Darkstroke

The Children Act

The Children Act book cover
TC
Fiction Fiction Religion & Spirituality

by Ian McEwan

starstarstarstar_halfstar
3.68 (33.1K ratings)
calendar_today 2014
description 221 pages

The Children Act by Ian McEwan holds a well received rating of 3.68 out of 5, based on 33.1K reader ratings. First published in 2014. The book spans 221 pages.

About The Children Act

A fiercely intelligent, well-respected High Court judge in London faces a morally ambiguous case while her own marriage crumbles in a novel that will keep readers thoroughly enthralled until the last stunning page.Fiona Maye is a High Court judge in London presiding over cases in family court. She is fiercely intelligent, well respected, and deeply immersed in the nuances of her particular field of law. Often the outcome of a case seems simple from the outside, the course of action to ensure a child's welfare obvious. But the law requires more rigor than mere pragmatism, and Fiona is an expert in considering the sensitivities of culture and religion when handing down her verdicts. But Fiona's professional success belies domestic strife. Her husband, Jack, asks her to consider an open marriage and, after an argument, moves out of their house. His departure leaves her adrift, wondering whether it was not love she had lost so much as a modern form of respectability; whether it was not contempt and ostracism she really fears. She decides to throw herself into her work, especially a complex case involving a seventeen-year-old boy whose parents will not permit a lifesaving blood transfusion because it conflicts with their beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses. But Jack doesn't leave her thoughts, and the pressure to resolve the case - as well as her crumbling marriage - tests Fiona in ways that will keep readers thoroughly enthralled until the last stunning page.

Detail Value
Author Ian McEwan
Published 2014
Pages 221
Genres Fiction, Fiction, Religion & Spirituality
Average Rating 3.68 / 5.00
Total Ratings 33,100

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

3.7
starstarstarstar_halfstar
33.1K ratings
With a rating of 3.68, The Children Act is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.99, it performs below the genre benchmark.

How It Compares

3.68
This Book
3.99
Fiction Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is The Children Act?

The Children Act is categorized as Fiction, Fiction, Religion & Spirituality. Its primary genre classification is Fiction.

Is The Children Act worth reading?

Based on 33.1K reader ratings, The Children Act has an average score of 3.68 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."

How many pages is The Children Act?

The Children Act has 221 pages.

Who wrote The Children Act?

The Children Act was written by Ian McEwan. It was first published in 2014.

What is the ISBN for The Children Act?

The ISBN-13 for The Children Act is 9780385539710.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026