McCoubrey is about the character and experiences of a 12 years old boy growing up in a dreary N.Irish town circa 1971 (the fictional "Portstown")
The novel has a coming of age element but is suitable for everyone. The twelve years old boy McCoubrey is discerning for his age and soon has a sense of being different, both from a class and religious perspective. He is easily bored and seeks refuge in boyish behaviour and other antics. The time span is short..the summer of 1971. It covers the period including his last days at primary school and the summer weeks before commencement of secondary school. McCoubrey has his first proper holiday with his chums and this proves to be an interesting episode per se. In the novel everday activities and events are played out against the backdrop of the impending "troubles". However the book isn't about political tensions. It examines family life, frivolity, first romance, violence, difference, friendships etc. It is written with a first person narrative. In a sense McCoubrey is the story. The book contains (hopefully!) some decent and original humour. The structure /plot is a bit loose, but again ,the writing "hopefully" compensates!