Damage

Told in a series of interconnected chapters, by a variety of characters, moving backwards and forwards up to and after a fatal car crash, this is always going to be an emotionally powerful subject. The intention is to act as another kind of warning of what can happen and the impact on a range of people, using a deliberately detailed portrait of the contemporary world of these older teenagers. The accident is preceded by the energetic preparation for a late December birthday celebration in fancy dress and the good humoured and casual fun of the teenagers’ lives. Knowing what will happen make these details all the more poignant. It’s an accident and a combination of things connect at this moment to create the tragedy. The versions of the injured survivor, the imprisoned driver, the various siblings and parents make an awful kaleidoscope of consequences. The morality tale works well and, as the author comments at the end, if this can save one life it will have been useful.