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The Boy Who Could See Demons: A Novel
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The Boy Who Could See Demons: A Novel
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The Boy Who Could See Demons: A Novel
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The Boy Who Could See Demons: A Novel

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Bestselling author Carolyn Jess-Cooke has written a brilliant novel of suspense that delves into the recesses of the human mind and soul-perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Unger. The Boy Who Could See Demons follows a child psychologist who comes up against a career-defining case-one that threatens to unravel her own painful past and jeopardizes the life of a boy who can see the impossible.

Dr. Anya Molokova, a child psychiatrist, is called in to work at MacNeice House, an adolescent mental health treatment center. There she is told to observe and assess Alex Connolly, a keenly intelligent, sensitive ten-year-old coping with his mother's latest suicide attempt. Alex is in need of serious counseling: He has been harming himself and others, often during blackouts. At the root of his destructive behavior, Alex claims, is his imaginary "friend" Ruen, a cunning demon who urges Alex to bend to his often violent will.

But Anya has seen this kind of behavior before-with her own daughter, Poppy, who suffered from early-onset schizophrenia. Determined to help Alex out of his darkness, Anya begins to treat the child. But soon strange and alarming coincidences compel Anya to wonder: Is Alex's condition a cruel trick of the mind? Or is Ruen not so make-believe after all? The reality, it turns out, is more terrifying than anything she has ever encountered.

A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Boy Who Could See Demons sets out to challenge the imagination and capture the way life takes unexpected turns. In the best storytelling tradition, it leaves the reader changed.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 13, 2013
ISBN9780385367998
Unavailable
The Boy Who Could See Demons: A Novel
Author

Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Carolyn Jess-Cooke is an award-winning poet, academic, editor and novelist published in 23 languages. She is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, and founder of the Stay-at-Home Literary Festival.

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Reviews for The Boy Who Could See Demons

Rating: 3.907892763157895 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    See full review @ The Indigo Quill

    I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

    The Boy Who Could See Demons is a phenomenal psychological thriller written with a fluent rhythmic prose and a storyline that will haunt you in the most delectable ways. Carolyn Jess-Cooke has emerged from a background of poetry and created a novel-sized masterpiece that will leave you breathless. This is one of those books that will cause you to slowly and carefully turn the last page and soak in the richness of everything you just experienced. It's one of those books that requires a "moment of silence" after you've finished reading it. I don't think I can stress how brilliant I found this book.

    Dr. Anya Molokova is a psychiatrist who is treating a young boy with a troubled disposition and the ability to see demons. However, Anya is also fighting with demons of her own kind after acknowledging the 4 year anniversary of her schizophrenic daughter's death. For those who are fascinated by psychological thrillers, the journey through the boy's treatment and the family dynamics integrated into the story will leave you reeling with questions and eager to turn the next page.

    There were so many elements of The Boy Who Could See Demons that I devoured while reading. The consistency of the text was spot on, and the reader has something to learn in the process. It was enchanting to absorb the mind of someone who suffers from mental illness. The author clearly did her research and opened a whole new territory of reality to her readers who may not have experienced situations such as these. I love books that keep me curious and asking questions.

    I will note that there are two versions of this book. There is a UK version and a US version. The two are similar other than their covers, and most importantly, their endings. They are the same book until you reach that final chapter. Apparently, the author rewrote the ending when it was released in the US. Now, I haven't read the UK ending, but I've read about it. I won't give any spoilers, but there are some controversies about how the book ended. My opinion? I LOVED the US ending. I thought the book was brilliant before, but after that...it raised to a whole new level brilliance that I could barely even comprehend. I hope to somehow get a chance to read the alternate ending so I can compare.

    If you like to delve into the mind of those suffering from mental illness, and enjoy a good mystery and suspenseful plot-twist written by a true word-painter...then you need to grab yourself a copy of this book! I had received a copy for my eReader, but I've already purchased the hardcover for my own personal library and recommended it to several of my Social Work friends. 5 bright, shiny, red giant stars!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a suspense novel featuring Ruen, a supernatural being, a demon only seen by a young boy. The boy, Alex, has no other friends apart from Ruen and their conversations are vivid and imaginative. The setting of Belfast, after the "troubles" gives the demon some authenticity through the mental trauma that we expect to see in children of war. Told alternately by Alex and his psychologist Anya, it's a troubling dark story. It annoyed me that Anya, whose daughter was diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia, and who committed suicide at age twelve, is diagnosing another child with the same rare condition. Is she determined to find it everywhere? And there are many coincidences and details that seemed out of place that made me wary. A good psychological suspense story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very rarely do I read a book where an author captures my attention. In this case, right off Ms. Cooke had my full attention, because the subject matter dealt with a therapist working with a severely emotionally disturbed child, who came from an unstable home. Since this was my job for many years, I was fascinated to read about the dynamics and issues that went on between the therapist, social worker, and the boy, and as geeky as this sounds, how policy worked in Northern Ireland. I was immediately sucked in, and could not put it down. I was impressed at how realistic it seemed, even when sometimes the lines between therapist and patient seemed to be crossed, maybe I was getting a little too into the story, but in the end...Carolyn Jess-Cooke, You got me!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Child psychiatrist Anya Molokova's newest client is 10 year old Alex, a troubled boy who insists he sees demons, one called Ruen (not Ruin) in particular. Ruen often influences Alex to make poor decisions which get him in trouble. Set in Northern Ireland, a land where children disproportionally suffer from mental health problems, often ascribed to the effects of the Troubles, even after the peace accords, the novel explores Anya's attempts to communicate with Alex without alienating or separating him from his family while at the same time her colleagues and supervisor believe her methodology will not produce the desired results and wish to confine Alex to an institution.The novel often feels sort of magically realist and this produces the intended effect of leaving the reader unsure of what is real and what is not, just like the characters themselves.The mix of clinical observation, possibly supernatural occurrences and the political nature of the source of the troubles elevate this novel well above the standard child in distress story. And the end, wow - as we build to the climax, still unsure if the demons really exists or if they are a symptom of Alex's illness, just when you think the author has painted herself into a corner, she deftly crafts her denouement.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I fell in love with this story before I was even half way through. Then the ending took me by surprise. Amazing climax, awesome twist and great characters. Overall superbly written. LOVE.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the story of Anya, a psychiatrist who moves back to her home town in Ireland and takes the biggest case of her life, a boy named Alex who sees demons. Alex's demon is named Ruen and he tells Alex to do bad things to get Alex in trouble. Anya has trouble believing Alex at first and thinks Alex is suffering from childhood schizophrenia just like the daughter Anya lost but as time goes on Anya begins to believe Alex, believe that he really sees demons. This was a faced paced book and a good read to the end. There are twists and turns like any good book and it just makes you wonder, are there really demons among us?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very good. From page the first page to the last I was sucked in to the story. The title, though accurate, is a bit misleading. It's not a horror book but a psychological thriller. A good one at that. Would be a great book club read. I'm intentionally not saying alot about the plot... but all you really need to know is, it's worth the read. :)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story is told by the two main characters, 10 year old Alex Brocolli who sees demons, and Anya a child psychologist who, herself coming to terms with the death of her schizophrenic daughter Poppy, desperately wants to help Alex.The chapters are perfectly balanced to give rounded in-depth believable character development which in order to appreciate and understand them and their personal struggles with their demons, imagined or real, is vital. I genuinely loved Alex's character, his innocence, charm and naivety all be it with an older than his years persona come about from taking care of Cindy his severely depressed mother who'd attempted suicide several times since the mysterious death of Alex's father. At the beginning of each of his diary entries Alex writes a joke, sometimes with juvenile humour and sometimes with a darker trace. I actually laughed as I could imagine Alex writing them and looked forward to what he would come up with for his next entry. Alex sees demons from the time of his fathers death. The, 9000 years old demon, Ruen manifests in 3 forms, a ghost boy, a horned demon and an ugly old man. During the course of the story it becomes apparent what these forms represent but the question is always, is Alex really seeing demons or suffering from schizophrenia. The portrayal of schizophrenia is very well portrayed to draw you into the mind of the sufferer and the confusion between what is real and what is imagined. Carolyn Jess-Cooke has written an achingly beautiful piece of fiction with obvious tracks of personal experiences as with the IRA elements running throughout the story. This is a profound novel about mental illness, devastating loss, and the guilt, remorse and struggle for atonement. It will certainly draw awareness to the aftermath of emotional trauma felt by the current generation of those who lived through 'The Troubles'. I must admit I wasn't expecting the ending as it was. I felt a little cheated and genuinely felt that, from what I had read thus far, Carolyn was far better than that. It felt contrived and that it was trying to imitate another ending. I cannot say anymore without giving too much away. That said, I really loved 'The Boy Who Could See Demons' and will certainly look out for more from Carolyn.I would have given this 5 out of 5 but for the ending.Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell and NetGalley.com for the opportunity to review this novel.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is an easy read about a difficult topic. It explores the demons of the mind rather than the demons of fantasy and horror novels. Make no mistake, these demons are terrifyingly real to those suffering from mental illness. Using the alternating voices of a ten-year-old boy and a middle-aged child psychiatrist, author Carolyn Jess-Cooke touches on issues of schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, and the burden of trauma that continues to weigh on those who grew up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.The chapters switch back and forth between the precocious and charming diary of Alex, the boy who sees demons, and the clinical narrative of Anya Molokova, a Belfast native who has returned to Ireland to facilitate healing for children now that peace has at last been established. Anya has demons of her own, brought on by the death of her daughter Poppy as well as by her own memories of growing up in a city plagued by constant unrest and violence. I enjoyed reading this novel, and was especially interested in the concept of how a lifetime of coping with The Troubles left some people so unstable as adults that they're incapable of raising children without passing on that fear and insecurity and mental instability. I would have welcomed a more in-depth exploration of that topic, but this is a story told in simple language that opens a lot of doors for further study. Readers who enjoy child narrators will delight in Alex's chapters, despite the dark nature of his condition. Overall this is an intriguing and rather startling read that may feel somewhat unfinished if you're a reader who likes a tidy ending.Thank you, Random House, for providing an advance copy through Net Galley.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a wonderful, fictional look at mental illness in children...and Jess-Cooke delivers a stunning twist at the end. A really well-constructed read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Anya Molokova, a child psychiatrist, has returned to her native Belfast hoping to help heal some of the 20 percent of Northern Ireland's children who suffer from severe mental health problems. Anya, herself both the child of a suicidal parent and the agonized mother of a schizoid daughter who died tragically four years earlier, becomes professionally and personally involved with Alex Connolly, a tormented 10-year-old with an imaginary demon friend. Summary BPLI stumbled upon this gem while searching for an audiobook to download for my bus tour to Washington, DC. Initially, it was the locale--Northern Ireland--that drew me, plus the fact that both readers, one for Anya and one for Alex, spoke with the distinctive northern accent. Still, it took some time for me to care about Alex and I am not sure that I would have continued the story if it were the print version. Anya's voice, however, was irresistible, wounded, determined, intelligent. It was her character's relationship with Alex that kept me listening. Alex's story emerges from a journal he keeps, each entry beginning with a corny joke. He sounds older than 10, understandably: inner city poor, fatherless and only child caregiver for his young addicted mother, Alex has been running the show for years. He records the daily visits from a demon called Ruen almost with indifference, as though the demon was an annoying live-in uncle. Things change when Alex becomes Anya's patient. It becomes clear that Ruen has a malevolent interest in the psychiatrist and he coerces Alex to help him gain control over her. Ruen's dialogue is naturally seductive and alarmingly intelligent. Ms Jess-Cooke's demon profits from the decades of psychological research since C.S. Lewis' invention, Screwtape. (A telling detail is Ruen's British accent.). The suspense is slow but relentless. Daughter of a schizophrenic mother and mother to a schizophrenic daughter, Anya must find the strength to resist Alex's (and Ruen's) pull into hopeless and guilt. Intellligence is no armour for this battle of wills. Anya fights to remain objective as the reader watches, helpless.Ms Jess-Cooke scores an astonishing finish to her novel that I certainly did not foresee! No cheating; she hides all in plain sight. I was particularly impressed by her compelling theology of demons. The author spends more words exploring the mindset of demons than on the psychological explanation for them, implying one reality seen from two different points of view.THE BOY WHO COULD SEE DEMONS is an imaginative, convincing and engrossing read. It is a book where vision and execution were equal to one another and as a result, gave birth to an amazingly insightful tale. Highly recommended to all!9.5 out of 10 Highly recommended to all serious readers!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book, it was a bit slow at the beginning but picked up and ended with a real surprise.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    How did I get through this whole book without realizing that Alex's last name was Broccoli?I've come across children with different special abilities, but never one who saw demons, so the premise of this book interested me. There have been friends and family, who have deep troubles and debilitating mental illness, which, especially when talking to others, I refer to as so-and-so's demons. I was curious to see how this would play out.Well written, captivating, heartbreaking, with a major twist that is similar to one I've encountered in a few other books and maybe a movie. This time, though, the resolution left me feeling edgy, because I wanted to know how the original story would play out (being careful hear, trying not to get into spoiler territory.) It was a perfectly acceptable ending, a good plot arc, but I was left wanting. Even so, I highly recommend this book. It is a sensitive and illuminating look at mental illness, family love, and healing. And demons.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I received 'The Boy Who Could See Demons' by Carolyn Jess-Cooke in exchange for a honest review. Touted as a psychological thriller, the story is about a 10-year-old boy that sees demons. Child psychologist, Anya Molokova, tries to help the 10-year-old boy that she believes suffers from early-onset schizophrenia. The first line immediately grabs the reader with the tantalizing line uttered by Alex, the 10-year boy that sees demons: "People look at me funny when I tell them I have a demon." The book is written with alternating chapters narrated by Alex and Dr. Molokova, describing their point-of-views for the same situation. The reader gets to know how Alex views what happened, and how Dr. Molokova interprets it. Alex is convinced he sees demons everywhere and one in particular--his personal demon Ruen. Dr. Molokova, in the other hand is convinced on her diagnosis of early-onset schizophrenia. Both have baggage that leads them to have their beliefs. The reader is put in the position of trying to figure out which one is right. Is Alex right about demons being everywhere, tempting us, trying to make us do bad things? Or is Dr. Molokova correct about Alex suffering from mental illness. The book grabbed my attention from the first page. I liked Alex and Dr. Molokova's chapters distinct voices, each acting as the narrator for his or her chapter. Alex's jokes at the start of each of his chapters where a neat little diversion. It helped showcased him as a 10-year-old, except for him viewing demons, that was trying to figure out his world, albeit a harsh one. I loved the story until the last chapter. That is where the author lost me. I hate when an author pulls the trick this one did. I have no problems with being surprised. But I expect that thinking back to the chapters I read, I can say, "Ah, I missed the clues... this totally makes sense." Not with this book. The ending felt like the author decided how she would end the story, but did not bother to put the clues in the early chapters. More like referenced back to the early chapters to justify her ending. Hence my rating. Some might like it this way or have no problems how it was done, but I disliked it--it basically ruined the story for me. It is well written and if the ending had been done differently, I certainly would have given it five stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book intrigued me from the beginning, it is a page turner for sure. Anya is a child psychiatrist who moves back to her native Belfast. It was interesting to hear about how Belfast has many emotionally wounded citizens due to all the warring that's been going on forever. This is one of the reasons Anya has moved back, to help others heal. She is given the case of a young boy named Alex, who while very bright and outgoing is haunted by the visions of demons who he can see and converse with. Anya is also still mourning the loss of her twelve year old schizophrenic daughter who she tried so hard to treat and couldn't. She is drawn to Alex and his problems and they form a bond of sorts. I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and the characters, especially Alex and his conversations with his demon, Ruen were very well done. Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I recieved this as part of the LT early reviewers program. Anya has returned home to Northern Ireland to work as a child psychiatrist and is immediately assigned to care for Alex a 10 year old boy with apparent schisophrenia. He has long conversations with his Demon Ruen and seems to know things he shouldn't be able to know. As the story progresses the tension rises as Anya begins to make connections between Alex and her own daughter who also suffered from the disease. I loved the pacing of this book and the way it shifted perspectives between Anya and a diary that Alex was keeping. It was both thrilling and heart breaking as things seemed to spiral out of control. I found the conclusion to be a bit gimacky but certainly not a deal breaker. An excellent read and one I would highly reccomend to friends.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was an absolutely wonderful book that was full of surprises. Just by reading the title, I thought it fell into the Fantasy/Supernatural genre; however, it was really a psychological thriller. The main character is a young boy who sees a demon by the name of Ruen. There are many layers uncovered about the boy's story and why he was seeing the demon and the psychological reason's behind this. The character Anya is his psychiatrist and the mother of a young girl who had psychological issues and committed suicide. Throughout the course of the book, she is dealing with her guilt and attempting to save the young boy. There are many twists and turns to this story. It was well worth the read! Without giving away the plot, I will only say that this is a must read and will be a wonderful book for book clubs.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was a psychological look into one boy's demons and the psychiatrist called in to help him. What a fast paced page turner.It takes place in Northern Ireland. One chapter is told from the point of view of Alex, the young 10 year old boy who claims to see a demon named Ruen.Dr. Anya Molokova is Alex's psychiatrist. As Anya begins treating Alex, she can't help but notice how similar his behavior was to her own daughter, Poppy, who suffered from schizophrenia.The author does a great job building suspense and tension regarding Alex's relationship with Ruen, a scary demonic presence that only he can see. The characters are very well written. I thought Alex was a wonderful, loveable boy.The ending wrapped up a bit quickly for me, but the writing pulled you along the pages so fast. It was that good a read for me.This book is a gripping drama of mental illness and it's affect on those around us. Wonderful book and highly recommend to anyone.I received a copy as part of the Librarything Early reviewers in exchange for a review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Alex is a boy with a suicidal mother and his own psychological issues. He sees Demons. One in particular named Ruen seems to have a strong influence on him. Anya his new psychiatrist suspects he may have early onset schizophrenia. Anya has some personal experience as her daughter had a similar diagnosis that ultimately led to her death. Anya sets out on a mission to treat and save Alex since she was not able to help her own child.Maybe I am too trusting of a reader but I always tend to side with the patient and refuse to believe they are actually schizophrenic. This novel was no exception. Oblivious as a result the twist threw me for a loop. This was well thought out and looking back the ground work was nicely set. I did think that the conclusion wrapped up a bit too quickly. Some of the stats regarding mental health in Northern Ireland were unknown to me and surprising and made me want to learn more about this political strife.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Anya, a respected psychiatrist, returns to Belfast in an effort to change the very real problem of the lack of psychiatric care available to treat the very real problems those who have lived through The Troubles and their children are experiencing. Cindy, a young mother, has tried to commit suicide and not for the first time. Her young son, Alex has tried to hurt a teacher and claims to see a demon named Ruen, who is telling him to do these things. Anya is assigned to the case of Alex.Alex quickly won my heart. A brave little boy, who tries to take care of his mother, who has never been the same since the death of his father. He is old beyond his years, very self sufficient and wise. His biggest fear is being separated from his mother and that his father may be in hell. He also sees demons and tries to resist when they tell him to do things he knows are not right.Anya herself, is recovering from a horrible tragedy and quickly identifies with both Alex and Cindy. I was appalled at the very real statistic that 20% of the young children in Belfast are experiencing severe psychiatric problems. This book is an attempt to bring that to the world's notice. A;; is not as it seems in this book, There are things under the surface and maybe a reader more savvy than I will be able to see them coming, but I did not.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My rating: 4 of 5 starsThe Boy Who Could See Demons is a Delacorte Press publication. The book was released in 2012. Anya is a therapist that has dealt with mental illnesses her whole life, beginning with her mother, then with her daughter, Poppy. Sadly, Poppy lost her battle and died. Now Anya has been given the case of ten year old Alex. Alex has witnessed his mother, Cindy, attempt suicide. Cindy has attempted suicide numerous times. Alex is above average in intelligence and vocabulary. But, he is deeply troubled. He tells Anya that he has an imaginary friend named Ruen, who is actually a demon. Only to Alex, Ruen is very real. Anya becomes convinced that Alex is in the early stages of mental illness and should be placed in an institution. However, the board and Alex's social worker, Michael, are opposed to that idea and so, Anya continues to treat Alex the best she can. She keeps in touch with Cindy, and with Alex's aunt, as well as interviewing Alex's teachers and talking things out with Michael. Anya and Michael often agree to disagree, but they are also on the same side. Helplessly, we watch Alex sink deeper and deeper. He has a great many conflicts concerning his father and some very disturbing memories. Ruen is with Alex at every turn, manipulating him into doing things he wouldn't ordinarily do. Anya is also at Ruen's mercy it seems. Alex relays messages to Anya from Ruen. These messages send chills down your spine. While struggling against the system and fighting for what she thinks is the best treatment for Alex, Anya herself begins to have some disturbing episodes with fainting spells. Throughout the book it feels like there is something just on the periphery that know is there, but can't figure out what exactly it is. A strong sense of foreboding follows you and increases as you learn more about Alex and Ruen. Alex is a delightful child that tells jokes and loves his mother despite her flaws. Alex's jokes, although corny, provides much needed comic relief. The novel is moody, dark and atmospheric. At times you feel like you are walking through dense fog, hoping that it will eventually burn off and you will be able to see things more clearly. There are never any real pat answers when dealing with mental illness and this book doesn't attempt to tie everything up in neat bow for the sake of a happy ever after. Naturally, we hope the breakthrough will be a good beginning to restoring lives to some semblance of normalcy. But, there are no guarantees in real life or in this novel, although we hope for the best. This was a very absorbing read. Mental illness is always a difficult topic. So, this book does have a melancholy tone. But, it's also a psychological suspense novel that mystery lovers might like as well. It's hard to place this book in any particular genre. So, if you like thought provoking novels with a little spine tingle and suspense, you should check this one out. You will think about it for awhile after you have read the last page. Overall I give this one an A. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the DRC copy of this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This latest novel by author Carolyn Jess-Cooke explores early onset schizophrenia and how growing up in areas of violence and terror affect not only the survivors but the 'secondary impact' they have on the next generation.The story alternates between the two major protagonists, ten-year-old Alex and Anya, his psychiatrist.Alex lives in a poor neighbourhood in Belfast with his severely depressed mother, Cindy. His voice is heard through his diary in which he appears to be a very intelligent, precocious child. He has one friend, a 9000-year-old demon named Ruen.Anya is a child Psychologist. She grew up in Belfast and has returned after several years away because she feels that this is where she can do the most good. She is dealing with her own grief at the loss of her daughter Poppy and she sees much of Poppy in Alex. She is convinced that Alex suffers from early-onset schizophrenia and is determined to keep him from the same fate as Poppy even if it means separating him from his mother. Anya always speaks in the first person.It is never clear through most of the book whether Ruen is real or a delusion. Either way, although it is clear that Ruen has become a coping mechanism for Alex, he is a very dangerous one. And Ruen is so fully formed that even Anya begins to wonder if he might be real.Place plays as important a role as person in this story. Although the Troubles are over in Northern Ireland at least for now, they have left behind a population reeling from the impact of living through the constant threat of violence: depression, a high incidence of suicides and psychological disorders, in fact, all of the problems you would expect to see in a war zone. And, as Ms Jess-Cooke shows, it is not just the survivors but future generations who will continue to suffer.This is an easy book to read but not an easy subject. Author Jess-Cooke has an almost breezy way of writing which should downplay the seriousness of the story but, in fact, it does the opposite. Alex' penchant for corny jokes contrasts and heightens the horrible conditions he lives with; Anya's constant battles to help Alex serve to highlight her own fragile psyche. This is the kind of book you can read in a couple of hours but will keep you thinking long after you finish it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Psychiatrist Anya Molokova has recently returned home to Belfast following the death of her daughter, Poppy. Feeling she failed to treat her own daughter’s schizophrenia, Anya is determined to succeed with her new patient, ten year old Alex. Alex claims to be influenced by a demon, Ruen, that only he can see. Anya suspects a psychological cause for Alex’s behavior, but Ruen seems to provide Alex with information he couldn’t possibly know. Is Ruen real?The story alternates between Alex and Anya’s perspectives, as each deals with recent family tragedies. Alex’s mother has just attempted suicide, and Anya is still struggling with guilt over the death of her daughter. Belfast itself serves as a nice complimentary setting, as the city seeks to recover from the violence of the “troubles.” The central mystery of Ruen is very intriguing, and definitely keeps the reader guessing too.The final reveal is a huge disappointment, as there is a major twist that is largely confined to the final chapter. The story isn’t bad, but the ending ruins much of it and even actively negates some of what came prior.{SPOILERS}Anya herself has been suffering from schizophrenia, and invented Alex as an imaginary patient to cope with her own losses. Thus, Ruen never really existed. While I like that there was a more rational ending, the entire story ends up being in Anya’s head. Alex’s story loses meaning, and his sections of the book don’t make sense as a result. Was Anya imagining being Alex? It would have been nice to have more hints toward this; as it is the ending feels tacked on, like the author was unsure how to end the story.A finished copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.