The Promised Land

Maggie and Annie Lavin #2

by Isabelle Holland

The heroines of The Journey Home return in the continuing saga of orphans Maggie and Annie Lavin. It's been three years since the girls were taken in by the Russells to live on their farm in Kansas. The girls, New York-born Irish Catholics, still don't fit in to the Protestant world they call home. When their Uncle Michael shows up to claim them, they're torn. But in making a decision about where to go, the real meaning of "family" reveals itself.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

155 pages, Library Binding

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Isabelle Christian Holland (born June 16, 1920 in Basel, Switzerland — died February 9, 2002) was an author of children and adult fiction. Her father was the American Consul in Liverpool, England during WWII. She moved to America in 1940 due to the war. She wrote Gothic novels, adult mysteries, romantic thrillers, and many books for children and young adults. She wrote over 50 books in her lifetime, and was still working at the time of her death at age 81 in New York City.

Two of her novels have been made into movies:

Bump in the Night, 1991,
The Man Without a Face, 1993

Both of these novels deal with issues or allegations of pedophilia.

Reviews

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years have passed, and Maggie and Annie are happily settled in with the Russell family in Kansas. But new events conspire to shake up the calm. The girls' uncle comes to visit, and is determined to take them back to New York, where they can attend a Catholic church; and Mr. Russell has a fight with a neighbor over the causes of the late Civil War. Prejudice and differing opinions begin to fracture the community, and threaten to tear it apart. Well written, and fast pace. Recommended.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 5-8 155 pgs

post Civil War, Kansas frontier. According to their mother's final wishes before she died, 15 year old Maggie Lavin and her 10 year old sister Annie were sent West on the orphan train. Three years have passed since they were taken in by the Russells who have raised them as their own. When their Uncle Michael appears, the girls are at first glad to see him. But when he becomes upset that his nieces are being raised Protestant instead of Catholic, the girls feel torn. Should they stay with the Russells or go live with their uncle in New York City?


sequel to "The Journey Home"

[Tara ♪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book. I like the continuation of the first one. However, it ended very sweetly and nicely. Overall, not bad. Sweet, id probably recommend.