The Island Child is a story of secrets. Oona, a Canadian mother, is afraid of the Irish island she grew up on, or more specifically, her past on the island. But when Oona's secrets come back to chase her daughter away, she must search for her daughter, for forgiveness, for truth, and consider the moments on the island that led her to her present state, and the lives of the people who made these moments. The Island Child is a story about those who want to escape. Content warning: Sex, Abuse.- Natasha, 8th grade teen volunteer
Publisher's description:
Oona grew up on the island of Inis: a wind-blasted rock off the coast of Ireland where the men went out on fishing boats and the women tended sheep; where the only book was the Bible; and where girls stayed at home until they became mothers themselves. Even as a child, Oona knew she wanted to leave, but she never could have anticipated the tumultuous turn of events that would ultimately compel her to flee. Now, after twenty years--Oona having forged a new life for herself--her daughter vanishes, forcing Oona to face her past in order, finally, to be free of it.