Pure Innocent Boy ends in tragedy. It is one which could have easily been avoided, all that was needed was a bit more time and love from other members of his family to Tadhg. It is a novel which touches the heart. Pure Innocent Boy also offers a state of the nation view of Ireland as seen from the bottom of society. Tadhg Kelly suffered a mental breakdown after his mother died. Now he is trying to find his way in a world where he no longer fits. He gets a job in the local toy shop and seems, on the surface, to be finding stability. But in truth he is drifting, and it is only a matter of time before he crashes again. Tadhg's brother Damien seems to have his own life together - married to Eileen, with two lovely little boys - but he's got his own demons. And Eileen does her best to hold it all together, but sometimes it's just too much. Tadhg's father, a man of few words, has no time for his son. Interspersing Tadhg's diary entries with first-person accounts by Damien and Eileen, Pure Innocent Boy is a poignant, aching character study about masculinity, mental health and grief that slowly builds in power.
