Smells like teen spirit

THERE’S been a surge of teenage fiction by established Irish authors of late. And it seems a natural diversion for Denise Deegan, who has published four well-received novels for adults.

Those stories, featuring families in crisis, showed that she has an ear tuned in to the voices of children.

Alex is 16. She’s attractive, confident and popular. Daughter of a famous rock star, she attends a sought-after, south Dublin co-ed school, along with other children of the famous.