Liam is poor but loved. Hugo is born with a silver spoon. Patrick has seen too much.

For three young boys, Liam, Patrick and Hugo, life in Ireland of the 1960s proves to be both idyllic and flawed. Living in close proximity but leading vastly different lives, the bonds of friendship bind these young men as they grow, dream and navigate the storms of youth.

In a world where the Catholic Church is a looming and pervasive presence, the dreamy ideal of childhood is staunchly contrasted against the backdrop of suffering and darkness in the lives of these three boys. Will their friendship be enough to weather the gale? Or will their separate struggles tear them apart?

In Under Heaven’s Shining Stars, author Jean Grainger brings to life the struggles and simplicity that often go hand-in-hand with growing up. Experience the gamut of emotion as you witness the journey of Liam, Patrick and Hugo as they face the beauty, turmoil and endless possibilities of life under the turbulent Irish sky.