Bruised

Fourteen-year-old Jonathan lives with his eight-year-old sister Julie and their mother who is a drunk. Everything has changed since their Da moved out and and has got even worse since Gramma died. Now there is no proper food on the table, no clean clothes, they have to look after themselves the best they can. Until one day Ma hits Julie and Jonathan decides the only way to protect his sister is to run away.

Written by Irish Children's Laureate Siobhan Parkinson, Bruised explores themes of bullying, abuse and neglect in families and how they repeat themselves through the generations. Told in a fresh and original way via the unreliable narration of Jonathan who reveals layers of his story as he comes to terms with his life.