Teens’ book to be studied by pupils

A group of Dublin students getting ready for the Junior Certificate in June could see thousands of teenagers answering exam questions about their own novel in a few years.

Around 10,000 copies of In Pieces are being printed to meet demand from schools for the book co-written by eight lads from Trinity Comprehensive in Ballymun.

Written as part of the Junior Certificate Schools Programme demonstration library project, author Kevin McDermott helped them bring their story of Dublin teenager Alan to life — and into print.

They had no idea when the first edition launched last summer just how big the tale set in the Natural History Museum and Glasnevin Cemetery would become. But they found out before Christmas it was to be on the list of novels for first-year students for the new Junior Cycle Student Award.

“We didn’t know anyone would read it, except maybe a few people in third-year here and a few local schools,” said Martin Steers, one of the newly published authors.

“It’s a mystery and an adventure story. It’s aimed at any age, but mainly teenagers,” said classmate Aaron Geoghegan.

The brainchild of school librarian Joe Kelly, the idea of the project was to get reluctant readers writing for students like themselves who like their books short and snappy.

“Whatever they do with the rest of their lives, they will always be able to say they are published authors,” Mr Kelly said.