I cannot get enough of Claire Keegan’s short yet shocking reads. The efficiency of her narrative style and word choice makes her novels concise and poignant, leaving no room for misinterpretation or guesswork. Foster is yet another one of her books that strikes at the heart of the reader with its simple yet emotionally complex and engaging story.

A small girl is sent to live with foster parents on a farm in rural Ireland, without knowing when she will return home. In the strangers’ house, she finds a warmth and affection she has not known before and slowly begins to blossom in their care. And then a secret is revealed and suddenly, she realises how fragile her idyll is.

Small Things Like These and Foster share similar themes, but there are distinct differences that make them equally enjoyable and original. Foster, sharing a snippet of life from the perspective of a young girl, dares to consider the experiences of a child in the house that birthed her and the house that recieves her, and how these two experiences can differ so greatly in the smallest and most impactful of ways. It also tells the story of family, parenthood, love, and one’s place in the home in rural Ireland. These themes hit differently compared to the similar vein of thought found in Small Things Like These, at least in my experience reading both novels, and I think that comes from the contrast between the parents in Foster.

The setting and social context is foundational in this novel, yet it is bare bones, making us focus on the important interactions and dialogue shared between the young girl and her parents, and the young girl and her foster parents. By having us view this experience from the young girls perspective, we understand far more than is being said from her actions, thoughts, and reactions. We also sit in a position where her innocence makes us more sympathetic to the events in her life. You can’t help it given she is a child. As I was reading Foster, I wanted to wrap her in my arms and give her the love she deserves simply by being her. The final chapter really hammers home the themes and emotional lessons of the story, and I cannot think of a better short story writer right now than Claire Keegan.

Foster is a must read, and it will not throw a spanner in the works by picking it up now. It is less than 100 pages, with gorgeous language choice, imagery, and characters. Foster will stoke the emotions deep within your heart and perhaps draw up a tear or two, but it is entirely worth it. Claire Keegan’s backlogue of books are looking more and more enticing by the minute, and I might just have to request a handful this time around to satisfy the craving for some hearty Irish literature.