The Children Act
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Children Act by Ian McEwan centers on Fiona Maye, a respected family law judge in London whose marriage is falling apart when she takes on the case of Adam, a young Jehovah’s Witness with leukemia whose parents refuse a life-saving blood transfusion based on their beliefs; meeting Adam profoundly impacts Fiona as her professional decisions and personal life increasingly intersect. Topics in the book include illness, religious conflict, and marital strife.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ian McEwan's The Children Act is praised for its compelling narrative and intricate exploration of moral and legal dilemmas. Many appreciate McEwan's meticulous prose and emotional depth. However, some critics find the protagonist's emotional journey underdeveloped and the plot occasionally contrived. Overall, it is a thought-provoking read that balances intellect and empathy.
Who Should Read The Children Act?
A reader who enjoys The Children Act by Ian McEwan is likely drawn to literary fiction that delves into ethical dilemmas, complex characters, and legal drama. Fans of My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult or Atonement, also by McEwan, will appreciate the moral conflicts and emotional depth explored in this novel.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Mystery / Crime Fiction
We’re just getting started.
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
Continue your reading experience
SuperSummary Plot Summaries provide a quick, full synopsis of a text. But SuperSummary Study Guides — available only to subscribers — provide so much more!
Join now to access our Study Guides library, which offers chapter-by-chapter summaries and comprehensive analysis on more than 5,000 literary works from novels to nonfiction to poetry.
SubscribeSee for yourself. Check out our sample guides:
We’re just getting started.
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
Continue your reading experience
SuperSummary Plot Summaries provide a quick, full synopsis of a text. But SuperSummary Study Guides — available only to subscribers — provide so much more!
Join now to access our Study Guides library, which offers chapter-by-chapter summaries and comprehensive analysis on more than 5,000 literary works from novels to nonfiction to poetry.
SubscribeSee for yourself. Check out our sample guides:
We’re just getting started.
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
A SuperSummary Plot Summary provides a quick, full synopsis of a text.
A SuperSummary Study Guide — a modern alternative to Sparknotes & CliffsNotes — provides so much more, including chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and important quotes.
See the difference for yourself. Check out this sample Study Guide: