The Monster is Within

Neverland

Margot McGovern

336 pages, Paperback, First published 1 April 2018

Kit is an emotional mess, having self-harmed at boarding school, she is returned to her island home. The return for Kit is both welcomed and dreaded. She has friends there, Gypsy and Alistair and it is home. Neverland, where the fantasy keeps the reality at bay and a place that is her refuge. Her Uncle runs an educational facility for young people on the island, who are suffering mental health issues and Kit knows returning means under going treatment. Kit is determined to have a great time with Gypsy and Alistair, drinking, taking illict drugs, pushing the adults away and living by her own rules. She does not want to revisit the night her parents died and is willing to do anything to avoid going back. Yet, new resident Rohan, makes Kit question not just that night but all her choices.

Kit, is a complex character, who is struggling to find herself after a traumatic event in her past. Her memories of the event are patchwork, and she has constructed a false narrative to hide away the pain. Kit has built a world where a deceased father has taken on mythical status which is emboldened by fairy tales and Greek legends. She is angry, confused and lashes out at those she loves. She is whip smart, but her recklessness causes her to lead others into danger and miss out on clues to her own endangerment.

The other characters are well crafted, traumatised and complex. What McGovern does is allow you to assume that you know what each condition of the character is, you assume makes but then it is not what you thought. That is really good character development, and I do not want to give that away.

McGovern has written a pearler of a book that goes into the dark issues of mental health for young people. She has done this deftly, created realistic scenarios, and given an ending that provides hope, not a magic cure all.

For more on Margot McGovern and her next release due in 2025, head over to the website.