Share the love

First Impression: A Touch of Carson’s Silent Spring for young readers that addresses environmental concerns.

the gollogans of carrickgollan book cover

I would like to express gratitude to Helen O’Sullivan for allowing me to read the first of her series. The author‘s generosity in providing an Advanced Reader Copy mean the Papergirl Community gets access to the latest books first.

Russet, Monty, Dil, Daffi and Bretia are the children Gollogans that we are introduced to fairly early in the story. These are essentially small forest creatures that do their best to remain unseen by humans. They, therefore, navigate their lives as discreetly as possible, and somewhat in fear. Through The Gollogans of Carrickgollogan, Helen O’Sullivan weaves a story that sends a message about caring for the community and the value of friendship.

The story starts with Dil trying to sew herself a bravery cloak because she’s not as outgoing as the others. Meanwhile the seed is sewn about the vast amount of human waste in their woodlands when one falls ill after drinking an undisclosed human drink, whilst another suffers after eating some leftover chocolate. Meanwhile, a missing friend is lying unconscious, cause unknown, and in need of an antbulance to carry him to safety. With waste taking over their land at a rate they cannot contend with, will the gollogans be able to get the humans to help, and if so, how?

Overall, the story examines an outside perspective of human behavior. It briefly examines their habits at festivals but concentrates at length on the dispelling of waste wherever they see fit. This becomes an overarching theme and distracts the reader from any other content. Another bone of contention is the colors of the gollogans. They appear to have meaning, for example, it can be insinuated that the purple ones are wise but there is no explanation as to why.

Some points of note that were deeply appreciated were coping strategies. Dil is scared of everything and often misses the action because of her fears. To save her from panic, one of the other Gollogans brings her into the present by asking her to name all the yellow flowers she can think of, before moving to another subject matter.

Upon completing the story, I personally felt underwhelmed. The buildup was a slow burn, whilst the climax and ending culminated in the final two chapters and appeared rushed. This might be intentional as the story is part of an ongoing series, where light might be shed on some of the reservations raised. At this point in time, the book is not for me, as I wonder how far it will capture and maintain the intended readers’ attention. Hopefully, future books will offer more detail and a little more length rather than glossing over some of the points made.

Quick Rating: ⭐⭐/ PG Rated

Have your say: Do you think children can be taught societal norms through fictional works? Let the Papergirl Community know by sharing your thoughts in the comments below.

Disclaimer: Clicking on links may direct you to Papergirl branded products, or Papergirl endorsed items for which there is an affiliation. It will not affect your purchases or prices in any way, but it may mean that Papergirl earns a small commission from any successful sales.

Wondering what to review next, consider: