Chocolate Moon

In Chocolate Moon Mary Arrigan has left the world of shadows to deal with a problem that many families are having to face with increasing regularity – what to do when an elderly relative begins to develop Alzheimer's.

For some time now Marry Arrigan has been associated with highly successful tales of mystery and the supernatural but, in her new book 'Chocolate Moon', she has left the world of shadows to deal with a problem that many families are having to face with increasing regularity – what to do when an elderly relative begins to develop Alzheimer's.

The elderly relative here is the grandmother of teenager Chris, who has come to regard his gran as his main source of comfort in a family where he is frequently at odds with his career orientated parents and never more so than when they announce the need for his gran to go into a nursing home.

Here the elderly lady drifts in and out of the past and present, frequently mistaking Chris for Peter, his father, whom she refers to as "Poor Peter" and their shared memories of "their chocolate moon". Yet both his granny and his father shy away from explaining what is meant by "the chocolate moon". Hence the mystery.

The story is narrated by young Chris and his voice is authentic and clear, full of youthful anger that many readers will identify with perhaps even in relation to their own grandparents' situation.

The book offers no easy solutions but it does have an excellent sense of place and time and will provide its readers not just with an excellent read but also with food for thought.

Chocolate Moon by Mary Arrigan from Barrington Stoke Ltd  €5.50 Ages 9 to 12

Tony Hickey