Little Bang: A must-read novel about life-changing moments

Award-winning author Kelly McCaughrain introduces her new novel, Little Bang, a powerful and timely novel exploring gender parity, a woman's right to bodily autonomy and the issues raised by abortion. Centred on the relationship between Mel and Sid, it's also a coming-of-age exploration of love and finding ourselves.

Read a Chapter from Little Bang

A bittersweet Northern Irish romance that takes a new look at teen pregnancy, the magic and mess of first relationships, and a young woman's right to choose her own future.

Beneath the New Year's Eve fireworks, shy science-nerd Mel and slacker songwriter Sid get pregnant on their first date. Any sixteen-year-olds would expect trouble - but this is Northern Ireland 2018, where abortion is still illegal. Mel's religious parents insist she must keep the baby, whilst Sid's feminist mum pushes for a termination.

Mel and Sid are determined to do this together, but they soon discover that pregnancy is totally different for boys and girls. When their relationship starts to fall apart under all the pressure, Mel finds herself feeling alone with the impossible dilemma of the Little Bang growing inside her.

ReadingZone review:  Clever, compassionate and full of heart, this is an important and unforgettable 2024 must-read.