We Play Here

by Dawn Watson
We Play Here cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Poetry
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Paperback • £12.99
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  • ID: 2967
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781915051073
  • Publisher: Granta Books
  • Published: 2023-08-03
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

We Play Here is a poignant verse novel that weaves together the stories of four young girls growing up in the politically charged environment of North Belfast during the late 1980s. Through lyrical poetry, the novel explores the girls' experiences of normalized violence, poverty, and neglect, offering a unique perspective on girlhood and friendship before societal expectations of gender take hold. The narrative is set against the backdrop of the Troubles, providing a stark and evocative portrayal of life in an underdeveloped area of Protestant North Belfast during a pivotal summer. /n/n This collection of poem-stories is not just a testament to the resilience of young girls in challenging circumstances but also a radical approach to understanding the complexities of girl-friendships and the elemental landscape they inhabit. The novel's graceful and lyrical style brings to life the struggles and triumphs of working-class childhood, making it a powerful and unforgettable read.

Reviews
Nine Arches Press Blog · Maria Taylor · 2024-06-13
great 4.20

The verse novel is a poignant and insightful exploration of friendship and growing up. It is a moving and well-crafted debut.

Maria Taylor reviews We Play Here as a poignant and insightful verse novel that beautifully illustrates the lives of four young female friends. The reviewer is moved by the book's exploration of friendship, identity, and the transition from childhood to adolescence. The collection is praised for its emotional depth and the way it captures the nuances of growing up in a politically charged environment. Taylor appreciates the lyrical quality of the writing and the authenticity of the characters' experiences.

Quick quotes

    We Play Here is Dawn Watson's debut collection and is a verse novel.

    The book illustrates the lives of four young female friends – Nell, Max, and their adventures.

    A moving and well-crafted debut that captures the essence of childhood and friendship.

The Guardian · 2023-08-04
good 4.00

The collection is praised for its gritty and authentic portrayal of childhood in a politically turbulent setting. It is a powerful and evocative work.

The Guardian describes We Play Here as a gritty verse-fiction set in north Belfast, capturing the lives of four young girls on the cusp of childhood and adolescence. The reviewer is impressed by the book's ability to convey the political and social turbulence of the era through the lens of childhood. The collection is seen as a powerful exploration of friendship and identity, with a unique and evocative narrative style. The reviewer appreciates the authenticity and depth of the characters and their experiences.

Quick quotes

    A gritty verse-fiction set in north Belfast.

    Capturing the lives of four young girls at the cusp of childhood and adolescence.

    A powerful collection – a single long poem divided into four parts.

Granta · 2023-03-08
great 4.50

The book captures the essence of childhood and friendship with a unique and captivating approach. It stands out as an extraordinary debut.

Granta highlights that We Play Here is an extraordinary debut that beautifully captures the strangeness and wonder of childhood. The reviewer is particularly impressed with Watson's ability to evoke the complexities of girlhood and friendship. The book is described as a radical and lyrical exploration of working-class childhood, making it a standout in contemporary poetry. The reviewer appreciates the fresh perspective and the evocative language used throughout the collection.

Quick quotes

    An extraordinary, enviably great debut.

    Watson has that rare ability to capture the ever-present strangeness of childhood and to use it to explore the complexities of girlhood and girl-friendships.

    A radical approach to girlhood and girl-friendships, in the years before the trappings of adolescence.

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