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renuked's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
islak15's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The best book I've ever read. I had no idea how much it would affect me to read about characters like me, who I could understand and relate to. An incredible book which should be read by anyone living in Northern Ireland, A book that explores the remains of the troubles, for teenagers in Northern Ireland NOW. I couldn't set it down!!!
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Raw insight into contemporary Northern Ireland love story.
Another Carnegie shortlister I 'needed' to read. And one I didn't regret. I don't read much YA romance, it's often predictable and just something I'm long past. But put a sweet love story in an interesting context - here a Northern Ireland Romeo and Juliet - and I'm in.
Told between the two perspectives of Aidan and Iona, it starts with a violent incident that brings two young people into each other's spheres who might never otherwise have met.
Aidan is Catholic and from a political family, with a verging-on-extremism brother. He's just worked his heart out for A-Levels but expecting to go nowhere in life, even though he secretly wants out of Derry. He has an eye for tanned and short-skirted girls and a history of getting into trouble following the death of his mother.
Iona is a polar extreme, Protestant and religious, her family are Police. She's bright and ambitious and not an easy conquest.
Aidan is attacked after a party, Iona is a witness. She can't NOT get involved and let him know. And so starts tentative communication across party lines. A meeting. A mutual appreciation and liking. A discovery they were born on the same day. And then of course a discovery of their differences.
This is post-Brexit Northern Ireland. Political tension is high, both families are involved in different ways, Aidan and Iona both have family loyalties but a growing loyalty to each other... what will win out?
My interest was piqued throughout. I loved the flawed anti-hero in Aidan, and both protagonists came across as realistic young people and not stereotypes or stock characters. I enjoyed their banter and conversation and how they dealt with each other's contrasts.
Intriguing story for anyone reading not familiar with the history of the Trouble or Northern Ireland, and a convincing YA love story.
Another Carnegie shortlister I 'needed' to read. And one I didn't regret. I don't read much YA romance, it's often predictable and just something I'm long past. But put a sweet love story in an interesting context - here a Northern Ireland Romeo and Juliet - and I'm in.
Told between the two perspectives of Aidan and Iona, it starts with a violent incident that brings two young people into each other's spheres who might never otherwise have met.
Aidan is Catholic and from a political family, with a verging-on-extremism brother. He's just worked his heart out for A-Levels but expecting to go nowhere in life, even though he secretly wants out of Derry. He has an eye for tanned and short-skirted girls and a history of getting into trouble following the death of his mother.
Iona is a polar extreme, Protestant and religious, her family are Police. She's bright and ambitious and not an easy conquest.
Aidan is attacked after a party, Iona is a witness. She can't NOT get involved and let him know. And so starts tentative communication across party lines. A meeting. A mutual appreciation and liking. A discovery they were born on the same day. And then of course a discovery of their differences.
This is post-Brexit Northern Ireland. Political tension is high, both families are involved in different ways, Aidan and Iona both have family loyalties but a growing loyalty to each other... what will win out?
My interest was piqued throughout. I loved the flawed anti-hero in Aidan, and both protagonists came across as realistic young people and not stereotypes or stock characters. I enjoyed their banter and conversation and how they dealt with each other's contrasts.
Intriguing story for anyone reading not familiar with the history of the Trouble or Northern Ireland, and a convincing YA love story.
eviflmz's review
5.0
I loved this book from the get go, the way the two characters had two different stories yet they still connected. And they joined together and found something in between them but overall, it was so sad towards the end :)
bri0_0's review
challenging
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
No depth to the female character. She was only there to serve as a love interest for the male lead and had no character development even though half the book was from her perspective. Weird spiritual ending out of no where.
aliceliddle1865's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarahtabeea's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Kind of feels like a book that is read in school. I looked it up after reading. Turns out, it actually is. The love story is cute and I liked learning about northern Irish history but the chapters are very short and I just don’t like the way the book is written. Also, there’s a lot happening in the beginning and in the end but nothing in between. Lastly, I don’t like the religious ending as it doesn’t really fit to the rest of the book.
axolotl13's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
dawnthoma100's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think "Guard Your Heart" does a good job of explaining the limitations that come with living in particular families and communities at particular eras. For young people, inherited identity issues might resemble straitjackets. Young people's potentially damaged lives are sometimes overlooked since older generations tend to place more emphasis on their pain, resentment, and prejudices.