I received this book from Harper Collins.

Northern Ireland seems synonymous with uprisings and trouble. In this book, Jack faces The Troubles while growing up in Belfast. How he manages to overcome and survive in such a toxic environment is admirable. He and his father Big Jacky have a modest life in Belfast. Jack’s father suddenly dies. The shock he faces is understandable. He is young and suddenly facing life on his own. Jack is too young for all the responsibility of running the family business much less manage a home. Fortunately, his unmarried Aunt Phyllis comes to stay until he’s “on his feet”.

As Jack mourns and tries to figure out how to live without his father, his best friend manages to catch the eye of the local bullies. When Jack’s friend Titch is beaten, Jack had expected retaliation but not such severity. Titch heals physically but he is forever changed. Jack makes a mistake, defends his friend Titch and is also beaten. Jack knows he is still in danger. He goes to London to escape the bullies.

Jack begins to build a new life in London and is amazed by the feeling of freedom that he finds. He finds love. After much soul searching, he feels the ghosts of the past pull him home. Titch dies and Jack returns for the funeral. Can he return to Belfast and not be noticed? He is worried that his return will cause problems for his Aunt Phyllis.

I was truly surprised by this book. I had not realized how grim life in Belfast was during the uprising. The bullies trying to exert their influence and gain power caused so many unnecessary deaths. I didn’t expect such a sadly shocking story. Jack has to deal with so much. His inner fortitude is remarkable as he moves past the incidents and into his adult life.

The Ghost Factory reminds us that uprisings and differences of opinion exist and can have horrible results. While Jack was a product of his environment, he realized that this path was not one he wanted. He made the difficult choice to move on and change the path his life is on. Jenny McCartney does a great job describing the difficulties of Belfast. She dispassionately details the “Troubles” and gradual change. The main character is well developed but the minor characters are not as developed and could have used a little more detail. This is a book with a message and a hope that there aren’t any more troubles in Northern Ireland.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional Thoughts: When Ireland is mentioned you envision rolling lush hills of green and not violence and brutality. This book really opens your eyes to how difficult it was during this time. Many families had people disappear and never knew whether they escaped to a better life or were killed by the bullies that roamed the streets. This isn’t a carefree beach read but it is one book you should read to understand the past.