SLICE OF THE MOON, A

A Slice of the Moon #1

by Sandi Toksvig

Slice of the Moon

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Danish/British writer, presenter, comedian, actress and producer on British radio and television. She currently presents The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 and 1001 Things You Should Know on Channel 4. In October 2012 she succeeded Sheila Hancock as Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth.

Reviews

[Joshua Denton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of Sandi's that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is written about the Irish potato famine, a time in history which is rarely used in schools but could make for a really interesting topic. You quickly come to care about the main character and what will happen to her next. I thought the book death with death in a way which children could understand and showed lots of different effects of death on a family. I am definitely looking forward the sequel.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! I was engrossed from start to finish. It starts in Ireland during the potato famine, and follows the family on their journey across the Atlantic and the beginning of their life in the USA. Based on real events.

[Sarah Driver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put this one down. Such an important story. I felt that the tragedy in 19th century Ireland was something I was duty-bound and eager to learn more about. It's such an important part of history for children to learn about, too. I felt so close to the characters in this, and the first person past tense POV of Slim Hannigan worked perfectly to transport me back in time. That said, now and then the tense slipped and became a little confused. The story was so thoroughly researched down to every fascinating detail of the family's lives. The details made Slim's world feel completely authentic and believable; I felt like I was there with her. As a lover of New York I also adored the level of research that went into describing 19th century Manhattan, after the family fled Ireland. I'd have given this five stars had it been pacier and the structure tighter.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was a little gem of a book.

Non planned read this book follows the Hannigan Family from Ireland. Caught in the middle of the potato famine of the 1840s, the family is forced to flee due to hunger and polical unrest.
Leaving Ireland, they join the many immigrants of the time and board a boat to America.

This is a family drama, told from the Point of View of 12yr old Slim Hannigan.
A tenacious and inquisitive young girl who would much rather be running around than being lady like. She has a thirst for knowledge, but it has a way of getting her into trouble. Curiosity and all that.
Being the middle child, she is, unintentionally pushed into becoming the head of the family and making the decisions that lead them where they will end up.

The style of writing or narrative is most enjoyable. As an adult reading this, I didn't feel talked down to. Slim's voice comes across as a memoir, she is looking back on the sequence of events, which puts her in the present but also a little before.
It's a fully historical family drama, just happens to be told from the Point of View of a 12yr old.
Also historically based on real events, I felt I left this book having learned something.
From the great potato famine, English rule of Ireland. Too the great loss of life and from the country as many of the native Irish left on boats for the sake of hope.

I LOVED the ending, left slightly open, with Slim and her family not in their final destination.
It left me wanting more which some can find exhilarating but I love. I don't know if Sandi has written more about the Hannigan family, but if she has, I'll read it!

[Sally Flint · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't at all like the reviews suggested but it was a good read. Set in the mid 1900s it traces the journey of a family leaving Ireland, partly due to the potato famine, partly due to political problems, as they journey to America. We have a plucky heroine, 12 year old 'Slim' who keeps the family together and faces the hardships they have. It isn't entirely believable, in fact, quite far fetched in parts, especially the links to the newspaper world in New York that miraculously appear, but it is very readable. I hadn't realised that it was the first of a series of two, so was quite disappointed when it suddenly stopped, as the family finally headed off to Oregan. Sandy Toksvig is such a talented lady though, it was lovely to hear her voice shine through.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this with my 11 and 8 year old boys. We loved it. I thought it'd be too much for the 8 year old but he got a lot out of it. The narrator is a 12 year old girl - someone mentioned being disappointed in the happy ending, but I was relieved - there was enough tragedy along the way. Afterwards we talked about depression, race and class.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. Because it talk about life in 1842 in Ireland.A such an ordinary thing that changed their lives upside down. They are such a poor family they are a family of 6. They live in a small town called ballysmaragaid. I read half of the book in my holiday and look forward to read the second half and I would recommend it to young teens.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the star rating says; it was ok. I wanted to like this more, but everything just seemed too 'happily ever after' convenient that I was left unconvinced.

[Stargazer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good wee read, one of those books that would translate well to the silver screen with the right casting.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story, but a bit too grown up and confronting for the 9 year old I was test reading for.

[Salome Vonk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is really good because it gives an insight on something that really has happened in our world. This means that the truth is shown and people can act on it so that it doesn't happen again. It also gives the powerful message of how unfair life was at the time of the Gorta Mor or the Great Irish Famine. What also make this book so interesting is the use of language made by the writer to clearly show it is a young girl narrating the story. This shows what she thinks about the what is happening and the feelings she gives to what is going on. The title is very important as it is what shows a key point that is in the book or give a clue what happens and what the story is about; the title "A Slice of the moon" used for this book is a phrase which is repeated many times in the book and seems to be the most important as it gives the characters of the story hope.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandi Toksvig has an incredible way of writing that encompasses history through stories.

This book tells the tale of an Irish family leaving their homes due to the potato famine and looking for a better life in America. It covers elements of the start of uprisings, death, lies, the perils of the torturous journey at sea to America and the reality of life in America.

Highly recommend this book!

[James Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Sandy Toksvig book I’ve read and I love her writing style. So easy to read but with characters and setting that are so well described and believable. This book shows the best and worst of human nature as well as looking at immigration. This is a children’s book but I’d recommend everyone reads it.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stuck with it...

I was really looking forward to reading this, especially as I heard Sandi speak about how it was for every generation. It took a long time to get going and ended abruptly. Lots of history though.

[Tracy Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gem of a book. Good old fashioned storytelling about a family escaping the Potato Famine and trying to make a fresh start in America. It could have done with a wee bit of editing as it's very long for the age range but really really wonderful. I can't wait to start the sequel.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a family and there friends going on an adventure, hiding away from a gang trying to get them. Many of them died whilst on the journey. I liked the very surprising parts of the story.

[Dave Unwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Slice of the Moon

This book is a superb read about an Irish family in despair, battling the potato famine, the brutal house evictions, and no work, what a story, so well written, I couldn’t put it down, absolutely riveting, so looking forward to book 2, bring it on.

[Caoimhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a gripping book but I would like to know what happened to mr hughes kids when he was in jail

[Adele King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this after my 11 year old daughter had finished it and said it was very good. A great historical read for her age group.

[Aisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for younger people, I learnt a lot about the famine through the story and would recommend it.

[Mandy Gilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet if you into childrens adventures. It was great learning about the incredibley hard times Ireland faced during the historic potato famine and what life was like for people of the land.

[Emma Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cosy read to escape and recognise all the tiny glimmers around

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Chloe

[Choco Cow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping tale of the hardships during the potato famine in Ireland and the treacherous journey to America.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book but at moments I wished the action would slow down, could've been more emotive and hard-hitting.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished this lovely book.

A Slice of the Moon by Sandi Toksvig tells the story of Rosalind “Slim” Hannigan and her family’s journey from Ireland to America.

Slim’s Story starts in Ireland shortly before the dreaded blight arrives - The great Potato Famine that devestated many families and their lives and caused them to flee for a better life.
When the families potato crop repeatedly fails leaving them unable to pay rent and her brother being wanted by the police for joining in with the uprising in the local young men , Slim and her family have to leave their beloved Ireland and flee to the New World in America.

Armed with a few belongings and a printing press Slims family pay their way into a boat bound for New York in search of new beginnings in the “land of plenty”.

This is the first book in the series and charts their journey across the Atlantic and tells us about the people they meet on the boat. A story filled with laughter and tears, fear and heartache. It covers death and hope. You can’t help but keep routing for the family all the way through the book.

It is aimed at middle grade which I would say is better suited to the older end say year 6 + as there are some scenes and themes that are upsetting but as an adult I throughly enjoyed being immersed in slims world.

Sandi Toksvig writing defiantly brings all characters to life and you can almost believe they are real people. I admit I knew very little about the famine and ready this book made me curious to find out more - it made me angry at how the English treated the Irish and how some still do treat them.

I give this book 5 stars and I will definitely be seeking out the next book in the story. Go read it !

#asliceofthemoon #sanditoksvig #middlegradefiction #historicalfiction #irishfamine #america1840