Factory Girls: WINNER OF THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE

In the summer of 1994, Maeve Murray wants to escape her shitty wee town in Northern Ireland. She gets a job at the local shirt factory with her best friends, but she must survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign and reveal the truth to get out of town.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: John Murray Press

The perfect pick for those missing their dose of Derry Girls!

The Irish Examiner has praised the show as "entertaining, touching, and savagely funny." The Sunday Times described it as "vital, bang-on, and seriously funny," while Roddy Doyle called it "the summer of 1994, and all Maeve Murray wants is some money and good exam results so she can escape her shitty wee town in Northern Ireland."

Over the holidays, Maeve bags herself a job at the local shirt factory with her best friends Caroline and Aoife. It's set to be the summer of their lives, but first, she must survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign as brutal as her relationship with her mam, iron 800 shirts a day to keep her job and dodge the attentions of Handy Andy Strawbridge, her slimy English boss. And when she starts to notice things aren't adding up at the factory, it seems like revealing the truth may just be her one-way ticket out of town.

Maeve is a feisty and determined young woman who is not afraid to stand up to her bullies. She is also a skilled seamstress and is determined to make a better life for herself and her family. However, her job at the shirt factory is not without its challenges. She is subjected to long hours and low pay, and her boss, Handy Andy, is constantly harassing her.

Despite these obstacles, Maeve refuses to give up. She starts to investigate the factory and discovers that there are illegal practices going on, such as using child labor and employing workers in unsafe conditions. She knows that revealing the truth could put her own life in danger, but she also knows that it is the right thing to do.

Maeve's courage and determination inspire her friends and colleagues, and they join her in her fight for justice. Together, they organize a strike at the factory and demand better working conditions and fair wages. The strike is successful, and Maeve is hailed as a hero.

However, her victory is short-lived. Handy Andy is not willing to let go of his power and tries to silence Maeve and her friends. He even goes as far as to threaten their families and try to frame Maeve for a crime she didn't commit.

Maeve is not intimidated by Handy Andy's threats. She knows that she has done the right thing and that she must continue to fight for what is right. She refuses to back down and is determined to expose the truth about the factory.

In the end, Maeve's courage and determination pay off. The factory is shut down, and Handy Andy is arrested for his crimes. Maeve is hailed as a hero, and her family is finally able to live in peace and prosperity.

Maeve's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. It is a testament to the strength of courage and determination, and to the power of people coming together to fight for a common cause.

Derry Girls is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good laugh, a touching story, and a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right.

Weight: 214g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529386288