About this book
After Shell's mother dies, her obsessively religious father descends into alcoholic mourning and Shell is left to care for her younger brother and sister. Her only release from the harshness of everyday life comes from her budding spiritual friendship with a naive young priest, and most importantly, her developing relationship with childhood friend, Declan, charming, eloquent and persuasive. But when Declan suddenly leaves Ireland to seek his fortune in America, Shell finds herself pregnant and the centre of a scandal that rocks the small community in which she lives, with repercussions across the whole country. The lives of those immediately around her will never be the same again.
Censorship history
In 2025, "A Swift Pure Cry" by Siobhan Dowd was banned at the school level in several districts across the United States, primarily due to concerns over religious themes and perceived immorality. Notably, the book faced challenges from local parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and conservative advocacy groups, leading to school board votes that resulted in its removal from curricula and libraries. The bans were upheld in various states, reflecting ongoing debates about the appropriateness of certain content in educational settings.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | ReligiousMoral |
