Chapter 8: Little Bang by Kelly McCaughrain
What happens when your ‘first time’ has unexpected consequences?
Conversations about babies have become a little more frequent amongst my friends in the past few years as we approach our thirties. So perhaps the thing I found most remarkable about Little Bang was how much I recognised our fears and uncertainties in a novel written for teens.
Little Bang opens on New Years Eve 2017 as teenagers Mel and Sid meet with friends. After a few drinks, they have sex and start dating. A few weeks later, Mel realised she’s pregnant.
But this is Northern Ireland and abortion is illegal, although the repeal of similar legislation is being debated in Ireland.
Told through dual perspective, Little Bang thrusts the reader into the chaos of this surprise pregnancy along with Sid and Mel.
From the premise I was intrigued but, of course, wary of how such an emotional topic would be explored in YA. Little Bang manages beautifully – the way possible options were debated amongst the characters felt confused and emotional in the best way. It was the perfect exploration of the messiness of the situation.
I absolutely empathised with Mel’s desire for someone to just take the weight of decision off her shoulders.
As I mentioned before, I saw some of my own thoughts and conversations with friends reflected in Little Bang. Mainly around the way that pregnancy and raising children isn’t really ever equal for men and women, even with the best intentions. This is partly to do with wider social inequalities, something that was so accurately captured in just a few remarks from people to both Sid and Mel.
I’m making this book sound so serious and in some ways it is, but it never felt overly preachy. The heart of the story was always two teenagers in a confusing situation just trying to do their best. It was enjoyable and compulsively readable.
This should be required reading for teens – not because it advocates for any one decision but because it will spark those more nuanced discussions around parenting and pregnancy that my friends and I weren’t having until our late 20s.
Little Bang is the clever, heartfelt and memorable YA that I love to recommend to readers of any age.
Thanks to Walker Books for providing a copy of the book for review.