greensboro
From the beginning, this book reminded me of Room by Emma Donoghue - most likely because the story is told through the voice of a child. It was a great story that wove in and out of the not so distant past and the present. It is the story of a mother and daughter, who love each other fiercely even through dysfunction, addiction, poor choices and ultimately, heartbreak. It is a quick, easy read but one that stays with you even after you've read the last sentence. 4.5 stars.
by Tori Arpe, Richmond
So many emotions. I personally know people who are like Ma in this story and it tore me up so badly watching her continue to drink, make mistakes and put her daughter in danger repeatedly and the situation with the Monkey Man just made me so mad. She couldn't get her to stop, yet couldn't leave her either, because she's just a kid. I also appreciated the naiveté of the narration, because a girl who hasn't continuously had normal education or experiences wouldn't know that the Authorities would be there to help her. Any book that can make me feel such strong emotions deserves a great rating. I got a whiff of the twist super early on, but kept thinking maybe I'm supposed to think that and there will be an opposite twist at the end. Even though my original thought ended up being correct, I still enjoyed the ride of going back and forth in my mind about it.
by Ashleigh Ross, Collinsville
This book is a touching story about being haunted by your past. Our narrator is homeless with her alcoholic mother and she is not allowed to go into public. Her innocent take on normal people she watched from the roof of her castle was heartwarming and a enlightening look on how we never notice something unless it fits in with what we want our daily life to consist of. I wish we could have gotten more insight about the conflict between Gran and Ma, but other than that I thought the narration was great. I really enjoyed the emotion portrayed in the scenes that addressed the mother's drinking problem. The scene where she tried to defend the church seemed a bit cliche to me and the end was a bit all over the place. Overall I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars. Would recommend to those who are looking for a quick and moving read about a mother-daughter relationship during a tough situation.
by Danielle Steenrod, Union City
Wow. That ending was not what I expected at all. This story started off slow, but once I got about halfway things started picking up. I had no idea I would be so surprised with the ending. I was a little confused as to what was going on throughout, but the conclusion clears up all that confusion. All I have to say is don't let the slow start put you off from finishing this book. The ending makes this book worth reading from beginning to end.
by Penny Bartsch, Stewartville
I really couldn't get into this story. The story line didn't really interest me and it was hard to tell when this took place. The author needed to build up the world more and more back story was needed. I didn't even make it through the entire book. It was a slow and boring read.
by Jordan Smith, Raleigh
I'm about 100 pages in and this isn't really grabbing my attention. The writing is kind of simple and the MCs thoughts are kind of all over the place. Not sure this one is for me.
by Jennifer Holloway Jo, Jonesboro
This was a good quick read. It shows a girl and her mother that live lives on the street. The girl goes through so much due to her mother's drug use and drinking. The plot twists towards the end and shows that the girl was not there. I would have liked to have seen more expansion on this and was disappointed that the twist fell flat.
by Krystal Stanley, Detroit
I did enjoy reading The Girl in Between, but I noticed that I would have to put it down and then I wouldn't want to pick it back up, not because the story was bad or anything, but because I couldn't stand the mother in it. That's obviously personal preference, and has no reflection on the story itself. I did like the story, but I would've liked to understand the mother's motivation for leaving Gran's and taking the girl with her. The ending was also kind of confusing for me, and I've noticed in other reviews that other people are confused as well. The overarching message of the end is a good one, just the way it was written is kind of confusing. I understand that it was written that way on purpose and I suppose it is up to the reader to interpret it themselves. Having said all this, I did enjoy the book, enough, but honestly would probably never reread it, so I would give it 3 stars.
by Annah Parrish, Plano
In general it is a good book. Personally I like more action but it is very good for its genre. It had a deep story and a meaningful plot. I think the author, Sarah Carroll, did a great job of describing and making the readers feel for the situations the mother and daughter went through.
by Wendy Westbrook, Middlebourne
A good quick read! Very thought provoking and heartwrenching tale! I didn't suspect the ending at all. My heart hurt for the little girl and everything she was going through and being put through.
by Theresa Dhondup, Holt
I enjoyed this story, but there was something disconcerting. The story was obviously set in Ireland, but some of the writing was changed to make it seem a bit more American. So the narrative would be going along fine, but then a phrase would be said that didn't fit the story at all. So aside from that, it was a well written story about a mother trying to protect her daughter from horrors seen an unseen. This story would be a great addition to other ones read during the Christmas season.
by Liz Wyatt, Marshfield
The Girl in Between is a deep and thought provoking tale about a young girl and her mother. Amazon suggests it as a good read for teens, which is probably accurate. I can see my old high school book club picking this as their monthly read. I also think an older audience would possibly find it enjoyable as well. The story explores the concepts of loneliness and the permanence of memories. I found myself being inexplicably drawn to this book – even though this is normally not the sort of thing I read. I just couldn't put it down. Spoiler Warning The Girl in Between revolves around a little girl and her mother. They are squatting in an old run down mill, which the little girl considers her castle. Despite everything she has gone through and seen, she's still so innocent and naive, it's quite endearing to see. It didn't occur to me until I was writing this review, but the author never actually names the girl or her mother. It's extra food for thought considering the implications at the end. The lack of names does add to the plot, without taking anything away. About halfway through I started getting a bad feeling that there was something wrong, something that either wasn't being shown or something I was missing. It adds a subtle but very real extra layer of intensity that I really enjoyed. My gut was correct, but not in the way I was even remotely expecting or prepared for. (I'm not going to say how, for the sake of those that want to read it). There is quite a bit of repetition throughout the novel, and while it isn't necessarily annoying, I'm not sure it adds anything to the plot either. There's also some time hopping back and forth, where we'll go from the present to the past for a chapter, and then back again. These events are clearly delineated, though at a couple times they left me anxious to see what happens next (in either continuity). Despite these complaints, I found it hard to put the book down, and ended up finishing it over the weekend. On the whole I'm giving this a three and a half star rating, because while there were some flaws, the overall concept was well thought out and oddly spellbinding.
by Jen Paul, Philadelphia
Homes offer a sense of identity, particularly for those in their formative years. Sarah Carroll's The Girl In Between depicts life on the street and on the move for a young girl and her mother from the eyes of the young girl. Within the walls of her Castle, a young girl can dream of the fairy tale life she wants instead of the harsh reality of homelessness she faces every day. While she has free reign over the Castle, she must be vigilant to remain invisible from the outside world or risk being taken away from her mother by the Authorities. With Authority representatives in yellow vests coming around her Castle to evaluate it, the girl fears that her home may be taken away from her or she from it, which would greatly change her life. In learning about the Castle's history as a mill from a fellow squatter, called the Caretaker, who is struggling against his past and grief to leave the mill after forty-seven years, the girl realizes that her mother also needs to face what's haunting her in order to keep moving forward. A quick read that presents the realities of the world through the lens of a young girl offering a new perspective from which to consider the unfortunate issue of homelessness that plagues society. While the perspective of and experience with homelessness from the vantage point of young girl was quite intriguing and interesting as it was written in a manner that was captivating and using language that befits the narrator, the narrative was ultimately rather confusing, perhaps because it lacked an appreciable plot. With the minimal plot present, the "twist" at the end of the story, while a key point of the narrative, wasn't as poignant as it could have been had a plot been reasonably developed. Overall, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
by Brittany Myers, Lansing
This novel drew me in immediately, and left me feeling sometimes heartbroken, sometimes hopeful. I felt it a bit reminsicent of Shirley's Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. There is an undulating creepiness and feeling of paranormal underlaying this story. This novel is narrated by a young girl, who's mother is obviously troubled, facing addiction and homelessness. She is led to believe that the "Authorities" are going to seize her from her mother and current life, so the girl lives in a state of high alertness, fear, and isolation. The plot twist at the end, I didn't expect, but without giving too much away, there is something very not right with this mother-daughter relationship. Would recommend as paranormal young adult.
by Kristal Foster, Orlando
This is a powerful story. It shows you how the past can haunt you. I really enjoyed this book. I think this story has a powerful message. It really makes you think. It also reminds you that you never know what people are going through. This book definitely kept me intrigued. I couldn't stop reading. I had to keep reading to find out more. I would definitely recommend this book.
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The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll
The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll
Category: Confident Readers
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Ruth Ng
Reviewed by Ruth Ng
Summary: A descriptive story that's intriguing, emotionally engaging, and also manages to be a fairly fast read, with a twist at the end.
Buy? yes Borrow? yes
Pages: 256 Date: May 2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 9781471160622
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After a family argument, a girl and her mother are stuck out on the streets of Ireland, finding shelter finally in an old, abandoned mill. The mill becomes the girl's castle, where she finally feels safe from the lurking threat of 'the authorities' and some of the strange men in her mother's life. Her mother, however, seems to be tumbling deeper into depression, keeping her daughter locked up, out of sight inside, and now there are strange men in hard hats coming around the mill to measure and make notes. Can the two of them move on, or will they be too late to escape?
The story deals with some dark issues, from a child's point of view. As well as the issues of being homeless, the girl's mother is dealing with depression, and alcohol and drug addiction. These are handled sensitively, I felt, and somehow without being too graphic the book depicts the hardships faced by children of addicts, as well as the struggles of a parent who is trying to stay clean. The girl (I'm not sure that we ever learn her name!) remains positive, and as readers we see her own happy home-making inside the mill, and yet we can also see beyond that, and that she is trapped inside the crumbling old building, and desperate to return to her grandmother's house, or to a home of her own with her mum.
As the girl suspects the mill is haunted there are also some scary moments, though nothing too terrifying! There's an interesting character in the Caretaker, and old man also living homeless next to the mill. I particularly enjoyed the moments in the story when the girl is people-watching, keeping an eye on the regulars who pass by, or watching other people's families, through their windows, across the canal. She's very perceptive, and I thought the range of characters introduced was very good. The language the author uses is also very descriptive. I enjoyed a moment when the girl has drawn a picture of a praying mantis and she says I breathe on the window and I can see my name in the breath that sticks to it. And the praying mantis looks just like the cranes that are leaning over the city. There's a swarm of cranes out there, crawling over the old buildings and eating their flesh, and the metal frames of new buildings are really the bones of the old ones picked bare.
The Irish accent was clear and strong throughout, with sprinklings of slang thrown in that are easily understandable, but make the language feel alive. The girl sounds and feels like a real girl, throughout the book, and it makes for some emotional reading at certain points of the story. I did wonder quite how the whole story could possibly end satisfactorily as I got closer and closer to the final pages. The end comes with a twist, which although I'd suspected, I hadn't been quite sure about. It's an interesting twist, though I have to admit that I had to re-read that section a couple of times before I was certain of what was going on. However, once I had figured it out, it made me want to re-read the book, to throw this new light upon everything that happened previously.
It's probably best aimed at those around 11 to 14, but I suspect strong younger readers could happily give it a try, and older teens would still find it a good, quick read. The chapters aren't too long, so it's easy to find yourself reading several in a go, and then of course wanting to read just one more...and one more again!
Further reading suggestion: For another homeless girl story try Invisible Girl by Kate Maryon or this is a story that deals sensitively with depression A Library of Lemons by Jo Cotterill.
Buy The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll at Amazon.co.uk.
This page was last modified on 22 April 2017, at 09:04.
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Posted on March 24, 2017 by Jen Hubert
The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll
An unnamed girl in an anonymous city tells the story of her and her Ma, a homeless addict who tries to stay clean for her daughter but never quite succeeds. The girl and Ma move from tent to alley to abandoned building, constantly dodging the frightening Authorities in their official yellow vests. They are finally able to make a home in the overgrown and forgotten Castle, an old abandoned mill on the edge of the city. There, they set up a stopgap bedroom, ramshackle living room and even a makeshift kitchen. The girl feels safe, even though Ma says she must never go outside in case she is seen by the Authorities. So she spends her days reading school books Ma has brought home, spying on faraway apartments with her old binoculars and talking to the Caretaker, an old man who has also made his home in the shadow of the Castle. Then the ghost shows up, a mysterious presence that reminds the girl of the one terrible night Ma left her alone before they came to the mill. Haunted by her own bleak memories, the girl must find a way to remember what happened that night so she can save Ma and herself from the ghost and their own grim futures. This eerie, gritty debut blends suspense, survival and magical realism into a satisfyingly spooky stew that will keep readers guessing until the very last page. Coming to a library, bookstore or e-reader near you June 2017.
Spectacular Speculative Fiction Teen Tearjerkers
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Irishnews Logo 11 January, 2018
Sarah Carroll: A child's eye view of homelessness
Jenny Lee chats to Dubliner Sarah Carroll, who following five years running a hostel in Tanzania moved to a houseboat on Dublin's Grand Canal Dock where she penned a fictional novel exploring themes of homelessness, alcoholism and materialism
Sarah Carroll: A child's eye view of homelessness
Sarah Carroll, whose debut novel The Girl In Between deals with the subject of homelessness and was inspired by the derelict Boland's Mill in Dublin's Docklands
22 May, 2017 01:00
Topics
Boland's Mill homelessness Sarah Carroll The Girl In Between volunteering
Sarah Carroll: A child's eye view of homelessness
Homelessness is at the core of Sarah Carroll’s novel, The Girl In Between
"WE WALKED for hours and hours searching for a castle. We must have looked weird, with Ma carrying her rucksack and me still in pyjama bottoms, cos that was the first time I noticed the way some people can look everywhere except at you."
Homelessness, alcoholism, materialism, commercialism, family life and society's compassion, or lack of it, come under the spotlight in Sarah Carroll’s debut novel, The Girl In Between.
Set in an abandoned mill in the heart of Dublin, Sam and her ma take shelter form their memories of life on the streets, and watch the busy world go by. While the windows are boarded up and the floorboards falling in, for Sam it's her 'castle' – a home of her own like no other, and a place of safety.
But as alcohol takes a hold of her ma and the authorities move ever closer, Sam finds herself trapped in the crumbling mill with only the ghosts of the past for company.
Author Carroll lives on a houseboat moored in Dublin's Grand Canal Dock, with husband Bob and their nine-month old daughter, May. The view from her window is the abandoned Boland's Mill, a multi-storey warehouse building, parts of which date from the early 1800s.
The mill, which is now surrounded by high-tech multinationals including Google, Facebook and Airbnb, stopped production in 2001. Only the facade of the building currently remains, as work continues in transforming it into to Boland's Quay, accommodating new residences, commercial and retail spaces.
"I walk past the mill every day and see a homeless man asleep in the shadow of it," says Carroll, about the inspiration for this novel. "To me, the mill was a symbol of a crumbling past forgotten by an uncaring digital future. I thought of how the old man and the mill was invisible. One day, I looked at the mill and I thought to myself, there's a young girl trapped in there. Why? Because it is her refuge from life on the streets.
"That evening, I sat down and wrote the words, I'm invisible. I decided that would be my opening line. Because to the outside world, the girl does not exist.
"But she is also trapped in the mill, a symbol of the past. And so, until she can understand her own past, she cannot leave, she cannot move on."
While Carroll says The Girl In Between wasn't an issue-driven book, she hopes people do take away a compassionate message about homelessness, as well as being able to personally explore "what we must give up in order to move on".
"The most vulnerable in society need to be heard rather than ignored. We are so used to walking past the begging cup and not looking behind it. I wanted to write a story that stepped behind the begging cup and examine how a young girl could live such a brutal existence and yet find beauty in life. It's a unique story that is both heartbreaking, loving and ultimately uplifting. I hope it will give food for thought.
Although written through the voice of a 10-year-old, Carroll doesn't see The Girl In Between as being young adult fiction.
"I write in the voice of a child because their naivety and innocence helps hold a mirror to the world. Just like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which has an eight-year-old narrator, it can enjoyed by everyone."
Until six years ago Carroll, who has a degree in geology, never considered a career in writing. In fact she admits English was her worst subject at school.
"A friend and I used to work at a filling station on a Sunday night and we would be there shaking, trying to remember the lines of a poem, as we would be called upon, one by one in class the next day, to recite it. It was very uninspiring and more like learning 12 times tables."
While she loved geology and the study of the Earth, she admits that when it came to practically applying what she learned she was "totally opposed to what those mining companies stand for". After graduating she did some work in geophysics for underground surveys to earn enough money to go travelling.
After volunteering in northern Tanzania in 2006 for seven weeks with a well-known international volunteer agency, Carroll remained there, opening a hostel for volunteers on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Working alongside various local grassroots organisations, she helping to connect volunteers with local projects.
So what inspired her to start writing?
"It was about six years ago I had just returned to Tanzania from a cold Ireland. I was lying in bed, sweltering, wishing I was in a place that was nice and snowy. I built up this imaginary world and when I got back to Ireland I had to write the story down. I started doing writing courses and got hooked. Landing a publishing deal was amazing."
Upon returning to Ireland she also helped set up The Ethical Volunteer website which acts as a signpost to facilitate ethical and independent overseas volunteering.
Travel and volunteering is something she believes everyone should experience.
"You've got to leave your own comfort zone and see the world in order to understand it a bit better," adds Carroll, whose time in Africa has also inspired a future novel.
However, her next book is the direct follow-up The Girl In Between, following the story of a 12-year-old girl whose father is the developer who bought the mill.
"The next one looks at the upper end of society in Dublin. I think materialism and how we misplace values in today's society is always going to be a theme in my work."
So does she fancy living in a castle?
"No, I don't need a castle, but I wouldn't mind a house that is more than four square metres," she laughs.
:: The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll is published by Simon and Schuster and is available now.
Topics
Boland's Mill homelessness Sarah Carroll The Girl In Between volunteering
Tales of Yesterday
Tales Q&A With Sarah Carroll
A few months ago I received an email from the lovely Hannah at Simon & Schuster about a really intriguing debut YA, The Girl In Between by Sarah Carroll.
The Girl In Between is due to be released on the 4th May 2017 and is a story about a little girl who is homeless in Dublin and sheltering in an abandoned mill with her mother – and it has an unexpected twist at the end.
Naturally I needed to know more so I put some questions to the lovely author, Sarah Carroll…..
I know the mill has a story cos there’s something strange going on. I heard something. I’ve decided that I’m going to find out what it is later today when Ma leaves. Cos even if it is scary, we live here and we’re never leaving. So if there’s something going on, I need to know.
In an old, abandoned mill, a girl and her ma take shelter from their memories of life on the streets. To the girl it’s home, her safe place, the Castle. But as her ma spins out of control and the Authorities move ever closer, the girl finds herself trapped – stuck in the crumbling mill with only the ghosts of the past for company.
Can she move on before it’s too late?
Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for appearing on Tales Of Yesterday today – I’m so over the moon to have you here!
Can you tell us a little about your debut The Girl In Between?
The Girl In Between is told by a young homeless girl who lives with her Ma in an abandoned mill in the heart of a city’s business district (it’s Dublin, though never explicitly stated). The girl calls it her Castle, a refuge from their life on the streets. She never wants to leave. But the mill is earmarked for development and the girl has noticed that there is something strange going on inside. With her safe place threatened and her own past haunting her, the girl must find a way to move on from the mill before it’s too late.
What inspired you to write this story?
The mill is based on Boland’s Mill, a stained granite building in Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, which is currently being developed into business and living units. The old mill provided shelter to a homeless man who set up camp in it is shadow for a brief period. But both the mill and the man were largely invisible to those that passed by on their way to work everyday.
To me, the mill represented a crumbling past being replaced by an uncaring digital future. It was an embodiment of the unseen past. This inspired the themes of homelessness, grief, and moving on.
Can you tell us a little about the main character?
The main character is a young girl who has known, and lost, the security of a home. She survives the brutality of living on the streets by retreating inside her imagination, and when she finally finds in the mill a places that she can call home, it is this imagination that allows her to find beauty in the banal. But she recognises in her Ma the signs of descent into addiction. She loves her Ma fiercely and fears returning to the streets. She does everything she can to stop this from happening. She is naïve and optimistic, but ultimately brave and forgiving.
Can you tell us a little about your writing process for The Girl In Between? Was there much research involved?
Not a lot of research, no. I spent a day or two looking up how old flour mills work, but after that, I relied on memory of my interactions with various homeless people (Caretaker is an amalgamation of three homeless men I have come across) and the girl’s imagination (to build on exaggerated almost magical world).
The story came to me fully formed. I knew the first and last lines of the book from the first day. That day, I wrote the first chapter and then set it aside as I was actually working on another novel at the time.) For three months, The Girl In Between stewed away in my subconscious and then two days after finishing the other novel, I returned to The Girl In Between. From that point, it took five weeks to complete the first draft of the novel. I would wake and take exercise, during which time I would write the day’s chapter in my head. After breakfast I would get it down on paper and, later that day, edit the previous days’ chapter. Usually, I wouldn’t break for six hours or so. That was pretty much my routine for five weeks. After that, I edited it for a few weeks. I had literally finished the first full edit two days before being contacted by my (now) agent, Claire Wilson, for the first time. That was the beginning of six months of professional edits with my publishers (the back and forth takes weeks, if not months!)
How important was it to get the themes of family and homelessness right?
Crucial. I wanted to study the meaning of home when you don’t have one, of family when it’s just two of you.
Setting out, I wondered what it would be like to be a young girl growing up without a physical place to provide the safety, comfort and belonging we all need. And when she found something that she could call home, as the girl does with the Castle, I wondered what lengths she would go to to stop it from being torn away.
I also knew from the get-go that the opening line would be I’m invisible because the most vulnerable so often are. I wanted to step over the stereotypes and see what was going on behind the begging cup, and tell I story that we as a society, and I myself, tend to ignore.
In five words – what should people expect if they picked up The Girl In Between?
Homelessness, love, grief, optimism, imagination.
We would love to know a little bit more about you! Can you give us 5 random facts we might not know about yourself?
I love skiing and white water kayaking.
I only began writing novels aged twenty nine.
I speak Swahili.
English was my worst subject in school.
I’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
Can you tell us a little more about your volunteering works?
In 2006 I naively went on one of those pay-to-volunteer holidays and soon realised that they are, for the most part, little more than money making schemes that exploit the idea of the poor as incapable and childlike, and, in turn, encourage the formation of projects in the host town that exploit the volunteer.
I initially set up a volunteer hostel in Tanzania so that others could avoid paying exorbitant volunteering charges and donate that money directly to a project. Over time, I began to work with local projects to assist with their long term development and to help them to find volunteers with the appropriate skill set to be of benefit to the day to day running the project (eg placing an accountant with a women’s group in need of advice on financial management, or teachers in teaching positions.)
If The Girl In Between had a sound track what would it be?
It would be a mixture of traditional and modern Irish music, with lyrics in both Irish and English, written and preformed by Enda Reilly.
What would you like people to take away from reading The Girl In Between?
That letting go and moving on can be the ultimate freedom.
And finally what are you working on next? Any new exciting projects you can tell us about?
Some that I can, some that I can’t!
Last Friday, I finished the first draft of the book that will be released this time next year. It is also based in Dublin and deals with bullying and the power of words. So I’ll be editing that just as soon as my editors get back with their massive dossier on suggested changes.
Thank you so much for answering all my questions Sarah! The Girl In Between sounds wonderful!
You can buy a copy of The Girl In Between here or from your local bookshop!
About Sarah Carroll
Sarah currently splits her time between a houseboat in Dublin and travel abroad. She recently returned from five years in Tanzania where she founded and ran a hostel while working to support local community projects. She continues to promote ethical overseas volunteering through her blogs and films on www.theethicalvolunteer.com, while planning her next book.
Giveaway
With thanks to the lovely people at Simon & Schuster I have one copy of this fab book to giveaway to one lucky winner!
You can enter via twitter by Following and RT – here
UK Only
Ends 9th May 2017
Good Luck!
A huge thank you to Sarah for answering all of my questions! And to Hannah at Simon and Schuster for organising and asking me to host this Q&A and giveaway!
Have you read The Girl In Between? What did you think? Are you intrigued to go and grab a copy? I would love to hear from you! Why not leave a comment using the reply button above or tweet my on twitter using @chelleytoy!
Happy Reading!
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I am often known to be a bit clumsy and a little loopy! Book loving (obsessed), theatre loving, slasher film loving csi geek!
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The invisible girl: an Irish YA novel about homelessness
Sarah Carroll: ‘Every character in the novel, and all of the experiences described, are based on homeless people I have met or observed’
Wed, Sep 20, 2017, 08:00
Claire Hennessy
Sarah Carroll: Haven’t we all walked past the begging cup, crushing the call for spare change with our quickened step, yet unable to outrun the guilt? Photograph: Bob Kelly
Sarah Carroll: Haven’t we all walked past the begging cup, crushing the call for spare change with our quickened step, yet unable to outrun the guilt? Photograph: Bob Kelly
Sarah Carroll’s debut YA novel, The Girl In Between (Simon & Schuster, £6.99) introduces us to a fearless and unique heroine in narrator Sam, a young woman struggling with homelessness and her relationship with her mother. Both topical and timeless, Carroll’s first novel offers up an astute portrayal of what it means to live life as “invisible”.
Although this is her first published work, Carroll is far from a beginner: “I have one completed manuscript (which will probably never see the light of day), two novels partially completed (15,000 words written for each, with chapter summaries for the remaining chapters), and a couple of sketched-out ideas,” she admits. She’s currently working on her second novel, which is scheduled to be released next year.
Incidents are based on observations of what it means to be homeless in Dublin; the tents on Sandymount strand, the beggars on our bridges, among the trees of the Phoenix Park
The Girl In Between features an important setting, inspired by Boland’s Mill in Dublin. Carroll – who spent several years travelling abroad before returning to Dublin – notes that she loves “to begin with a setting that’s relatively cut-off from the outside world, as that allows me to build a micro-universe that holds a mirror to the world at large. So the setting is usually the first thing I decide on (an old church, a ship, an island, a farmhouse), followed by theme, then character, then plot. Some of my novels are set in places I have travelled to or I have lived in, like northern and eastern Africa. However, the main way travel influences my writing is that it helps me to experience and feel things anew, which I draw on when writing.”
Despite these broader influences, her take on homelessness in Dublin has been thoroughly researched. “I’m not sure ‘research’ is the right word,” she demurs, “but every character in the novel, and all of the experiences described, are based on homeless people I have met or observed. For example, Caretaker is an amalgamation of many homeless men I have chatted to. Of course, the main inspiration for his character was the homeless man who used to sleep in the shadow of Boland’s Mills. The idea of him selling books, however, came from a British man who used to sleep rough in Dún Laoghaire. Like Caretaker, people could buy his second-hand books or swap theirs for a few pounds, (though he was more willing than Caretaker to discuss books with passer-bys!) The reference to Caretaker’s Arctic travels comes from a wandering Irish man that I met in Spain one February. He was homeless and each year he migrated south to escape the bleakness of living on the streets throughout the Irish winter.
“I knew from the outset that Caretaker would help to save the girl, and that came from the story of the homeless man who was always somewhere on the UCD campus when I was a student there and, legend had it, one night saved a female student from an attack.
“As for other incidents throughout the novel, they are based on observations of what it means to be homeless in Dublin; the tents on Sandymount strand, the beggars on our bridges, the shifting cardboard and plastic among the trees of the Phoenix Park.”
When it comes to the invisibility that her protagonist experiences, Carroll explains: “the idea of invisibility came from my own reactions, my own feelings. Haven’t we all walked past the begging cup, crushing the call for spare change with our quickened step, yet unable to out-run the guilt that clings like a fine mist? I knew what it felt to be on that side, but I wanted to step over the begging cup and try to imagine what it must feel like to be on the other side, to be invisible.”
Sam’s voice is still often very innocent or, as Carroll puts it, “relentlessly optimistic and loving. To be in her head was a joy, as I could live through the world as she does, finding wonder in the ordinary, and beauty in the brutal. With this in mind, it was not difficult to paint scenes from her perspective.”
But getting Ma right was trickier – “to show that the way she loved was flawed, but that she loved nonetheless. This is what we (my editors and I) focused on the most during the editing process, trying to bring out Ma’s humanity.”
As a novel for young teens, it may be considered too “dark”, but Carroll notes that once she “committed” to the book, it was not an issue. “If there is darkness, it is a darkness that too many people regularly have to struggle with. I couldn’t tell this story and not delve into that. I knew I needed an innocent, optimistic voice to pull it back from despair, and the girl’s character was built knowing I needed her voice to tell this story. But to not show (or, at least, not allude to) the harsher realities would have been disingenuous. People need to choose for themselves if they want to read this story, but if they chose to read it, then it is my responsibility to tell it as truthfully I can.”
What the audience is left with is a text that is authentic and real, a story that is well worth reading (at any age). Sarah Carroll has established herself as a promising Irish writer – here’s to her next book.
Five writing tips from Sarah Carroll:
I think the best advice is to not put pen to paper until you have sketched out the plot in 300 words. Personally, I write an overall summary (of theme, plot and character development), then the first 10,000 words, and then a chapter by chapter summary. Then I go back and revisit theme and character development, and make sure the voice in my first chapter is as good as I can get it, as that will provide the template for the whole novel.
It’s so important to know your story as well as you can before you write it. Not only does it save a huge amount of time on rewrites, but it helps to make the writing shine. For example, a lot of the metaphors in The Girl in Between are to do with water (Ma’s eyes go as deep as the canal) because I wanted to build an unconscious feeling of sinking/drowning, so that the reader can almost physically feel the release at the end. If you don’t know where your story is going, it’s hard to give it layers/depth.
As for a good writing group, firstly, you should find a group that suits your genre. The approach to writing for YA is very different from crime writing. You need to be critiqued by people who know your genre. Secondly, if you have a small group that meets regularly, you get to know each other’s work, but you get to know each other’s preferences too, and that helps you analyse feedback.
I don’t just welcome feedback, I need it. Writing is a solitary activity, but building a great novel is a collaborative process. I was always able to string a sentence together, but through the editorial process, we create a novel worth reading, and I love being part of that. I guess that’s the biggest surprise – that I thoroughly enjoy it.
I like to learn along with my characters. As an adult, we tend to get bogged down in our opinions and prejudices. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child gives me a great tool – innocence. And when I come at a scene with the objectivity of innocence, I can sink my fingers into it and gain a better understanding of human relationships and actions
Claire Hennessy is a writer, editor, book reviewer and creative writing facilitator