Michael O'Halloran

by Gene Stratton-Porter

This early 20th-century classic chronicles the adventures of an orphaned newspaper boy in his "hand-to-hand scuffle" with life in a midwestern metropolis. Gene Stratton-Porter's faith in the healing power of nature is also apparent, in a lovingly depicted tamarack swamp set near the city.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Nature, Audiobook, Middle Grade

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

She was an American author, amateur naturalist, wildlife photographer, and one of the earliest women to form a movie studio and production company. She wrote some of the best selling novels and well-received columns in magazines of the day.

Born Geneva Grace Stratton in Wabash County, Indiana, she married Charles D. Porter in 1886, and they had one daughter, Jeannette.

She became a wildlife photographer, specializing in the birds and moths in one of the last of the vanishing wetlands of the lower Great Lakes Basin. The Limberlost and Wildflower Woods of northeastern Indiana were the laboratory and inspiration for her stories, novels, essays, photography, and movies. Although there is evidence that her first book was "Strike at Shane's", which was published anonymously, her first attributed novel, The Song of the Cardinal met with great commercial success. Her novels Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost are set in the wooded wetlands and swamps of the disappearing central Indiana ecosystems she loved and documented. She eventually wrote over 20 books.

Reviews

[Lisa Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Stratton-Porter book of all time. I will never forget it. Something in my heart shifted because of the characters in this story and changed me forever. I don't say that about books very often, unless it's the Bible.

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH. MY. GOODNESS. This is one of the best books ever! My only complaint is that Porter's writing style is a little too wordy for me. Not that she uses a big words, but she just uses A LOT of words, with some unnecessary description. Other than that, I ADORED this book!

Michael (aka "Micky") is just the sweetest, wisest, most honorable, and lovable boy you will find in the streets of NYC. I love his slang! ("Nix on the swell dames!") <3 His sense of responsibility and honor for one so young is inspiring, and his relationship with Lily (aka "Peaches") is just charming!

Peaches is so sweet, and is most of the time very content, patient, and happy, even with a crippled back. She is so precocious, lovable, loyal and such a spit-fire, it is hard not to want to wrap her up in a big bear hug!

The rest of the characters are also amazing! I love them all; Douglas, Leslie, "Daddy", the "Angel Lady", Mr. Milton, and on and on. The story is also stupendous, heartwarming, and inspiring. It is just too hard to sum it up! A wonderful read for just about anybody! I would recommend it for ages 11+, only because the writing is somewhat hard to follow, but it would make a great read-aloud. Not a drop of language, explicit content, or violence. Just pure goodness!

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has quickly become my favorite Gene Stratton-Porter book! Oh how wonderful and pure and wholesome this book is!! You "Laddie" loving friends (all 27 of you on my friends list that have read Laddie) simply must read this!! It's available on Librovox FYI.

[Jessin Stalnaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let it be known that I love Gene Stratton-Porter books. It’s her writing style, odd notions, old-fashioned values so unpopular today, and the deep-rooted belief that nature can heal all ailments. The way she views life is something of a marvel to me, and her work is worth reading for this alone.

However, it took an act of will to finish Michael O’Halloran. While the story held my interest at first, it soon became repetitive. Mickey woke up, worked, and came home with only slight deviations from this schedule…for 500 pages. I found the intersecting lives of the secondary characters more interesting, and Peaches is officially my new least favorite fictional character.
The whole of the story could undoubtedly have been told more efficiently, but still just as effectively.

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a real love-hate relationship with this book. I love GSP, even when she pushes the boundaries of sentimentality and preachy morals to their very edge, but there were a few adult characters in this book that were simply insufferable. Luckily, the children more than made up for it - they were what kept me reading.

Another thing that really bothered me was her over use of exclamation points - I don't remember noticing it in any of her other novels, but it was very distracting in this one. And for the first time I found her nature descriptions tedious - especially the whole flower basket and bird song story lines.

I would say if you haven't read GSP before, don't start here - try Girl Of The Limberlost, The Keeper Of Bees, or The Harvester instead.

[forthefamilyssake Hailey White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed me. It was the right book at the right time. My soul was encouraged and challenged by the characters and plot.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading with Hailey 3/18/05. I have really enjoyed Gene Stratton-Porter's other books so I am excited about this one. After reading just the 1st chapter I can see that her writing style is different in this book.

On page 428 and I find myself reading this book slowly savoring it. It is now my favorite book by Gene Stratton-Porter. Mickey's sense of seeing what is going on around him and understanding is astounding! He portrays the goodness of Jesus in everything he does. I am also so happy to see that the mistakes of Mr. Minturn and his family are being worked out by the success of parental involvement and nature. I have high hopes for Mrs. Minturn. Oh and I so hope that Flowersy-girl will walk again now that she is in a better environment/nature with good loving people! 3/31/15

What a wonderful ending! This book really makes you think about the importance of family life and making your home the best place for your family to grow and thrive in. As Junior said of Multioplolis, "I tell you down among them it looks different from riding past in an automobile". 4/1/15

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though Gene Stratton-Porter's style is "over the top", I have always made it through the gag reflex early on =) and become quite loyaly invested in her stories and her characters. Though often "larger than life" her imagery and skillful character development has previously made it easy to imagine places and people which are as pristine and wholesome as she portrays them and the transportation of potential and possibility has been a lovely, uplifting diversion from the "reality" of the world we often live in. I kept reading this story, waiting for that transition, but it never came. I could not buy into the characters or all the melodrama, nor did I want to. Michael was meant to be the epitome of goodness, but came off as annoyingly unbelievable and the adults weren't fleshed out enough to induce me to care about their joys or sorrows, which makes it hard to buy into the story. I know this is beloved by some, but I just couldn't relate.

[Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a spunky 10y/o orphan boy named Michael. It starts with Michael living alone, hiding from the Children's home, working as a newsboy, and following the rules his Mother gave him before she died. He is quite precocious and meets several interesting people in his day to day activities. Eventually he happens on a poor, dirty, little crippled girl wailing because her abusive granny has died and the Children's Home will be coming after her. Michael manages to get her to his home, clean her up, and claim her as his family. A lot of responsibility for a 10 year old, which he soon discovers and plots to remedy. Quite an enjoyable tale.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Gene Stratton-Porter and contrary to everyone who thinks Freckles is her shining masterpiece, I think Michael O'Hallaran outshines them all. There is a reason that she was making this book into a movie when she had her accident and died. She must have loved this book since she was working tirelessly to create it into a film. This story is so endearing and really teaches us what self-sacrifice and true love really look like.

[Lewestover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ranks as one of the best written by Gene Stratton-Porter. With an unlikely hero in Mickey, an orphaned newspaper boy in a large midwestern city, "Michael O'Halloran" tells a delightful tale of home, family, values, the far-reaching effect of small good deeds, abnd the healing power of nature and love. I loved the book!

[Graceann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Come on, be square!"

The opening line of this novel, wherein Michael O'Halloran urges his competitor to be fair and square in their business, is a grabber. The story remains interesting and nigh on a century after its release, it still compels. One of my all-time favorites.

[ShaLisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charmed story about a young boy and his optimistic, influential life in saving and helping so many others as he lands new family and friends. The boy could do no wrong. His life was tough but he was tougher. Like all Porters books, this one was tender, positive and too good to be true.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to write a review about a book like this?
Gene-Stratton Porter created such a character in Michael O'Halloran. Such a perfect kid.

Mickey as he is often called is a little orphan boy in Multiopolis. He sells papers to keep himself above water. One day he hears what he thinks is a little kitten but ends up finding a dirty crippled little girl named Peaches. This little boy who has nothing took it upon himself to save this little girl.

And he changes her name to Lily Peaches. Because once he washes her and cuts her matted hair she sees how white and delicate she is.

In the mean time he meets Douglas who wants him for his "little brother". I guess this is a precursor to the big brother movement of today. So he along with his best girl Leslie gets Mickey to be his friend. Mickey starts to work for him and make more money for lLily and himself.

There are so many stories going on, and for a long time I couldn't figure out why. The wealthy family that lost their little girl, the Hardings.

And in each instance Mickey did something wonderful for them. They all did wonderful things for him as well but all of it comes from his " keep it square" attitude.

More than once Micky's love for Lily Peaches brought me to tears. I love those two so much.

The story is so sweet and amazing. If you love old books with a sweet story then you must read this!

[Tirzah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard of Michael O'Halloran when coming across the 1948 movie title on the internet. I wanted to watch it, but couldn't find an available copy. Then I stumbled across the book at a library about a week later!

Published in 1915, the reader travels back to days of a lifestyle, mentality, and language different than today. Yet, the fears, joys, and tragedies the characters face are still relevant as ever. Mickey is quite a character; his spunk and vocabulary often made me chuckle. There are three different plots that eventually assemble towards the latter half - sort of like a Dickens novel. During this time, orphan homes were a thing and readers are given a glimpse of child poverty and homelessness.

I recommend to fans of old books. Gene Stratton-Porter is better known for her Freckles and Girl of the Limberlost, but this book is just as good.

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024: Repeat read: I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rusty Nelson this go through, which for me wasn’t anywhere near as enjoyable as reading it myself was years back: still enjoyable enough though, and this time listening through the book as a much older adult I noticed Stratton-Porters domestic and social reform messages, and, political dialogue so much more. I found those aspects of the story interesting as they have an almost Charles Dickens-ish tone to them.
I’m so pleased the story ends well for Lily-Peaches and Micky-lovest.
When compared to my favourite Straton-Porter books, Girl of the Limberlost and, The Keeper of the Bees this one comes in at a four star read for me.

Extra: child abuse.

[Vonnie Skaggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Gene Stratton Porter's sixth book.
And not my favourite, as I have had read most of her books. She shows that she was a product of her time more in this one than any of the others I have read and sometimes writes in a way that would not be considered very compassionate towards immigrants.

She creates an almost too idealistic world/scenario woven from the ashes of hardship. Although there is was a wholesome and "goodness" to this story, it was a bit too good to be true for me. Too many unattainable ideals, even for her day and time. That made this story have an almost 'fairy tale' feel about it, than anything remotely realistic.

[L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Michael O'Halloran is a scrappy orphan who is thinking about getting a dog. Instead he brings home an orphaned girl who can't walk. It's the same thing, right? Meanwhile there's a B storyline about a broken family trying to come back together. This book was written well over a hundred years ago yet some of the topics touched upon sound contemporary: worries over dropping birth rates, fear of immigrants, and troublesome women who won't stay in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant, as God intended.

1-8-2026

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful classic about a well mannered orphan boy who works as a newspaper boy. He stumbles upon a small cripple girl alone and in bad condition after her cruel grandmother dies and is removed from the tenement. The story revolves around his caring for her and the people he befriends along the way. Although there are sad parts the overwhelming position and uplifting outlook of Mickey makes this a gem.

[Alicia Perrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general I love GSP, and while this one is still a sweet story, it was a bit of a slog for me. Perhaps because Micky is so loquacious.
Part of me loves Stratton-Porter’s idealistic characters, and another part of me wants a little more realistic grit and struggle before problems are neatly tied up.
This is my “Lesser known book by a well-known author” for the Literary Life 19 Books In 2021 Book Challenge. 14 down, 5 to go. 😳

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

1915. One of my favorite authors. This book puts together City poor, the very wealthy, and middle class country people, all of whom have some good in them and some problematic characteristics. All of them change for the better through the course of the book. They find ways to deal with each other honorably. This is what I call an uphill story. The main characters start off in a bad way and the story is about how they work their way into a better situation. Uplifting to read.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is one of Stratton Porter's best. I like the interweaving of the story of Micky and his little protegee, Peaches; and the story of the Minturns, their wayward boys and their separation and redemption. Sadly, there is some of her typical treatment of non-whites in her depiction of the "squaw" from the swamps.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Micky is an orphan living by his wits in the streets of the city. One day he finds another orphan who is crippled and he is determined to love and protect her. Here is a delightful book of high-quality of friendship, family, and loyalty. Sometimes I'd be irritated at the characters but I couldn't help but love and admire them.

[Lydiathekicker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this at the recommendation of my 15 year old son. It was very sweet, but I was highly swayed knowing that my son loved this book.

The writing was a little hard for me to follow, but the audiobook (although narrated in a slight whine) really helped me. I enjoyed it much more as an audiobook.

[Vickie Oddino · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty old fashioned book, and the title character is sugary sweet - way too much so. But it is a sweet story with some good themes. Plus a nice window into the past, especially to see the difference in how children lived when this was written as opposed to today. So much more independent as such a young age!

[Beth Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As is typical of her writing, it's quite predictable and the characters are somewhat flat, but they're also interesting. She manages to include her love of nature and the swamp wildlife and that's also refreshing. I think this is one of my favorite titles by Stratton-Porter

[Emily Voss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story, but there were so many characters that it was difficult to keep track of and care about all of them.
Really enjoyed the development of Mickey and Peaches and Leslie and her guy. It was a bit “didactic” but not in an overly obnoxious way. Mickey’s diligence and lifestyle were inspiring.

Content/trigger warnings:
Child abuse
Child loss

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Porter’s books and this one had all the positive messages and good feels that I expect from her writing. It’s lovely to escape into a time that was a little simpler and yet her themes are timeless and her lessons often strike close to home.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wonderful story of Mickey a newsie who is surviving alone in the big city and ends up befriending and helping many others as well. Great innercity life story with character and compassion. Candace read 11/05.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't remember I had read this one...or I didn't remember the name of that one book I'd read...

Anyway, this was good. I think I'll always like Elnora and Freckles best because I was exposed to them first, and Laddie and his crew are also pretty good. But this one wasn't bad.