NEVOLJE KROZ OČI DJECE I ADOLESCENATA
THE TROUBLES THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Summary/Abstract: The Troubles is a term used for the conflict in Northern Ireland, spanning from the 1960s to 1998. It has been a central topic of various books including many children’s and young adult novels. This paper explores the depiction of the Troubles in NI through the perspective of childhood and adolescence. It will be discussed how these novels portray the ways in which young individuals cope with identity formation, community dynamics, and the impact of violence on their everyday lives. By comparing different novels with a young adult as a protagonist, this analysis will mention the ways in which authors navigate the complexities of history and conflict, offering insights into the different ways in which children and teenagers deal with the challenges of growing up in a hostile environment. Novels representing both the Protestant and the Catholic side will be considered. Characters in the novels are usually representing three sides – the Catholic one, the Protestant one and there is often an “outsider” character, somebody who grew up far away from the Troubles. These novels help the children of NI who still live in segregated communities understand the other side and the history of the conflict, while at the same time introducing the topic to non-NI readers. The resolution of the post-conflict situation lies with future generations and by using literature in which the history of NI is explained and in which the two sides try to work together, young adults could change the situation in NI now.

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