*Scroll down for English*
Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◉◉◎◎
Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◉◉◉◎◎
Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◉◉◉◎◎
Iaith gref/language: ◉◉◉◎◎
Rhyw/sex: ◉◉◎◎◎
Hiwmor/humour:◉◉◉◎◎
Barn disgyblion Ysgol Glan Clwyd
Pwy well i sôn am eu profiadau o ddarllen y nofel, na'r pobl ifanc eu hunain?!
Cynulleidfa: Arddegau (14+)
(themau o drais a chamdrin domestig)
Audience: Teens (14+)
(themes of domestic violence)
Er fod yr awdur wedi bod yn brysur yn hyrwyddo’r llyfr dros y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, dwi’n teimlo fod #Helynt wedi llithro allan o’r wasg yn ddistaw braidd, (cymaint o rei newydd yn dod allan ar y funud mai'n anodd cadw i fyny!) felly dwi isio tynnu sylw ato, achos mae o’n blydi gwd stori! Mae’n gwneud chenj cael llyfr Cymraeg sydd wedi cael ei osod mewn ardal fwy Seisnigaidd, sydd tu allan i’r ‘Fro Gymraeg’. Mae ’na blant a phobl ifanc yn tyfu i fyny mewn Cymru sy’n bell i ffwrdd o fyd dosbarth canol yr Eisteddfodau, y capeli a chorau cerdd dant a dwi’n meddwl fod y nofel yma’n adlewyrchu hynny.
Dwi’n falch fod yr awdur wedi gadael pytiau o ddeialog Saesneg yn y nofel sy’n adlewyrchu realiti ieithyddol y Cymry sy’n byw yn y Gogledd Ddwyrain mor agos at y ffin. Ni chawn ddarlun rhamantaidd o’r lle, ond un sy’n teimlo’n authentic iawn – un sydd ddim yn osgoi trafod y tlodi, y cyffuriau, y trais a’r back alleys drewllyd. (tydi Rhyl ddim yn ddrwg i gyd, gyda llaw! Gallu bod yn le neis deu gwir!)
Merch ysgol uwchradd yw Rachel, y prif gymeriad- goth sydd â thipyn ar ei phlât. Oherwydd diffyg arian mae sefyllfa ansefydlog gartref. Mae ei thad yn gweithio oriau hir er mwyn crafu byw ond dydi hyn byth yn ddigon, mae ei mam yn byw ag iselder ac mae Rachel yn gorfod gofalu am ei chwaer fach heb sôn am ei gwaith ysgol. Ar ben hyn oll, dysgwn fod Rachel yn amputee a bod ganddi goes brosthetig sy’n gwneud pethau’n anoddach fyth yn yr ysgol, ond dydi hi ddim yn un am gwyno. Mae’r ffordd y mae hi wedi dod i arfer â hyn ac yn dyfalbarhau yn destament i’w chryfder fel person. Dwi wrth fy modd efo hi fel cymeriad achos mae hi’n straight-talking, no messing, os nad braidd yn fyrbwyll. Shoot first, ask questions later - ffordd dda o amddiffyn dy hun, efallai, ond un sy’n gallu creu helynt... (teitl mor addas!)
Heb law am gymeriad Dalian, o drioleg Y Melanai gan Bethan Gwanas, dwi ddim wedi dod ar draws cymeriad heb goes mewn llyfrau Cymraeg, ac roedd yn dipyn o agoriad llygaid #parch. Dwi ‘di deud hyn o’r blaen, ond mi dduda i eto – dwi’n hynod falch fod ‘na fwy o amrywiaeth yn dechrau ymddangos yn ein llenyddiaeth.
Heb ddatgelu gormod, mae antur Rachel yn cychwyn ar ôl iddi benderfynu sgeifio o’r ysgol gyda ffrind ar ôl methu’r bws. Yn dilyn dodgy encounter gyda dynion digon amheus mewn clwb nos, mae Rachel yn cyfarfod dyn sy’n gwybod lot mwy amdani hi nag y mae hi’n ei wybod amdano fo. Bydd yr hyn sydd ganddo i’w ddweud yn newid ei bywyd am byth!
Roeddwn i’n ffeindio fy hun yn methu rhoi’r llyfr i lawr. Mi ddaeth y boi DPD delivery at y drws fel o’n i ar fin cyrraedd un o uchafbwyntiau’r llyfr a chafodd o fawr o groeso, bechod, gan fy mod i ar dân isio ffeindio allan pwy oedd- (ha – no way dwi’n rhoi sboilars!)
Roedd siwrne Rachel drwy'r nofel yn hynod o ddifyr, ac er bod ei sylwadau ffraeth yn amusing ac yn ddoniol, mae darnau o’r llyfr yn anodd i’w darllen ar brydiau. Ydi, mae’r gamdriniaeth ddomestig yn insidious ac yn shocking, ond beth sy’n drist yw mai dyma yw realiti bywyd i lawer.
Roedd y cymeriadau a’u gweithredoedd yn gredadwy iawn. Un enghraifft o hyn oedd tad Rachel, Jason, sy’n gymeriad cymhleth. Ar rai adegau dangosodd ei fod yn gefnogol, ac yn gyffredinol roedd yn amddiffynnol o Rachel. Ond, roedd ochr arall, dywyll i’w gymeriad, gan gynnwys ei dymer. Roedd yn dda iawn am guddio’r ochr hon o’i gymeriad oddi wrth bobl eraill. Buan iawn y gwelwn ei true colours fodd bynnag, ac er nad ydw i’n esgusodi nac yn cyfiawnhau ei ymddygiad gwarthus, down i ddechrau deall fod ei broblemau ariannol a’i rwystredigaeth gyda’i sefyllfa yn achosi iddo ymddwyn yn y fath fodd. Gallwn hefyd weld rhai o’r rhesymau pam fod Mam Rachel wedi byw o dan ei gysgod cyhyd yn hytrach na’i adael. Tydi pethau byth mor syml neu du a gwyn!
Dyma nofel ffraeth a chyfoes sy’n berthnasol iawn heddiw. Mae hi’n nofel wahanol ac yn ychwanegiad pwysig i’r amrywiaeth o lyfrau Cymraeg fydd yn apelio at bobl ifanc. Er mai’r arddegau yw’r gynulleidfa darged, mi fydd oedolion yn sicr o fwynhau #Helynt hefyd. Dwi’n ffyddiog y bydd y llyfr yn denu unigolion sydd fel arfer ddim yn darllen llyfrau Cymraeg, a dwi’n annog athrawon i’w darllen hi er mwyn ei chyflwyno i’r disgyblion hynny.
Even though the author’s been busy promoting the book over social media, I still feel that #Helynt slipped out rather quietly (so many books coming out right about now it’s hard to keep track), so I wanted to draw attention to it, because it’s a cracking story! It makes quite a nice change having a Welsh book that has been set outside the ‘Fro Gymraeg’ (Welsh strongholds). There are children and young people growing up in a Wales that’s a far cry from the relatively middle-class world of Eisteddfodau, Chapels and Cerdd dant choirs and I think this novel reflects that.
I’m glad that the author has left bits of English dialogue in the novel that reflect the linguistic nature of living in Welsh so close to the border. We don't get a romanticized picture of the place, but one that feels very authentic - one that doesn't shy away from discussing the poverty, the drugs, violence and dark alleys.
Rachel, the main character, is a high school goth with quite a lot on her plate. Lack of money fuels an unstable home situation. Her dad works long hours (but it’s never enough) and her mum lives with depression which means that Rachel ends up raising her little sister as well as keeping on top of schoolwork. We also learn that Rachel is an amputee with a prosthetic leg which makes things difficult at school, but she’s not one for complaining. The way she just deals with it and gets on with things is testament to her strength as a person. I love her as a character because of her straight-talking, no messing attitude. Her shoot first, ask questions later mentality may very well keep her from harm, but it can certainly attract some #helynt (trouble).
Apart from Dalian from Bethan Gwanas’s Y Melanai trilogy, I haven’t come across many characters without a leg in Welsh books, and it was an eye opener. #respect. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, it’s good to see a bit more diversity coming into Welsh literature.
Without revealing too much, Rachel's adventure begins after she decides to skive from school with a friend after missing the bus. Following a dodgy encounter with some suspicious men in a nightclub, Rachel meets a man who knows a lot more about her than she does about him. What he has to say will have life-changing consequences!
I found it hard to put this book down. A DPD driver came to the door as I was getting to a good bit and well, safe to say he didn’t get much of a reception as I was desperate to get back to the book!
Rachel's journey throughout the novel was engrossing, and although her witty comments are both amusing and funny, parts of the book were quite hard-hitting. Yes, the domestic abuse is insidious and shocking - but what is truly sad is that this is the reality of life for many.
The characters and their actions were very credible. One example of this was Rachel's father, Jason. A complicated character, on some occasions he showed that he could be supportive, and was generally protective of Rachel. But there was another, darker side to his personality. A well-hidden side that his wife often bore the brunt of. We soon see his true colours, and although I don’t condone or justify his disgraceful behaviour, we can see the many things that add up in his life that have driven him to this. We also see some of the reasons why Rachel’s mother has put up with his controlling, degrading behaviour for so long. Things are never simple or black and white!
This is a witty and contemporary novel that feels very relevant today. It’s quite a different Welsh-language novel and an important addition to the range of Welsh books that will appeal to young people. Although teens are the target audience, adults will certainly enjoy #Helynt as well. I’m confident that the book will appeal to those who don’t usually read in Welsh and I encourage teachers to read it so they can introduce it to those pupils.
Cyhoeddwr/publisher: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch
Cyhoeddwyd/released: 2020
Pris: £8.50
ISBN: 9781845277765
Cytuno 100%!