Irish Chain

by Barbara Haworth-Attard

Rose Dunlea is slow. At least that is what she being constantly told by the Sisters at school in Halifax during the early 1900s. She’s been held back twice now and if she fails again, next year she’ll be in the same class... (show all) as Winnie, her younger sister. Although the war against Germany seems far away – her most pressing fears are the words that inexplicably tumble together on the page whenever she tries to read them. They don’t make sense to her. Isolated from her schoolmates and ashamed of her inability to read, Rose tries to escape into her Mam’s Irish Chain quilt, a handmade emblem of the family’s past laden with love. But when that doesn’t help, Rose desperately prays to God so that she doesn’t have to go to school anymore. Exactly one day later on December 6, 1917, two ships explode in Halifax’s harbor, resulting in the greatest human tragedy Canada has ever seen. Rose’s life changes forever – and she’s sure it’s all her fault.

A stunned and grief-stricken Rose draws on the heroic stories of her great-grandmother stitched into the Irish Chain quilt to find her own courage and inner strength. Irish Chain is a beautifully moving story about awakening the gifts within.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Canada, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical

Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Barbara Haworth-Attard is a native of Elmira, Ontario, presently residing in London, Ontario with her family. June 1995 saw the publication of her first junior novel, Dark of the Moon. Since then she has written twelve novels in the historical fiction, fantasy and contemporary genres for middle-grade and young adult readers. Her thirteenth book, "Forget-Me-Not" a sequel to "Love-Lies-Bleeding" has been out since this Fall 2005 from HarperCollins Canada. Henry Holt and Company released the US edition of "Theories of Relativity" in 2006. This book has also been sold to Editions Thierry Magnier of France.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2010): Haunted

Reviews

[Meghan]

I read this back in grade 8 English class. I remember that it was a good story about the Halifax Explosion, which had always been a historical event that interested me. Recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about it through fiction.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story set in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the year 1917. Rose, a 13 year old girl of Irish descent, and her large family of brothers, sisters, Mother & Father, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother and grandfather live their lives amidst the uncertainty of war. There are ships in the harbour, friends and family have been drafted, and there is much work to be done. While a bright young girl Rose has been held back at school for her inability to read or write. She has an excellent memory which she uses to meet the Nuns at school's expectations whenever she can. That said, she's been held back, is routinely taunted by others, and made to feel small. So much changes in the span of a day. The day two ships collide in the harbour & the Halifax Explosion occurs.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seldom do I read a whole book in a single day and seldom does a book reduce me to tears. Told from the perspective of a young girl, the book weaves the tragic truth of the Halifax Explosion into the fiction life of a family caught in its grip. It’s poignant and lovely while giving you a deeper understanding of surviving such an enormous life event.

[Michelle Gaudet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as heartbreaking as I remembered. I never learned about the Halifax Explosion in school, but I remember reading this book in elementary school and being horrified. This was a good fictionalized account of the disaster and reminded me why I hate religion based in shame. Yikes.

[Kristin Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful children's book. A little slow at the beginning but great when it gets going. I love reading about historical events in my own country.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, documenting the Halifax fire during WWI

[readwithjesss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in 2005. Probably the only historical fiction I’ve marked as a favourite.

[Emily Knutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book perfectly illustrates the stuggles and trials of children during and after the Halifax Explosion. I would deffently recommend to anybody!

[Elise Kinghorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry my eyes out, but that’s just me being overly emotional. It was great as it was a real tragedy, and the author intertwined a fictional plot with actual events. All in all, I’d recommend this book to everyone

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worldview: Christian (not overly religious or preachy)

Age
Read Aloud 11 yrs +
Independent Reader 13 yrs +

Setting:
Location - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Time Period - 1917

Review:
Thirteen-year-old Rose struggles with dyslexia in a time period when it was as yet undiagnosed and children were instead labeled slow, lazy or even stupid. She struggles with her poor self-esteem as well as her intense dislike for school. When a ship carrying explosives collides with another in the Halifax harbor, setting off the largest man-made explosion in world history next to Hiroshima, her life is thrown into chaos as she must find her surviving family members and bring them back together.

Rose struggles with blaming God for what happened. She also blames herself. She must work through these feelings to begin to heal.

Although the book is graphic, it does not stray into the realm of gory. It is certainly disturbing, as it should be, considering this is one of the greatest disasters Canada has ever faced. Experts estimate that two to three thousand people were killed in the blast and many more seriously injured.

Despite of the heavy subject matter the story is uplifting and touching. Through all of her difficulties Rose is a believable, beautiful character discovering who she is and that she is smart and talented in her own way. It’s a story about hope in the worst of circumstances.

The story does have a slower start, but these chapters paint a sharp contrast to post explosion Halifax, giving the reader a better grasp on the life changing effect this disaster had on families and individuals.


Teacher Application
A fabulous book to teach students about the Halifax explosion.

Life on the home front in WWI is well covered. Information regarding WWI in Europe will need to be supplemented if this is being used for a WWI resource as there is little information about trench-warfare or the soldier’s experiences over seas.

Dyslexia and different learners are covered in a way that inspire compassion, but also respect. The author has done a wonderful job of demonstrating that a learning difficulty has no bearing on intelligence. Rose is clearly much more intelligent in a crisis than many other people and her sharp mind and practical response to a problem is well showcased.


Character Traits Taught
Perserverence
Hope in the midst of tragedy
Positive Self-esteem

Parental Warning
This is a disaster story. There are descriptions of the city following the explosion. There is a lot of death and many injured. Rose goes to the morgue to try to find missing family members.
If you have a more sensitive or younger child you may wish to read this aloud together or pre-read.

[Suetheartist · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about faith, schools, family, values, and last but not least dyslexia. A historical story about the Halifax explosion during WW2 where a young girl from a very strong Catholic family struggles with school and its enforcers- the nuns. A time where authority in church and school was supreme no questions asked. She is brutally harassed by the sisters and school children. Dyslexia, which not diagnosed until many years later, was the cause for her 'awkwardness' or feeble-mindedness. Her talks in thought to God express her deep faith and trust in God. Her family is torn apart with the disaster. The courage and struggle she shows along with her cousin makes this a good read aloud book in a religion class. She redeems herself as a gifted storyteller.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully written piece of Canadian History! It was beautiful to have this story told from the perspective of the 13 year old Rose who was more aware of her own personal struggles than she was of the conflicts in Europe, until tragedy reached the home harbor of Halifax! A story of grief, courage and inner strength wrapped up in an heirloom quilt!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this eons ago at a thrift store or something, and finally just got around to reading it. I really, really enjoyed it. Every now and then I unexpectedly come across some good Canadian historical fiction. Would read again.

[Letaya Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book is boring.
But as you get more into it, It gets more interesting!
But I would not read it again.

[Melissa Pop · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok

[Aseera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Read!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was good, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. Not good enough to keep reading, but I recommend if you like historical fiction!

[Jennifer Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread after 22 years. This one holds up well.

[Irelyn Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly think about this book at the most random times and I’ve finally found it! It only took me 4 years.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THE BOOK!! I read it for school last year and haven't found it anywhere I want to buy it so badly definitely recommend

[Alida]

A children's book about the horrendous Halifax explosion of December 1917, although some tender hearted ones might find the second half of the book difficult to read.