| Author: | Mary O Sullivan | ISBN: | 9781476337005 |
| Publisher: | Mary O Sullivan | Publication: | April 21, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Mary O Sullivan |
| ISBN: | 9781476337005 |
| Publisher: | Mary O Sullivan |
| Publication: | April 21, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
Jack Cantor is an only child from a middle-class background. Academically brilliant, he is studying for his Leaving Certificate at just sixteen years of age and sure to score very high points for University entrance.
Jack’s intellectual ability is not matched by emotional intelligence. He has difficulty in forming friendships and is cold and withdrawn even with those closest to him. He is hurt by the rejection of his classmates, particularly Shane Mulcahy and his gang of followers, including the very pretty Susan Fennelly.
His mother, Ruth, is too preoccupied with the impending shut-down of the pharmaceutical plant where she works as Quality Control Manager to notice that her son is getting increasingly angry and alienated from the normal life of a teenager. An aloof woman, she never saw Jack’s lack of friends as a problem. But his father, book shop owner Garry, is very worried about Jack’s behaviour since he discovered that his son has an interest in sadism.
When Ingrid Vangen, the au pair who has reared Jack, hands in her notice and admits she is now afraid of Jack, the Cantor family have to face truths they would rather deny. Is their boy a ‘weirdo’ as Susan Fennelly and his classmates accuse? Is he dangerous, as Ingrid Vangen believes? Is he mentally unstable, as his father fears or is he independent and misunderstood as his mother claims? Is he bully or victim? Is he bad or mad?
The only person who can answer these questions is Jack himself. He takes us on a journey through loneliness, confusion, hatred and violence before finally leaving us with only one question. Why?
Jack Cantor is an only child from a middle-class background. Academically brilliant, he is studying for his Leaving Certificate at just sixteen years of age and sure to score very high points for University entrance.
Jack’s intellectual ability is not matched by emotional intelligence. He has difficulty in forming friendships and is cold and withdrawn even with those closest to him. He is hurt by the rejection of his classmates, particularly Shane Mulcahy and his gang of followers, including the very pretty Susan Fennelly.
His mother, Ruth, is too preoccupied with the impending shut-down of the pharmaceutical plant where she works as Quality Control Manager to notice that her son is getting increasingly angry and alienated from the normal life of a teenager. An aloof woman, she never saw Jack’s lack of friends as a problem. But his father, book shop owner Garry, is very worried about Jack’s behaviour since he discovered that his son has an interest in sadism.
When Ingrid Vangen, the au pair who has reared Jack, hands in her notice and admits she is now afraid of Jack, the Cantor family have to face truths they would rather deny. Is their boy a ‘weirdo’ as Susan Fennelly and his classmates accuse? Is he dangerous, as Ingrid Vangen believes? Is he mentally unstable, as his father fears or is he independent and misunderstood as his mother claims? Is he bully or victim? Is he bad or mad?
The only person who can answer these questions is Jack himself. He takes us on a journey through loneliness, confusion, hatred and violence before finally leaving us with only one question. Why?
