Little Bang, page 26
• A third of these later abortions are performed because of foetal anomaly. The rest tend to involve some of the most vulnerable people in society, such as migrants, refugees, abuse victims, those with poor physical and mental health, those living in poverty, those with geographical barriers to access, and those under 20 years of age.
A NOTE ON INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
Not all women have a uterus, and not all people with a uterus are women. Transgender and non-binary people must be included in conversations about reproduction. In this book, many of the characters use “woman” and “girl” to talk about reproduction, but I have given the healthcare professionals more inclusive language, not because that’s particularly realistic (unfortunately) but because it’s something we should aspire to.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Ireland and Northern Ireland are separate countries, with different legal systems. Until 2018, abortion was illegal on both sides of the border. In Northern Ireland, abortion was permitted if the mother’s life was at risk or if there was a risk of permanent or serious damage to her mental or physical health. But a lack of clear guidelines meant medical staff were reluctant to risk legal culpability, and the number of abortions carried out per year was almost in single figures. Proposals to permit abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape or incest were rejected by the Northern Irish government in 2016.
At the time of Mel and Sid’s story (2018), the Irish abortion referendum was being held south of the border. This public vote ended in a two-thirds landslide in favour of ending Ireland’s ban on abortion. Since then, legislation has allowed abortion in Ireland in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy and up to twenty-four weeks in exceptional circumstances.
But the referendum didn’t change the laws in the North. And although Northern Ireland is part of the UK, it has its own government, so the UK abortion laws didn’t apply in Northern Ireland either. Abortion remained illegal in Northern Ireland, except in rare circumstances, until 2019.
Despite opposition by some political parties, abortion was decriminalized in Northern Ireland in 2019 after the UK government intervened. In the days following this decision, Belfast Crown Court dropped a case against a woman who was being prosecuted for buying abortion pills for her teenage daughter. The new legislation allows abortions in all circumstances in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, up to twenty-four weeks where there is a risk to the physical or mental health of the pregnant person, and beyond that in very limited circumstances. But the setting-up of abortion services in Northern Ireland has been slow. At the time of writing, abortions are rarely performed after twelve weeks, and many people are still travelling for treatment.
Decriminalization means the law in Northern Ireland is now more progressive than that in the rest of the UK. Abortion has never been decriminalized in England, Scotland or Wales – the UK’s 1967 Abortion Act provides a legal defence for doctors who perform abortions under certain conditions, but it remains a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. At the time of writing, there are people on trial for managing their own abortion in England.
For a fuller description of the events leading up to the Irish Referendum and the decriminalization of abortion in Northern Ireland, see my website: kellymccaughrain.com/LittleBang
READING GROUP QUESTIONS
1. One in three UK women will have an abortion. Will knowing this change how you think or talk about abortion?
2. Mel’s sister, Leah, starts a new job in a women’s refuge. Do you think that experience might have changed her views on abortion in the course of the novel?
3. Why do you think Miss Berry insists the debate club should be able to argue for positions they disagree with?
4. Do you think any topic should be up for debate, or are some things (such as human rights, gender identity or sexual identity) facts rather than questions?
5. Mel notes there are no women in Nigel’s protest posters. Why do you think that is?
6. Mrs Edgar says we all have personal reasons for our political opinions. What personal reasons are behind the advice given to Mel by the people in her life?
7. Nigel thinks adoption is a win–win solution to unwanted pregnancies. Do you agree?
8. Mrs Watson says there may be unwanted pregnancies but there are no unwanted babies. Do you think that’s true?
9. Why is Mel treated so differently to Sid when people find out about the pregnancy?
10. Do you think fathers should have a legal right to know about an abortion? How would that affect pregnant people with abusive partners?
11. What does the phrase “bodily autonomy” mean to you?
12. Mel feels an extra layer of stigma because her abortion isn’t for a reason like rape or fatal foetal abnormality. Do you think cases like hers get less sympathy?
13. Were there any facts in the book you didn’t already know? How do you feel about the fact that you didn’t know them?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It was important to me that this book ring true to Northern Irish women, so I badgered a lot of them to read it on the way to publication! I’m so grateful to everyone who talked to me about abortion, teen pregnancy, motherhood, fertility, miscarriage, adoption and religious upbringings. Publishing a book like this is a daunting prospect and though any errors in information or judgement are my own, it’s been reassuring to turn to you and say, “Can I say this? Should I say that? It’s not just me, right?” So thank you!
My thanks and acknowledgements to the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, who made me their Children’s Writing Fellow 2019–21. Their funding and support made this book, and so many other things, possible.
Thanks also to my editor, Lucy Earley, for her enormous editorial skill, patience and faith in me through the various iterations of this story. To my agent, Kirsty McLachlan, for being always there and always reassuring. To Clare Baalham, for her sensitive and brilliant copy-editing. To Andrew Bannecker and Chloe Tartinville, for the absolutely beautiful cover, and to Rebecca J Hall for stylish typesetting. To Gráinne Clear for championing my book, and to Sales, Marketing and PR for being brilliant (especially Conor Hackett). And to everyone at Walker; I’m touched by the care so many people have put into this book.
Thanks (and a few pints) to Nicola Browne, an incredible activist and (probably psychic) book-doula, without whose calm sanity and advice in the face of my prodigious ability to panic, both I and this book would have foundered many times. To my critique group and Shirley Anne McMillan for beta-reading, kind words and wisdom. To the Alliance for Choice Slack channel for putting up with my many questions. To Michael Bell, for being the kind of weirdo who uses his phone to actually phone you (but only to answer questions on your edits). To my tame astrophysicist, Philip Dufton, for being so generous with his time and for not laughing at my attempts to do science. To Coastal Trees for putting Sid’s lyrics to music – you’ve brought him to life and that’s probably the best gift you can give an author! (Check it out on their Spotify). To Dad, who told me to wave at the aliens. To Mum, who actually did get “toxicity” across two triple word scores.
This book is for everyone I knew when I was sixteen and, especially, for Michael, for being the kind of thoroughly decent first boyfriend every clueless sixteen-year-old girl should aspire to.
Kelly McCaughrain’s debut novel, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, won an unprecedented hat-trick of awards at the 2019 Children’s Books Ireland Awards, including Book of the Year, as well as the Northern Ireland Book Award. Kelly was the Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland 2019-2021. She works at Belfast Met College as educational support for young adults with special needs.
Kelly says: “I get my best ideas from observing teens. I love their high ideals and natural barometer for injustice. I always want to write things that are worthy of their huge capacity to scrutinise the world and their place in it.”
When she isn’t writing, Kelly likes to travel with her 1967 classic campervan, Gerda, and her 1977 classic husband, Michael.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about
LTTLE BANG
@kmccaughrain
@WalkerBooksYA
#LittleBang
kellymccaughrain.com
PRAISE FOR LTTLE BANG
“I found myself both smiling and frowning as I read. A fantastically clever novel which feels completely relevant.” Sarah Crossan
“Reading it, I had a sense that I was hand in hand with my teenage self… A book that prompts conversation and compassion; a book about choices and timelines and connection, and deep, lonely courage.” Deirdre Sullivan
“Romantic, funny, important.” Jenny Ireland
“Everyone who loved Derry Girls - this is the book for you! Full of warmth, Northern Irish humour, heartbreaking teen decisions, messy teen glory.” Sarah Webb
“Bursting with humour, compassion, and characters that fizz with life. Kelly McCaughrain is one of a kind.” Pádraig Kenny
“Thought provoking and deeply human.” Sue Divin
“Such a brave, honest, nuanced treatment of the story. This book will open up discussions, and hearts and minds.” Sheena Wilkinson
“I could not put this book down. An honest, heartfelt and truly humane book about an incredibly important subject.” Jan Carson
“The kind of book that leaves your heart wide awake …as raw, gut-wrenching and real as it could be. I can’t stop thinking about it.” Máire Zepf
“Without a doubt the best YA narrative I have read which touches on the issues of unplanned pregnancy and abortion. A (little) banger!” Shirley Anne McMillan
A Note on Content
Please be aware that the following pages contain discussions of – and references to – teenage pregnancy, abortion and miscarriage.
A list of further resources is available at the back of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. All statements, activities, stunts, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated as they may result in injury.
First published in Great Britain 2024 by Walker Books Ltd
87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ
Text © 2024 Kelly McCaughrain
Cover illustration © 2024 Andrew Bannecker
The right of Kelly McCaughrain to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-5295-2044-6 (epub)
www.walker.co.uk
Kelly McCaughrain, Little Bang
