Irish Americans  Back to Irish Interests Annie Quinn in America Mical Schneider    Irish Americans seem so integral a part of America today that we tend to forget the days when the Irish were newcomers. Annie Quinn vividly reminds us that the Irish were once the people who did the jobs no one else wanted, the ones ridiculed, stereotyped, and discriminated against. Annie is only twelve but her father has already died in the famine and her mother is struggling to hold life together for the four young children still at home. When Annie's older sister sends money from America, Annie and her younger brother Tommie are shipped off alone to the new land. Her father's precious fiddle is stolen before Annie spends a single night on dry land. Letters from mother take months to arrive and share sad, painful details of desperate poverty. Her little brother's boss says the Irish are "lazy, reckless spendthrifts," so Tommie runs off and joins a Dickensian gang with an Irish Fagan at the helm. It is not America the beautiful. But Annie's spunk and determination win out, evil is ultimately punished, and the story concludes on a note of hope and optimism. The book reads quickly because there are so many adventures and mishaps; the characters and situations are very real; and the opportunities for discussion are almost endless in comparing this wave of Irish immigration with current immigrant experiences. 2001, Carolrhoda Books, Ages 10 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett ISBN: 1-57505-510-4 Ashes of Roses Mary Jane Auch    In early 1911, 16-year-old Margaret Rose and her family emigrate from Ireland to the U.S.A. Before they ever get off of Ellis Island, however, Rose's father has to return to their native land with Joseph, the youngest son, whose eye condition prevents him from entering the country. Rose's American relatives quickly make it clear that her family is not welcome in their home, prompting Rose's mother to set sail for home as well. At the last minute, Rose and her younger sister convince their mom to let them remain in America--there is little prospect of a bright future for young women in Limerick. Eventually Rose lands a job as a seamstress at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Her friend Gussie is a strong union supporter, pushing for women's working rights and better conditions in the factories. Discovering friends who introduce her to the latest fashion and Nickelodeon moving picture shows, Rose begins to feel the truth behind the promise of American life and liberty. Then, on March 26, 1911, Rose's world comes crashing down. Students of history may be familiar with the tragic Triangle fire that claimed 146 lives that day. But never, never has the horror been so vividly depicted as through the eyes of young Rose. The final nail-gnawing, painstakingly researched, chapters are so riveting it's impossible to imagine someone putting the book down, except to catch a breath. An amazing read. 2002, Henry Holt, $16.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Christopher Moning ISBN: 0-8050-6686-1 Best Books: Best Books for Young Adults, 2003 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002 ; Children's Literature; United States Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2002 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States Blood Relations Chris Lynch    The three books in the "Blue-Eyed Son" series: Mick, Blood Relations, and Dog Eat Dog, all center on Mick and his Irish-American poverty. Mick grows up in a blue-collar Irish home where he's been raised on a steady diet of alcohol, racism, profanity, gangs, and brutality. He feels "as if I were at the beach and there was a wicked undertow and I didn't know how to swim, so I couldn't get out of the damn water to save my life." Mick's actions are often less than admirable and his reactions sometimes shocking and callous.. He sleeps with his best friend's mother, burns down the room of a family willing to take him in, and befriends a dog for the purpose of pitting him against his brother's canine in a deadly fight. What redeems Mick is his struggle to be human; to disentangle himself from the web of ugliness that has held him from birth, to resist his payback mentality; to reinvent himself in a environment that does not encourage change. Lynch's writing is ragged and sure to make readers uncomfortable. He swings from literary metaphors to crass dialogue, and his descriptions are as often as ugly as the story's events. Lynch's style places readers in a literary world that is a metaphor for the world of Mick, who is in a perpetual state of trying to recover from one blow before the next lands. This is the second book in the trilogy. 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 13 up, $4.50. Reviewer: Susie Wilde ISBN: 0-06-447122-5 A Different Kind of Hero Ann R. Blakeslee    In this historical novel, set in a Colorado mining town of the 1880s, twelve year old Renny earns the disapproval of his Da and many other Irish immigrant miners and their families, when he befriends a new Chinese boy, Zi, and his father. The rough frontier mining town setting and the well-developed characters of Renny, his Da, Zi and others, help make the novel believable and informative; while the fast-moving plot should hold young readers' interests. The theme of trying to overcome prejudice and racism could help promote worthwhile discussions. 1997, Marshall Cavendish, Ages 10 to 14, $14.95. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan ISBN: 0-7614-5000-9 The Irish Greg Nickles    Those of us with Irish surnames can trace our roots back to hardy ancestors who began to emigrate to the United States and Canada as early as the 1600s. Tracing the reasons for this emigration--unemployment, conflict with British rule and the Great Famine--Nickles pays tribute to the spirit of those who helped build two great nations. Following a brief history of Ireland, he describes the often-horrific journeys made by the immigrants, their impressions of their new land and the bigotry that had to be overcome. Using first person accounts, photos, illustrations and maps, the author lauds the accomplishments made not only through the work of Irish hands but the effect that Irish music, language, and literature have had on the cultural growth of both nations. The text is non-demanding; topics are carefully arranged and new words defined in the glossary. Such a broad overview can only scratch the surface of the topic and hopefully encourage readers to learn more about the impact of Irish immigration. 2001, Crabtree Publishing, $21.28 and $8.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey ISBN: 0-7787-0190-5 ISBN: 0-7787-0204-9 Irish Americans   Nichol Bryan    This book describes Ireland's history and the large Irish emigrations to America. Readers are introduced to the history of the Irish in America, the arrival of the Scotch-Irish in Colonial America, and the discrimination and other hardships faced by those escaping the potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century. There is a discussion of Irish culture that includes St. Patrick's Day celebrations, the importance of family, music, dance and the Catholic faith, as well as the interest in the Irish language. Nellie Bly, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Rosie O'Donnell are the famous Irish Americans who are presented. Glossary, web sites, and an index are included. There is quite a bit of information here, neatly laid out with photographs and maps. 2004, ABDO, $22.78. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature). ISBN: 1-5919-7528-X Irish Americans Sarah DeCapua    In the 1840s Ireland's people were beset with a grave calamity. A potato blight broke out that destroyed the staple crop of the land. As a result of this agricultural disaster and faulty famine relief efforts on the part of the authorities, millions of Irish people either starved to death or chose to leave their beloved homeland. Over a few years more than 1.5 million Irish citizens sailed across the Atlantic to establish a new life in the United States. Initially, the Irish immigrants were met with scorn. Signs reading "No Irish Need Apply" decorated shop windows and discouraged potential workers. Over time, the Irish immigrants became Irish-Americans and established themselves as a vibrant portion of the national fabric. The fascinating, and sometimes tragic, story of Irish immigration to the United States is well told in this volume in the "Our Cultural Heritage" series. Author Sarah E. De Capua combines a strong narrative with many photographs and other illustrations to produce a fine introduction to an important subject. Irish-Americans continue to be justly proud of their heritage. This excellent and concise study serves as a first rate introduction to the topic of how and why the Irish came to America. 2003, The Child's World, $27.07. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 1-5676-6155-6 The Irish Americans Karen Price Hossell    They left behind poverty, famine and oppressive landlords, sailed steerage under abhorrent conditions and arrived in America to find they were not wanted. This compelling narrative follows the Irish from their native land to their arrival in America and speaks of the challenges they faced in mainstreaming into a new culture and the vast influence of the Catholic Church and the Irish Emigrant Society in that transition process. Once established, the Irish were instrumental in the labor force, building canals and railroads, as domestics, and in the garment industry; their accomplishments are detailed here as well as their influence on politics, notably their service during the Civil War. This concise examination of Irish immigrants concludes by looking at their assimilation, with the gradual loss of their identity to today's resurgence of interest in all things Irish. Extensive research and incisive writing are key, and the reader should not be put off by the book's utilitarian format. It relies on primary source documents for first person accounts that add an anecdotal and human dimension. Sidebars give brief synopses of the work and influence of the Molly Maguires, Mother Jones, St. Patrick's Battalion and more. Deeply moving for a work of nonfiction, this should produce in the reader a healthy respect for those who overcame so much and contributed so richly to the fabric of American life and culture. There are extensive notes and a bibliography. 2003, Lucent Books, $27.45. Ages 12 to 14. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5600-6752-7 Irish Immigrants, 1840-1920 Megan O'Hara    Forty million Americans have ancestral ties to Ireland. In this book in the "Coming to America" series, children learn about life in Ireland and why and how their ancestors left a beautiful and beloved country for the unknown. The book describes how hard life in Ireland was for the starving peasants and that leaving was hardly easier than staying. The ships carrying them to their new homes were known as famine ships because so many of the passengers were suffering from disease and starvation. Because so many died on the journey, the ships also were called coffin ships. The reader learns what happened when the Irish arrived in America and how they survived the many challenges that confronted them. One page tells about some famous Irish Americans. Activities in the book complement the story. There are directions for planting a small potato crop in a large pot, for baking soda bread and for making a family tree. Also included are a timeline, glossary, bibliography, places to write and visit, Internet sites and an index. Oddly, the timeline uses the date 1922 for Ireland gaining independence from Great Britain while the text gives the date as 1921. 2002, Blue Earth Books/Capstone Press, $22.60. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley ISBN: 0-7368-0795-0 Irish in America   Margaret J. Goldstein    A history of Ireland sets the stage for the story of Irish migration to America. It begins with the country's ancient roots, then refers to the fact that Henry VIII and Elizabeth I sought to control Ireland because they saw its Roman Catholicism as a threat. Unfortunately the author does not explain that the rulers feared a Catholic Ireland could be used by Spain or France, which were Roman Catholic countries, as a power base against, England. Although that does not justify the harsh treatment of the Irish by the English, at least the information puts the situation in perspective. The large migration to America began after the potato crops failed. The author describes difficulties for the people who left their homeland and how they managed to settle in to their new country. It certainly wasn't easy as the men took jobs as miners or builders of railroads or whatever no one else wanted to do and women became household servants or did other menial tasks to help their families survive. The book tells of their contributions, their assimilation into America, and describes the lives of more than 20 influential Irish-Americans. Sidebars add interesting background information. Many of the evocative photos and illustrations are from primary sources. The book includes maps, a timeline, a glossary, places to visit with Irish ties, source notes, bibliography, further reading, websites and an index. Links to additional information are available on www.inamericabooks.com. 2005, Lerner Publications Company, $27.93. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0822539500 The Irish Potato Famine Edward F. Dolan    In 1845, Ireland was struck by a potato blight that was to radically alter the lives of its people. Dependent upon the potato as a staple food, the generally poor Irish farmers and town dwellers were swiftly confronted by the grim face of starvation. Despite limited famine relief efforts by the British, Ireland was quickly overwhelmed by famine. Millions of Irish citizens were confronted with the harsh choice of perishing at home or choosing to leave their nation for far away shores. In a five-year period over one million Irish men, women, and children chose to leave Ireland for other lands. The vast majority of these wayfarers came across the Atlantic to the United States. Once in America many of the Irish immigrants were consigned to a life of hard labor and crowded tenements. Over time, the Irish became a part of the fabric of American culture but the transformation was a difficult one. In The Irish Potato Famine Edward F. Dolan chronicles the coming of the Irish to America. Dolan does an outstanding job of not only detailing the facts and figures of this movement of people but also the human face of the migration. Also included are numerous period illustrations that help readers grasp the magnitude of this plight. All in all, this is an outstanding historical work that deals with a fascinating yet dreadful series of events. 2003, Benchmark Books, $21.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck ISBN: 0-7614-1323-5 Jack: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy Ilene Cooper    This book is an excellent choice for readers who want to learn more about President John F. Kennedy. Ilene Cooper, the author, focuses mainly on Kennedy's childhood, with particular emphasis on his relationship with Joe, Jr., his older brother. Cooper writes with a clarity that allows the reader to observe Jack and to get to know him and feel his frustrations as he emerges from the travails of sibling rivalry. The many incidents described about Kennedy's life make him an accessible, engaging personality and hold the reader's attention. Cooper also goes beyond Jack's experiences and discusses the struggles of his mother running a large household of nine children, his father's struggle against discrimination in America and even the obstacles overcome by his Irish grandparents who immigrated when there was a potato famine. There are many beautiful photographs and the book is brimming with interesting quotes of Jack expressing his frustrations of always being the second son. Cooper presents the young president as rebellious and troubled by a long history of childhood illnesses. Her portrayal is a different but no less engaging image than the better known "Camelot" image of his more public face as president. 2003, Dutton Children's Books, $22.95. Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Rihoko Ueno (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-525-46923-0 Best Books: The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004 ; Children's Literature; United States John F. Kennedy   Howard S. Kaplan    A thorough and well-informed biography about President John F. Kennedy, this book is a must have for any language arts or social studies classroom. Kaplan gives a detailed explanation of the Kennedy clan and how they came to be a powerful family. Beginning with the Irish potato famine, Kaplan explains where the Kennedys and Fitzgeralds came from, what happened to them upon arrival in the United States, the businesses with which they became involved and how Joe Kennedy and Rose Kennedy met. Not only does this book cover well known historical information about the presidency of Jack Kennedy, such as the Civil Rights movement, the Bay of Pigs, the space program, the establishment of the Peace Corp and the assassination, it also includes less well known information about this important figure in American history such as his life long struggle with poor health. A great deal of information about the relationship between Jack and his older brother, Joe, is included as is information about Jack's education, his Naval service during WWII, and his political career. The amount of information included in this text is impressive, yet not overwhelming. With the aid of a notable collection photographs, definition boxes, quotes and sidebars this author presents a fascinating biography on the life and times of JFK. This book can easily be incorporated into any language arts or social studies classroom. It could lead to wonderful discussions on a host of historical world events, American presidents, civil rights, foreign affairs and the importance of international relations. 2004, DK Publishing Inc, $4.99. Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Cara Mulcahy (Children's Literature). ISBN: 0-7566-0340-4 The Journal of Finn Reardon, Newsie Susan Campbell Bartoletti Finn Reardon is a clever boy, the kind of boy who gets good grades without having to study much. He also has a job that he loves. When he isn't in school, Finn is a newsie. He sells newspapers that he buys from the newspaper company, the Journal, put out by Randoph Hearst, a multimillionaire. Randolph Hearst believed in sensationalizing stories to sell newspapers, something Finn is not too keen on, but he is a practical boy and knows that the Journal sells more copies than the rival paper, the World. Finn lives in a three-room tenement apartment in the Bowery in New York City with his family. Seven people live there, all working except the two youngest who are little more than babies. Despite their labors, Finn's family just scrapes by. They have to deal with terrible living conditions--bedbugs, filth, fires and utilities that don't work properly. Finn is a proud boy, determined to leave school as soon as he can to make his way in the world and contribute more to the family money jar. His mother, on the other hand, wants Finn to get an education. These two strong characters seem to be heading for a monumental collision. The author has created powerful characters and has set her story in a very interesting time in the history of this country. The poor working class is beginning to recognize that it has to protect itself from the bosses and not be squashed any further. Finn and his mother both take a stand for the poor worker. His mother is punished for her efforts but Finn and his newsie comrades make a difference and wring a compromise out of the penny-pinching Hearst. The book concludes with a useful section entitled "Life in America in 1899." Here, readers will learn about the newspaper empires of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer and events taking place during that time, events that changed the shape of America. This is one of the "My Name is America" series. 2003, Scholastic, 10.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-439-18894-6 The Journey Home Isabelle Holland    The orphan trains of the 1800's saved many poor kids from the slums of New York. The lucky ones, like Maggie and Annie, were taken in by a kind family in Kansas. But adjustments are always trying. New rules, unfamiliar faces, farm chores, housework, prejudice because of their Irish-Catholic heritage, and a loss of their old identity. Isabelle Holland writes movingly of these children and the changes in their lives. Maggie is a determined, spirited, and feisty heroine. 1993 (orig. 1990), Scholastic, Ages 9 to 12, $13.95 and $2.95. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman ISBN: 0-590-43110-2 ISBN: 0-590-43111-0 Land of Promise Joan Lowery Nixon    Fifteen-year-old Rose Carney arrives at Ellis Island from her native Ireland in 1902, leaving behind a mother and two young sisters. She must travel halfway across the continent to Chicago. The father and brothers that she has not seen for several years await her. Rose has her hands full from the moment she arrives, cooking and cleaning for the men, dealing with a full-time job in a shop, adjusting to the ways of a new and different world, and experiencing her first love. To top it all off, she discovers that her father has a serious drinking problem and one brother is involved in Irish revolutionary politics. Joan Lowery Nixon handles her heroine's problems with a sure hand while introducing the well-researched and historically detailed world of a turn-of-the-century immigrant. This is one of the "Ellis Island" series of novels that deal with specific immigrant populations and the problems they faced. If the other stories are as dramatic and absorbing as Rose's, they will succeed in making history come alive to young readers in a way that dry historical texts never can. 2001, Gareth Stevens, $22.60. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Michele Tremaine ISBN: 0-8368-2812-7 Kathleen: The Celtic Knot Siobhán Parkinson Illustration by Troy Howell    Kathleen Murphy, her younger sisters, her Mam, and her Da live in a grim and crowded tenement in Dublin. Her father is in and out of jobs, and poverty is a close companion to the family. When we meet the lively, red-haired Kathleen, she is getting herself and her three younger sisters ready for school and making rather a mess of the job. In fact, she makes such a mess of it that Mother Rosario asks to see Kathleen's mother for a talk. Kathleen is horrified; after all, we all know that no good can come of such a thing. However, in this instance the parent-teacher talk proves to be the exception to the rule. Once Mother Rosario is satisfied that all is well in the Murphy household, she suggests that Kathleen take Irish dancing lessons. The nun feels that Kathleen is musically inclined and should take advantage of her gift. It isn't long before they all see that Mother Rosario is quite right. Kathleen seems to fly as she dances, and she finds that she has never been happier. However, Kathleen soon finds that her family's lack of means is going to be a problem, for there is to be a dancing competition in the offing and she has to have a special outfit to wear. How on earth can her parents afford to pay for a special dancing dress and all that goes with it when they can barely afford the basic necessities? Written with great poignancy and with a true understanding of the people and the times, this is an exceptional book. We are carried deep into the lives of the people who lived in the poorer parts of Dublin in the 1930s. In the back of the book the reader will find an excellent section entitled "Then and Now: A girl's life," which describes Ireland at the time of the story and what life is like in Ireland in the present day. There is also a glossary of words and a very interesting author's note in which the author tells us a bit about how she related to the times about which she wrote. 2003, Pleasant Company, $7.95. Ages 10 to 12. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5848-5830-3 ISBN: 1-5848-5748-X Land of Promise Joan Lowery Nixon    Strong fictional characters can help history come alive for young adults. In this first of a new series of immigrant stories, Ellis Island, Nixon tells the story of 15-year-old Rose Carney who comes to Chicago from Ireland only to discover that her father is an alcoholic, her mother has died at home, and her brother is associated with the Blackhands. Through Rose, readers will meet historic people like Jane Addams and gain a vivid sense of immigrant life. 1994, Bantam, Ages 11 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Susie Wilde ISBN: 0-553-08111-X Liam's Watch: A Strange Story of the Great Chicago Fire Pamela Dell    This fast-paced first person account of the Great Fire takes readers into the heart of the fateful night that Chicago burned. Dell presents her story in scrapbook format, lavishly illustrating with authentic photographs, pen and ink drawings of the actual fire in progress, a map, and personal notes penned by her fictional character. Liam, the twelve-year-old son of Irish immigrants, is the first to awake and alert his family of the roaring and immediate danger. From that moment, the action never diminishes right up to the somewhat shocking but realistic conclusion. Readers can almost smell the smoke and feel the heat. Study aids such as bold-faced vocabulary defined in a glossary and a timeline enhance this little volume. Sources for research, creative writing, and crafting are suggested. Other references are listed for both hard copy and electronic investigation. A biographical sketch of the author rounds out this attractively packaged work. It is a part of the "Scrapbook of America" series. 2003, Tradition Book Publishing, Ages 9 to 12, $27.07. Reviewer: Janice DeLong ISBN: 1-59187-014-3 Lucky O'Leprechaun Jana Dillon    In this St. Patrick's Day picture book, two Irish-American kids, Sean (about eight) and Meghan (about ten) discover how to outwit a leprechaun who lives in their grand-aunties' backyard. While staying overnight with their aunties on St. Paddy's Day eve, the children quickly learn from a couple of close calls with the leprechaun that he is tricky. Although Aunties Moira, Bridget, and Kathleen think the leprechaun search is futile, they cannot resist their darlings' pleas to help set the ultimate trap to catch Himself. This time when the children find him, instead of wishing for the usual pot of gold, they wisely ask the little man to come back each St. Patrick's Day and answer all their questions. The charm of this story owes much to the three doting aunts, while the language of the tale captures the Irish lilt and mannerisms. The book's illustrations are of intense, contrasting colors and express the emotions and quirks of all the characters, including the ornery leprechaun. 1998, Pelican Publishing Company, Ages 4 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Carol Collins ISBN: 1-56554-333-5 Lucky O'Leprechaun Comes to America Jana Dillon    Bridget, Kathleen, and Moira O'Sullivan have been living in Ireland with their Uncle Patrick while their parents prepare a new life for them in America. When it's time for the girls to join their parents, their uncle secretly gives them the only things that he has of value, the family heirlooms-a crown, a torque, and a bag of gold. Although the girls want their uncle to join them, they are upset because he cannot afford the trip. In a quest for gold, Lucky, a greedy and sneaky little leprechaun, finds the gold that Uncle Patrick hid in the girls' suitcases. But Lucky becomes trapped in one of them. Before the girls leave, they find the gold heirlooms in the suitcases and leave them for their poor uncle. Lucky, however, is not discovered. He becomes an unwilling stowaway to America. He is found when the girls unpack their things at their parents' house. Lucky grants the O'Sullivan girls three wishes. With these wishes, they are able to have their Uncle Patrick join them in America and regain their family heirlooms. The Irish dialect and vivid watercolor illustrations integrated throughout the story add richness to this charming tale. 2000, Pelican, $14.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Marguerite E. Caines ISBN: 1-56554-816-7 Maggie's Door Patricia Reilly Giff Nory Ryan has a dream that one day her family will all be together again. They will be in Brooklyn in America, standing outside the door of her sister Maggie's house. Sean "Red" Mallon also has a dream. He imagines himself together with his brother Francis and Francis' new young wife Maggie. Nory Ryan, his best friend and Maggie's sister will be there with her family, and they will all be standing outside Maggie's door. These two children have this same dream but for now they have only hunger and misery in their lives. With no hope left, the Ryans and Mallons have decided to leave Ireland, and in small groups have set off on foot for the nearest port to get a ship to England, and thence another ship to America. Starving, weak, and not knowing the world beyond their own small community, the straggling travelers lose one another in the chaos of a famine-stricken Ireland. Sean finds himself alone and has to make his own way to America without a ticket or money. Slowly and painfully, Nory and Sean converge on one another, finally reuniting. Patricia Reilly Giff keeps the children's stories in separate, alternating chapters, maintaining a state of suspense as to whether the family members will, in fact, be able to find one another. The author's description of the horrors of the famine in such a matter-of-fact way makes her story very powerful. The people accept what is happening to them, which appalls us. Their poverty is almost beyond our understanding and their suffering unspeakable. Patricia Reilly Giff is also is a master of the use of imagery. For example, she frequently describes the potato crop as a stinking "ooze" in contrast to the pretty bluish purple flowers that one sees blossoming in a field of healthy potato plants. The companion to Nory Ryan's Song, this is a book that most readers will find disturbing. At the same time, it reminds one of the strength and endurance of the human spirit and how powerful love can be. No matter how much people suffer, they can rise above it and still find the ability to keep on going and even able to help others. 2003, Wendy Lamb Books, $15.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-385-32658-0 ISBN: 0-385-90095-3 Mick Chris Lynch    When Mick was younger, Sycamore Street was made up of all blue-collar Irish families. But now the city of Boston has changed, with a checkerboard design of families from different ethnic backgrounds. Fifteen-year-old Mick finds himself to be changed, too; he can no longer accept and participate in the violence that his older brother Terry inflicts upon those who happen not to be white. In this first book of the "Blue-Eyed-Son" series, Mick struggles to stand against the prejudice and bigotry of those like him and to gain the friendship of those not like him, the surprise-filled and street-wise Toy and the irresistible Evelyn. Gritty realism fills this story told from Mick's point-of-view. The other titles are Blood Relations and Dog Eat Dog. 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 13 up, $13.89 and $4.95. Reviewer: Tim Whitney ISBN: 0-06-025397-5 ISBN: 0-06-447121-7 Mr. Emerson's Cook Judith Byron Schachner    The author, a great-great granddaughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson's cook, tells a fanciful tale of how her Irish immigrant ancestor Annie Burns came to help Mr. Emerson pay attention to eating again. After weeks of failure to attract his appetite, she receives a childhood book of writings from her own mother in which she had written a recipe for mud pies. Remembering, she includes imagination in a breakfast cake, thus inspiring Emerson to eat (and to give Annie two of his aphorisms). It is left to the reader to sift the story's fact from fiction with the help of a note which conveys some historical background about Emerson's two marriages, his philosophy and friendship with Henry David Thoreau, and the author's family. Delightful brown line drawing in sunny watercolors lend a warm and light touch to this book, an introduction to a famous American author, or another story about the values of imagination. 1998, Dutton, Ages 7 to 10, $15.99. Reviewer: Susan Hepler ISBN: 0-525-45884-0 Nell Dunne: Ellis Island, 1904 Kathleen Duey    This engrossing novel begins with the Irish Dunne family sailing in steerage to Ellis Island in 1904. The narrator Nell is traveling with her mother, grandmother, older brother Patrick, and baby sister Fiona. The text illustrates convincingly the hardships faced by immigrants coming to this country at the turn-of-the-century. The focus of the plot includes not only the journey itself, but also the actual processing of immigrants at Ellis Island. Readers will feel as if they are standing alongside Nell, hungry, tired and cold, as she winds through line after line of inspections, and health checks. Her greatest fear is that her beloved grandmother may be sent back to Ireland because she is not able to work and gets confused sometimes. Nell saves the day by convincing inspectors that her family would never let Granny Rose become a public charge. This novel, which is part of the publisher's "American Diaries" series, is excellent historical fiction. 2000, Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, $4.50. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati ISBN: 0-689-83555-8 Never Were Men So Brave: The Irish Brigade during the Civil War Susan Provost Beller    This impressively researched book about the contributions of Irish soldiers to the Union during the Civil War concerns the immigrant experience in America during the 19th century, the 1848 rebellion against British rule in Ireland and the legendary Irish Brigade. This brigade's Irish immigrant soldiers, whose war cries were considered the Union equivalent of the dreaded Confederate 'rebel yell,' gained a near legendary reputation for their courage in combat. At the Battle of Antietam in 1862, the Irish Brigade suffered over 500 casualties, more than half its strength. The author's attention to detail, research and passionate interest in her subject are apparent throughout this excellent book. She makes her characters and the times come alive with her animated prose and compelling narrative. The period line drawings and sketches also help bring the reader back to the mid-19th century. Many Irish Brigade soldiers who fought in America's Civil War did so to help their new country and to gain experience in warfare that they would export to Ireland to aid in its conflict with Britain after America's war concluded. But the Civil War changed these sons of Erie, transforming them from Irish expatriates into Irish-Americans. 1998, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, Ages 10 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson ISBN: 0-689-81406-2 Nory Ryan's Song Patricia Reilly Giff    As the stench of potatoes rotting in the field assailed their noses, Nory and Granda knew there would not be enough food to last the winter. For generations the Ryan family had lived on the west coast of Ireland eking out a living from the rocky soil. Sister Maggie had gone to America and Da was off fishing hoping to make enough for a passage for all to America. To twelve-year-old Nory fell the burden of keeping the family together. One by one farms fell to the English, neighbors died from hunger, and those that could, abandoned their homes and headed for Galway. Nory vowed to wait for Da and never let the fire go out in the hearth. But when baby brother Patchie and she were forced to eat grass and limpets, Nory knew there had to be another way to get food. Help came from old Anna who told her how to steal eggs from the nest of birds on the dangerous rocky cliffs. Every day was a struggle as Nory chanted her mantra-their sister's address in Brooklyn-and longed for the day her family would again be whole. Based on her own family's history and extensive research of the Great Hunger, Patricia Reilly Giff has written a tender and uplifting story of a remarkable girl who saw hope in spite of tragedy. The writing is as proud, strong, and dignified as the people who suffered through this difficult time. It is the author's gift and tribute to the courageous spirit of the Irish. Nory Ryan is an unforgettable heroine and her story is one to treasure. 2000, Delacorte, $15.95. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey ISBN: 0-385-32141-4 Patrick: Son of Ireland: A novel Stephen R. Lawhead    Lawhead attempts to reclaim the lost years of the legendary Saint Patrick's life, from his escape from slavery to his life in the dwindling Holy Roman Empire and his eventual return to Ireland. Born Maewyn Succat, Patrick has a good life as the son of a fifth-century noble Briton. When captured by marauding Irish raiders, he is forced into slavery in Eire, and he must endure a brutal life. His ultimate escape finds him a broken man, devoid of faith. He finds shelter first with the Druids and then with Bishop Cornelius in Britain. Between the two, he ultimately regains his faith and finds his way back to his birthright of Christianity. His subsequent life in Rome, where he marries and has a daughter, finds him haunted by dreams of Ireland, and he braves a rough journey to return and find his place back in the community of Eire and ultimately into the history books. Devoid of supernatural happenings and the snakes that Patrick is credited with driving out of Ireland, Lawhead's novel paints a compassionate and believable tale about a man regaining his faith. Filled with rich realism and believable characters, this first-person narrative will engage readers interested in the legend of Saint Patrick as well as those simply attracted to novels that investigate medieval culture. The few weak points can be forgiven as necessary for the character's development. Engaging action scenes and gripping dialogue keep the story flowing, while the novel's quiet themes maintain its depth. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 2003, HarperCollins, 454p, $24.95. Ages 15 to Adult. Reviewer: Heather Hepler (VOYA, August 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 3)) ISBN: 0-06-001281-1 Patrick Doyle is Full of Blarney Jennifer Armstrong Illustrated by Krista Brauckmann-Towns    It's 1915 in Hell's Kitchen, just before America became involved in World War I. But to this group of Irishman, nothing is more important than baseball and Irish pride. Threatened by a tough gang, the Copperheads, Patrick Doyle promises that Doyle will hit one over the fence in order to save his baseball field. The Doyle to which he is referring is actually Larry Doyle of the New York Giants! Now it's up to his Irish luck to determine whether the saints will bless Doyle. Rich in ethnic and historic imagery and charm, the story parallels the legend of St. Patrick who drummed another group of snakes off of the island forever. 1996, Random House, Ages 8 to 10, $16.00 and $17.99. Reviewer: Leslie Verzi Julian ISBN: 0-679-87285-X ISBN: 0-679-97285-4 The Promised Land Isabelle Holland    In this sequel to Holland's previous novel, The Journey Home, we once again encounter the two sisters, Maggie and Annie Lavin. They have settled happily with the Russells, a frontier couple who took them in three years earlier when they came out West on an orphan train. Yet they haven't forgotten their mother or their Irish Catholic upbringing. When their Uncle Michael discovers their whereabouts, they are torn between the love of their new found family and Uncle Michael's desire to bring them up according to their true heritage and religious beliefs. Holland sensitively and realistically deals with issues of prejudice and Maggie's inner struggles with identity and social acceptance. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 11 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Sue Preslar ISBN: 0-590-47176-7 The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh Janet Nolan Illustrated by Ben Stahl    The hunger and hopelessness of the potato famine forces young Fergus and his family to set sail for America. Before he leaves, Fergus cuts a branch from the blackthorn tree and on his journey whittles it into a fine shillelagh. Fergus works hard in America and every year on Saint Patrick's Day he tells the story of the shillelagh. One year he passes the stick and the story on to his son Declan, who in turn passes it on to his son. The story makes it way through the generations until Grandpa Garrett passes it on to Kayleigh and reminds her "a good story never has to end as long as someone remembers to keep telling it." This is a quiet, sweet story that is flat in its telling and obvious in its message. It does, however, stress the importance of heritage and might inspire readers to investigate their own family stories, which in turn should engender a respect for the contributions of the immigrant. Warm paintings aid in creating the mood and setting the time periods that are referenced in the brisk text. 2002, Albert Whitman & Company, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey ISBN: 0-8075-7344-2 Shannon: Lost and Found, San Francisco, 1880 Kathleen V. Kudlinski Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth    In this easy to read story, Irish immigrant Shannon tries to adapt to her new life in 1880's San Francisco. With her newly adopted sister, Mi Ling, whom Shannon rescued from an evil Chinese shopkeeper, Shannon decides to collect used books from the people in her neighborhood to give to a free library that is about to open in San Francisco. While seeking contributions, Shannon, Mi Ling, and their friend Betsy must overcome the racism of several neighbors, the depression of Mi Ling, and the theft of several of their contributed books. This novella introduces readers to life for new Americans in San Francisco and is a lovely addition to Girlhood Journeys, a series of books dedicated to exploring the journeys of young woman in different centuries and different countries. 1997, Aladdin, Ages 6 to 12, $5.99. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph ISBN: 0-689-80988-3 So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, an Irish Mill Girl Barry Denenberg    Set in Lowell, Massachusetts, 1847, this story is another in the "Dear America" historical fiction series. Young Mary leaves her parents and home in Ireland where the potato blight has created hardship and famine. She is a lucky one, because her aunt is already in American and has sent money for her passage. After an arduous journey Mary joins Aunt Nora in America and begins work in the mills. Conditions there are also terrible. It is not a happy story, but one that reflects the prejudice and hardships faced by the Irish immigrants and all who labored in the mills. 1997, Scholastic, Ages 8 up, $9.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot ISBN: 0-590-92667-5 So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, Irish Mill Girl Barry Denenberg    A remarkable way for youngsters to connect with history, this book is from the new "Dear America" series that touches all details of life in the last few centuries in America. This story of an appealing young Irish immigrant presents an intimate examination of child labor. Written in an easy-to-follow journal format, it comes with a red ribbon bookmark, sewn to the binding. 1997, Scholastic, Ages 8 up, $9.95. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino ISBN: 0-590-92667-5 Together in Pinecone Patch Thomas F. Yezerski    Two children, a girl from Ireland and a boy from Poland, climb aboard immigrant boats bound for America. Their paths cross in the bleak coal-mining town of Pinecone Patch, Pennsylvania. Here in America, the land of freedom and opportunity, the two children and their families meet prejudice, poverty, and grueling lifestyles. That these two children; the girl from Ireland and the boy from Poland, can transcend their surroundings, histories, and ethnic prejudices to make better lives for themselves is a tribute to the real American spirit and the glorified immigrant experience. Here is a picture book for everyone. Even young children will be entranced by the story; while older readers will be historically enlightened and romantically satisfied. Large, realistic, gray-hued illustrations by the author complete this admirable package. 1998, Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 6 to 12, $16.00. Reviewer: Judy Katsh ISBN: 0-374-37647-6 To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here. Updated 2/28/05