Over the Water

by Maude Casey

Fourteen-year-old Mary feels like a misfit, both in England where she and her family live and in their former Ireland home, until a visit to her Irish relatives helps her gain a better understanding of her background, her mother, and herself.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ireland, Realistic Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 1990

Reviews

[Jaide]

absolutely dreadful. i liked the main character, but not the setting, or dialogue. most of all i hated the mother, she was so bloody fucking annoying and it pissed me off that i couldn't tell her to fuck off. also, she is too religious, like puritan religious, and i despise that kind bc it makes me think that no wonder a lot of people hate god for how these people portray him. it expounds on the main thing i hate about catholicism, praying to mary/saints. it's the reason i'm not catholic and the rest of my family is. and that woman's screaming is so loud in my head that it gives me a headache. i can't read it without getting one. this book definitely rubbed me the wrong way.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful novel about culture, honouring your roots, finding your place, and personal growth. I love the writing style and adore the amount of imagery used. I love the commentary on misogyny, xenophobia and overall cruelty that's engrained in modern culture. I wish the physical and verbal abuse Mary faces from her parents was unpacked more, and I found this one to go kind of slowly. But I really enjoyed it!

[Louise Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this although lost the copy a few times that prob why took so long I cld undestand the difficulties with mother / daughter relationships a very difficult thing to live with take it from me !!!!
I enjoyed the history side of it between the English and Irish i have grown up with the same views be it between having a welsh mother and English dad ! i thought the family dynamics may be darker than portrayed in the book and was quite glad it was not !! as this is really a young teenage book on the whole a pleasant read although must admit at times difficult !!!

[Jennifer Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I hadn't read the synopsis, I wouldn't have been able to tell that the book was set in Ireland until about 3/4 of the way through. It could have taken place in any rural setting. The reason that I wanted to read it was the Irish aspect, but that was lacking.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a pre-teen. It's completely compelling!

[Cadence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't really get into it and it took me forever + about 10 "r"'s to get through it.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Turbulent Journey of Self Discovery”

Although the protagonist is 14 years old this insightful book will touch the hearts of adults the world over—indeed will move all who were forced to turn their backs on their homeland, in order to seek a better (?) life abroad. Their children will inevitably be torn in opposing directions by conflicting cultures and young Mary is no exception to this painful practice. Struggling to find her true identity (Irish heritage but born and raised in England) she is hurt when hears her schoolmates joke about the stupid Irish. Even though she pretends to agree in order to fit in, she despises herself for disloyalty to her parents and extended family over the water. Terrified of not belonging anywhere she endures painful social isolation; over-chaperoned by distrustful parents she is forced to lie to potential friends re her inability to participate in normal teenage activities.

Every summer Mammy’s family undertakes an emotional pilgrimage to her beloved Ireland; but this year proves harder on them all for Mary’s grandfather—with whom she shared a penchant for horses—has died in the interim. Mary is haunted by memories of a dying farming style but now lacks the private support of the highly-respected Michael. Mary is even more keenly aware of her loneliness even among Family. Her younger sister is pretty, petted and worse than a tattletale--going out of her way to make Mary’s home life wretched. Blamed for accidents precipitated by her siblings, Mary boils in impotent fury at Life’s injustice. Her body suffers from brutal parental punishment, while her fragile soul agonizes over an unappreciated role in the extended family. Is she doomed to be resented and misunderstood by those who should offer the most support?

Why ever did her mother—who hates and fears the English after decades of tyranny and legalized brutality—choose to leave her rural home and live in a heartless English city? How can Mary acquire friends her own age, yet still remain loyal to her deservedly-proud heritage? Gradually she discovers an unexpected ally: dear aunt Nuala urged her make a private pledge to each other for their mutual peace of mind. A glossary of Irish and quaint terms concludes this book which ends wistfully on a hopeful note. After coming to terms with several difficult members of her own family, Mary still faces a challenging path once she lands Over the Water. However after her summer in Ireland she realizes that she now possesses the personal tools to succeed in htis hostile land. With its tender insight this is definitely a woman’s book.

(April 9, 2012. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Jaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

tbh i didn't like this book at all in the beginning. the mother really annoyed me, but about halfway through i got over that. i really liked the main character and about halfway through i realized how much i have in common with her. i really liked the little stories woven through, and even though i craved a more satisfying ending, i give it a 3.5. i did like it, though it took me forever to read. i had started it and put it down bc i didn't like it at first and was gonna give it away, but decided against it. and one day i decided to pick it up again. i'm glad i gave it a second chance.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finally read this after it was bought for me 14 years ago. The story is about Mary who is growing up in England but having a difficult time dealing with her Irish mother who doesn't try to communicate with her, just controls her. After her grandfather dies, Mary's family returns to Ireland where Mary gets to learn more about her family.
The book was not that badly written, I just wasn't tremendously drawn to it. There was some language in it too.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

No doubt I picked up this book from a FOL sale or yard sale because it is Irish and small, and that about sums up the story as well. Actually a YA book which doesn't put me off, this is the story of the turbulent relationship between a mother and her young daughter, which also doesn't put me off since I'm the mother of two daughters! Decently written but not compelling, I wouldn't go out of my way to get a copy.

[Connie T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary is an Irish immigrant girl living in London, where she has a hard time fitting in. In addition, she and her mother aren't close. Every summer the family returns to Ireland to visit family. This summer an aunt helps Mary to better understand her mother. This is a three generation coming of age story. It was well received on amazon (3 1/2 stars out of 11 reviews) but I found it unmemorable.

[Caitlin S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a three because i liked, but it is not the best book i have read. This book talks about irish women. It is about this girl who goes to Ireland every year with her friend. They go there to vistet and see some of there parent friends. Then a secret pulls them apat and then the on girl has to use some Irish stuff to save their friendship.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been close to my mother so I couldn't really understand why she had such a struggle with hers, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it: it helped me grow and see another perspective that I couldn't grasp before. The only difficulty I had was trying to figure out what time period it was set in! I didn't think it ever really said, or else I missed it entirely.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful coming of age book with an Irish twist. Mary feels like an outsider in her own family until a summer holiday spent in Ireland with her relatives helps her see her family and herself in a different light.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned about Irish culture. Felt like I was there for part of the time!

[Asenath · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this book out twice, and both times I couldn't get past the first few chapters.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up is hard, no matter where and when you're doing it. One of my favorite parts was the glossary of Irish words and phrases.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holds up after a second read decades later. A really emotive and lyrical story of womanhood through the generations, of growing up, and of finding meaning in one's heritage.

[Megan Silver · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a short read. It was good by the end but not particularly captivating.