Hostages to Fortune

Kevin and Sadie #5

by Joan Lingard

Continues the story of love born in the violence of Belfast. With Kevin out of a job and forced to leave the little cottage where he had settled with Sadie and the baby, the future looked bleak. Would Kevin find another job?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Romance, Teen

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Joan Lingard was born in Edinburgh, in the Old Town, but grew up in Belfast where she lived until she was 18. She attended Strandtown Primary and then got a scholarship into Bloomfied Collegiate. She has three daughters and five grandchildren, and now lives in Edinburgh with her Canadian husband.

Lingard has written novels for both adults and children. She is probably most famous for the teenage-aimed Kevin and Sadie series, which have sold over one million copies and have been reprinted many times since.

Her first novel Liam's Daughter was an adult-orientated novel published in 1963. Her first children's novel was The Twelfth Day of July (the first of the five Kevin and Sadie books) in 1970.

Lingard received the prestigious West German award the "Buxtehuder Bulle" in 1986 for Across the Barricades. Tug of War has also received great success: shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 1989, The Federation of Children's Book Group Award 1989, runner up in the Lancashire Children's Book Club of the year 1990 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award. In 1998, her book Tom and the Tree House won the Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Award. Her most recent novel, What to Do About Holly was released in August 2009.

Lingard was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to children's literature.

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

See, now they're all grown-up and just less interesting!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fifth and final book in the Kevin and Sadie books by Joan Lingard sees yet more upheaval for the young couple as they lose the home they love after Kevin becomes redundant. A move to Wales ensues but a home of their own is still a distant dream. More family visits bringing trouble plus tragedy strikes yet again. An enjoyable novel that I hadn't read before back in the early 80s when I read the first three books. A bit dated nowadays but still a good read.

[Róisin · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's not as good since they moved from Belfast. Some bit of the story just feel like there throw in there because the author couldn't think of anything better example Sadie trying to get the angel on top of the tree for no reason she falls and loses her baby, it makes the character look really really stupid.

[Tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

By this book you do slightly feel why can’t they catch a break! It’s so frustrating they have to leave the farm, and I always find it intense when you clock the timeline of the whole series has been actually only a few years! But overall I like the ending, more taking control and also realising they have to do the work to get over their childhood prejudices. Works for me

[Katie Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I like sadder books but Kevin and Sadie is so refreshing to read , it is such a positive uplifting novel especially at the end, I am actually so sad the series is over but deffo read because it is fantastic!

[Taff Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next stage in this enjoyable youth soap opera with the characters thoroughly familiar by now and Kevin and Sadie like old friends. Interesting diversions throughout and a slightly open ending…..a shame this is the end of the series!

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final chapter of Kevin and Sadie's story sees them moving to Wales and building a new life there. Sadie's sunny personality and Kevin's solid work ethic enable them to make friends and contacts easily, but the demands of family back home and their religious differences rise to the surface again as their relationship is tested.

[Garel]

I've read all of these books before and loved them so much I'm going to read them all over again!