Hey there, i had to read that book last year for school. I was 16 and really liked it. It started out quite slow and i wasn't entirely sure that i would enjoy it, but then it picked up and i'm glad i read it. As you said it is indeed quite informative historically and it is told from a boy's perspective as he grows up. It is also informative of family dynamics at that time in Dublin and how really life was such a struggle, i think it was an eye opener for me and i would say read it, if you you don't like it, you can always put it down and try again at a later stage but hey go for it.