Easter 2005. Janie can win the feis—but she has no idea how to navigate first love. Between emo fashion, My Chemical Romance, school corridors and a boyfriend who wants more than she’s ready for, she finds herself watching Martin, a freerunner who leaps across the city, finding paths where there seem to be only obstacles.
Her mother, Marianne, haunted by the legacy of the Troubles and her brother’s violent death, is trapped in a marriage that has lost its meaning. As the anniversary approaches, she too longs for a way through her past—yet jumping doesn’t always guarantee a safe landing.
First published 25 years ago, Jump Derry was Christine Donovan’s debut novel and went on to win the 2011 International Rubery Book Award. Bold, tender and unforgettable, it remains a story about love, memory and the courage to move forward.
To mark its 25th anniversary, this special new edition will be published in April—inviting a new generation of readers to discover a novel that changes how you walk through your city, your problems and your life.