Girl in the Making by Anna Fitzgerald

Praise for Girl in the Making

‘Devastating’ Anne Enright

‘Beautiful’ Louise Nealon

‘Magnificent‘ Aingeala Flannery

‘Masterful‘ Kathleen MacMahon

[ About Girl in the Making ]

Jean Kennedy is a gentle, perceptive girl growing up in a very strange world: suburban Dublin in the 1970s and ’80s. In the company of her mother, her Aunty Ida, and her little brother Baby John F., Jean experiences love and joy. But home is not a safe place, and Jean is unequal and unprotected. When she speaks just one small part of the truth, she must quickly learn to navigate the dangers and possibilities of a world she scarcely understands.

Jean’s hypnotic, unsparing and ultimately hopeful voice captures the dreams and terrors of girlhood in a brutally hypocritical world, and offers glimpses of a better life. Through it all, Jean’s voice pulsates with insight and passion.

[ My Review ]

Girl in the Making by Anna Fitzgerald was published by Penguin Sandycove March 21st 2024 and is described as ‘a deeply moving, propulsive coming-of-age story from a major new talent’.

When Anna Fitzgerald approached me for a possible review I didn’t hesitate when I saw the incredible acclaim her novel has received from writers whose work I admire very much. When I turned the final page of Girl in the Making I understood why. The novel explores life in a Dublin family through the eyes of Jean Kennedy as she progresses from childhood to young adulthood. Jean’s story begins in 1966 when she is just 3 years old. In a messy stream of disorganised sentences, Jean attempts to convey her world in that precise moment with the innocent voice of her 3 year old self. From early on she refers to her father as HE and every time he is mentioned it’s clear that HE is an authoritarian and larger than life figure in Jean’s life. The family tip toe around his moods and from a young age it’s obvious that Jean is very wary of his presence in her life. The chapters progress, with her writing style changing as she gets a little older and is able to express herself more clearly. But, as the story unfolds and more clarity develops in her ability to convey what’s happening in her life, Jean’s story takes on a more disconcerting edge.

Jean experiences trauma in her life but she struggles to put into words what’s happening. She uses dark imagery in her prose when describing certain individuals in her life. As she develops in her early teenage years, her descriptions are quite emotive and powerful. Jean is strong but yet timid. She is confused about herself yet, also, aware that something is off kilter. As she approaches adulthood she takes some brave steps but the shadow follows her, unwilling to let her be, to let her grow. But, as the book description states there are ‘glimpses of a better life‘ for Jean, leaving the reader with a sense of hope as she becomes a young woman.

Girl in the Making is an extraordinary and profound reading experience. As we journey with Jean Kennedy, her voice alters with age as she attempts to express her thoughts and emotions. Reading Girl in the Making feels almost voyeuristic as there is that lingering sense that you are rifling through the private journal of a stranger. Anna Fitzgerald portrays a stark world through the eyes of a child depicting an authentic and, at times, distressing portrayal of a more patriarchal society where the voice of a wee child, a girl, is insignificant and to be ignored.

Tackling some very disturbing and unsettling themes, Girl in the Making is a powerful and deeply impactful debut. The concept behind Girl in the Making is so strong and effective with the voice of Jean Kennedy intimate and so very potent. A book that will remain with every reader long after the final page is turned, Girl in the Making is quite simply an exceptional debut.

** Thank you to Anna Fitzgerald for sending me a copy of Girl in the Making in return for my honest review.