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Hunger: A Tale of Courage
It is the autumn of 1846 in Ireland. Lorraine and her brother are waiting for the time to pick the potato crop on their family farm leased from an English landowner. But this year is different—the spuds are mushy and ruined... just like last year. What will Lorraine and her family do?
Then Lorraine meets Miss Susanna, the daughter of the wealthy English landowner who owns Lorraine’s family’s farm, and the girls form an unlikely friendship that they must keep a secret from everyone. Two different cultures come together in a deserted Irish meadow. And Lorraine has one question: how can she help her family survive?
Then Lorraine meets Miss Susanna, the daughter of the wealthy English landowner who owns Lorraine’s family’s farm, and the girls form an unlikely friendship that they must keep a secret from everyone. Two different cultures come together in a deserted Irish meadow. And Lorraine has one question: how can she help her family survive?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2018
13 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Donna Jo Napoli
138 books1,112 followersDonna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction. She loves to garden and bake bread, and even dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.
She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
February 20, 2018
See this FULL review on my blog along with others at: shesgoingbookcrazy.com
I received this copy from the publisher via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this read, other than the fact that it wouldn't be an easy one to ingest. I really enjoyed getting into a different genre in childrens/YA, and hoped for the best, but simply wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped. While the topic is solid, the characters and plot suffered from an inability to make much progression.
Things I liked:
#1 I appreciated the hardship the author portrayed throughout this story. Lorraine, the main character, is a twelve-year-old Irish girl. Her family work as farmers--tenants on a wealthy English family's land. She paints a horrific picture of the famine the potato (better known as "spuds") plight brought to Ireland. Napoli doesn't spare the reader from the ugly truth. While the book remains clean, it doesn't keep out the fact that these people suffered greatly during this time, and many (if not all) lives were changed because of it.
#2 Ireland is known for its tumultuous weather and beautiful landscapes. Both of these played a big role in the story and helped the reader to understand how everything must remain in balance in order for life to thrive. It also makes the reading flow as we get to travel through the green hills with the characters.
#3 The author does a great job at incorporating several poignant factors throughout this period. Politics, Religion, and Class division play big roles here, in several ways. These issues come out immediately in Lorraine and Susanna's interactions.
Things I didn't like:
#1 There was a lack of direction throughout this plot. It was the main factor that killed this book for me. While the characters definitely underwent turmoil, it never seemed to go anywhere. Without character or plot progression, it's difficult as the reader to really follow the point of the story. Definitely, this is a tragic tale. Yet, I couldn't grasp what actually was trying to be portrayed here? Perhaps I'm reading too far into it. I feel as if it could have been written as a non-fiction story instead, and have been more effective as it's more factual than anything.
#2 I had a very difficult time making a connection to the characters. I didn't really like any of them, and I'm not sure why. Food is the main topic here and takes center stage in every conversation, and I think that's why it's difficult to make this connection.
This is not a bad read by any means. I just had a lot of difficulty with feeling that the plot was driven towards a purpose other than obtaining food.
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual Content: None.
Violence: There are scenes where the children come across dead bodies, and another where people are shooting at one another.
My Rating: ★★
I received this copy from the publisher via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review
In August 1845, Phytophthora infestans--a fungus-like organism--attacked the potato crop in Ireland.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this read, other than the fact that it wouldn't be an easy one to ingest. I really enjoyed getting into a different genre in childrens/YA, and hoped for the best, but simply wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped. While the topic is solid, the characters and plot suffered from an inability to make much progression.
Things I liked:
#1 I appreciated the hardship the author portrayed throughout this story. Lorraine, the main character, is a twelve-year-old Irish girl. Her family work as farmers--tenants on a wealthy English family's land. She paints a horrific picture of the famine the potato (better known as "spuds") plight brought to Ireland. Napoli doesn't spare the reader from the ugly truth. While the book remains clean, it doesn't keep out the fact that these people suffered greatly during this time, and many (if not all) lives were changed because of it.
#2 Ireland is known for its tumultuous weather and beautiful landscapes. Both of these played a big role in the story and helped the reader to understand how everything must remain in balance in order for life to thrive. It also makes the reading flow as we get to travel through the green hills with the characters.
#3 The author does a great job at incorporating several poignant factors throughout this period. Politics, Religion, and Class division play big roles here, in several ways. These issues come out immediately in Lorraine and Susanna's interactions.
Things I didn't like:
#1 There was a lack of direction throughout this plot. It was the main factor that killed this book for me. While the characters definitely underwent turmoil, it never seemed to go anywhere. Without character or plot progression, it's difficult as the reader to really follow the point of the story. Definitely, this is a tragic tale. Yet, I couldn't grasp what actually was trying to be portrayed here? Perhaps I'm reading too far into it. I feel as if it could have been written as a non-fiction story instead, and have been more effective as it's more factual than anything.
#2 I had a very difficult time making a connection to the characters. I didn't really like any of them, and I'm not sure why. Food is the main topic here and takes center stage in every conversation, and I think that's why it's difficult to make this connection.
This is not a bad read by any means. I just had a lot of difficulty with feeling that the plot was driven towards a purpose other than obtaining food.
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual Content: None.
Violence: There are scenes where the children come across dead bodies, and another where people are shooting at one another.
My Rating: ★★
February 20, 2018
I received this as an ARC on NetGalley.
I wasn't really sure about this book at first. The beginning seemed somewhat slow, and as the plot progressed the pacing of the story didn't necessarily increase (until the very end), but I definitely found myself becoming more and more invested in the characters. I've never read anything about The Great Famine in Ireland (only ever heard of it), so it was really interesting to read a novel based on that time period.
I can't say anything as to historical accuracy, though the story felt real. There were two character specifically whose relationship dynamic reminded me a bit of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne where one has more privilege and doesn't understand the plight of the oppressed.
One thing I liked about the author's style was, throughout the story, instead of trying to describe every minor detail of a major plot point, the detail was implied rather than told. Some people might not like that style, but I did. The ending of the book felt somewhat rushed, but it was still a compelling read.
I wasn't really sure about this book at first. The beginning seemed somewhat slow, and as the plot progressed the pacing of the story didn't necessarily increase (until the very end), but I definitely found myself becoming more and more invested in the characters. I've never read anything about The Great Famine in Ireland (only ever heard of it), so it was really interesting to read a novel based on that time period.
I can't say anything as to historical accuracy, though the story felt real. There were two character specifically whose relationship dynamic reminded me a bit of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne where one has more privilege and doesn't understand the plight of the oppressed.
One thing I liked about the author's style was, throughout the story, instead of trying to describe every minor detail of a major plot point, the detail was implied rather than told. Some people might not like that style, but I did. The ending of the book felt somewhat rushed, but it was still a compelling read.
September 1, 2020
Not for everyone, I enjoyed this realistic if bleak portrayal of the 1840s Irish potato famine which caused many to emigrate to England, Canada and the United States.
Give this one to readers who are looking for something sad or those who are curious about other time periods with events similar to the current pandemic (COVID-19).
Give this one to readers who are looking for something sad or those who are curious about other time periods with events similar to the current pandemic (COVID-19).
February 12, 2018
Hunger: A Tale of Courage is set in western Ireland during the Irish Potato Famine of 1846, a time when a potato blight ruined the main source of food for Irish families. Hundreds of thousands of people died of starvation and disease during this terrible time. Twice that number is estimated to have emigrated to America and other countries in an effort to escape certain death. It is estimated that death and emigration caused the population of Ireland to drop between 20% to 25%, overall.
In this book, we see the dreadful famine through the eyes of twelve-year-old Lorraine, the daughter of a tenant farmer. The story begins in the autumn of 1846, with Lorraine, her parents, and little brother Paddy being cautiously optimistic about a good potato crop—desperately needed after the blight caused last year's crop to rot. All seems well, but the dreaded blight strikes again, leaving them (and everyone they know and love) with very little food and even fewer options: they had no money to purchase food, and were not permitted to hunt on the land owned by their English landlord. The outlook was bleak, to say the least.
Hard times became even harder as sickness spread, taking the lives of strangers and loved ones alike. A chance meeting with the daughter of their English landlord—a girl named Susannah—presented an opportunity for food, but Lorraine knew convincing the girl to help wasn't going to be easy, thanks to the way the privileged landowners perceived the Irish. With her family and friends slowly starving to death, Lorraine had no choice but to try.
The famine years in Ireland are a particularly poignant part of history, and I rarely pass up the opportunity to read about it, fiction or otherwise. I expected to be emotionally invested in this story, and Napoli did not disappoint. She crafted a story that is mindful of the devastation wrought by the famine, with characters readers are easily able to connect with and feel empathy for—characters who show both strength and generosity even as they struggled to survive.
This book was the definition of unputdownable for me; I read most of it in one sitting. The end of the book contains a postscript, glossary, bibliography, author's note and a timeline (Timeline of Ireland to the End of the Famine) that were as fascinating to read as the story itself. It's a sure bet to be of interest to history buffs, as it gives a brief accounting of important points in Irish history.
I thought this was a wonderful book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I definitely recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books via Edelweiss.
In this book, we see the dreadful famine through the eyes of twelve-year-old Lorraine, the daughter of a tenant farmer. The story begins in the autumn of 1846, with Lorraine, her parents, and little brother Paddy being cautiously optimistic about a good potato crop—desperately needed after the blight caused last year's crop to rot. All seems well, but the dreaded blight strikes again, leaving them (and everyone they know and love) with very little food and even fewer options: they had no money to purchase food, and were not permitted to hunt on the land owned by their English landlord. The outlook was bleak, to say the least.
Hard times became even harder as sickness spread, taking the lives of strangers and loved ones alike. A chance meeting with the daughter of their English landlord—a girl named Susannah—presented an opportunity for food, but Lorraine knew convincing the girl to help wasn't going to be easy, thanks to the way the privileged landowners perceived the Irish. With her family and friends slowly starving to death, Lorraine had no choice but to try.
The famine years in Ireland are a particularly poignant part of history, and I rarely pass up the opportunity to read about it, fiction or otherwise. I expected to be emotionally invested in this story, and Napoli did not disappoint. She crafted a story that is mindful of the devastation wrought by the famine, with characters readers are easily able to connect with and feel empathy for—characters who show both strength and generosity even as they struggled to survive.
This book was the definition of unputdownable for me; I read most of it in one sitting. The end of the book contains a postscript, glossary, bibliography, author's note and a timeline (Timeline of Ireland to the End of the Famine) that were as fascinating to read as the story itself. It's a sure bet to be of interest to history buffs, as it gives a brief accounting of important points in Irish history.
I thought this was a wonderful book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I definitely recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books via Edelweiss.
November 29, 2018
This was a great audiobook, though not a super cheery read while I was making turkey and decorating for Christmas. It includes historical notes at the end that are really great as well.
December 30, 2024
Featured in reads with grandma sessions via zoom. . .
Hunger: A Tale of Courage landed on our reading list this year because we have an ancestress who landed in America from an Irish Famine ship in 1848, for the very reasons considered in this book. She, like Lorraine, the protagonist big sister in this family of four, lived in Western Ireland. Their people had been moved off their historical homelands by English plantation creators and were subject to the crop growing, English feeding demands of their overseers. A one-way ticket to America purchased by a plantation owner to get rid of the pesky 'Irish problem' is the way our maternal line landed on these beautiful shores.
Donna Napoli's writing of the lives of these fictional children in this book and their response to the deep dark living circumstances captivated us from the very beginning. There are difficult instances in the story, dead bodies (from hunger) in the roads, dead animals, and community members who die from weather and illness. This is not a book I would have considered for younger readers - my granddaughter is eleven and we stop and discuss all aspects of our reads when there are questions or concerns. She enjoys a stop now and then to google for images, pronunciations, word definitions/context and family stories and pictures if applicable - as they were in this read.
At the end of this book there are very helpful tools: a timeline, glossary and author's postscript which we also reviewed. All in all, a privilege to read with my own girl. When questioned about the star rating for this read, she didn't hesitate: "All the stars. . .this is stuff I never would have thought about, and to think it is in my very own blood and bones. Lorraine will be in my heart forever, right next to our grandmother Catherine Bridget who didn't get to stay in the country she loved."
So be it. All the stars.
Hunger: A Tale of Courage landed on our reading list this year because we have an ancestress who landed in America from an Irish Famine ship in 1848, for the very reasons considered in this book. She, like Lorraine, the protagonist big sister in this family of four, lived in Western Ireland. Their people had been moved off their historical homelands by English plantation creators and were subject to the crop growing, English feeding demands of their overseers. A one-way ticket to America purchased by a plantation owner to get rid of the pesky 'Irish problem' is the way our maternal line landed on these beautiful shores.
Donna Napoli's writing of the lives of these fictional children in this book and their response to the deep dark living circumstances captivated us from the very beginning. There are difficult instances in the story, dead bodies (from hunger) in the roads, dead animals, and community members who die from weather and illness. This is not a book I would have considered for younger readers - my granddaughter is eleven and we stop and discuss all aspects of our reads when there are questions or concerns. She enjoys a stop now and then to google for images, pronunciations, word definitions/context and family stories and pictures if applicable - as they were in this read.
At the end of this book there are very helpful tools: a timeline, glossary and author's postscript which we also reviewed. All in all, a privilege to read with my own girl. When questioned about the star rating for this read, she didn't hesitate: "All the stars. . .this is stuff I never would have thought about, and to think it is in my very own blood and bones. Lorraine will be in my heart forever, right next to our grandmother Catherine Bridget who didn't get to stay in the country she loved."
So be it. All the stars.
January 30, 2020
Napoli takes the readers on an incredibly journey back in time to a place that is riddled with unspeakable hardship, and strength beyond measure. It's a place called Ireland. It’s 1846 and a blight epidemic has nearly destroyed everything and threatens to break the very heart and soul of every person. With food being scarce and her family on the verge of starvation, 12-year-old Lorraine finds the will within herself to fight for her family. Her bravery ultimately makes the difference between life and death.
"Hunger" moves the reader to consider the things that really matter in life. This eye-opening story explains the struggle for provision, the political atmosphere, and the injustice and inequality of those had, and those who had not.
This well researched and historically accurate fiction book would be a perfect choice to use in the classroom. A teacher could use it to study a historical time period or study identity through the eyes of the hardworking Irish farming family. It also brings up the political climate between the Irish and the English, so it could be used in a political theme study as well. Injustice and equality are so beautifully expressed through the pages of the book that it could lend itself as another theme study. However this book is used, it’s sure to bring out empathy and understand of the struggles that other people endure. It will have a permanent place in my classroom.
"Hunger" moves the reader to consider the things that really matter in life. This eye-opening story explains the struggle for provision, the political atmosphere, and the injustice and inequality of those had, and those who had not.
This well researched and historically accurate fiction book would be a perfect choice to use in the classroom. A teacher could use it to study a historical time period or study identity through the eyes of the hardworking Irish farming family. It also brings up the political climate between the Irish and the English, so it could be used in a political theme study as well. Injustice and equality are so beautifully expressed through the pages of the book that it could lend itself as another theme study. However this book is used, it’s sure to bring out empathy and understand of the struggles that other people endure. It will have a permanent place in my classroom.
January 29, 2019
Hunger: A Tale of Courage by Donna Jo Napoli is about an Irish family struggling. Lorraine, her brother Paddy, Ma and Da are farmers on an Englishman’s land. There are multiple other families with children that work under Da for the Englishman. Lorraine’s’ family can hardly eat. During this time the Irish are perceived as less than the English and they do not have a lot or get a lot. They work long, rough days and bare the cold winters and hot summers just to barely feed themselves. One day, Lorraine ventures off into the woods and meets a young English girl, Miss Susanna. Miss Susanna is so lonely that she exchanges food with Lorraine’s company. The two bickers at each other all the time over what they have heard their families say about the other. This “friendship” must be kept a secret for both of their safety. When the winter gets rough, many people in Lorraine’s community become sick and die from starvation and other illnesses. Miss Susanna gives the bare minimum food she can without causing any suspicion but the trek to get to the castle is so far that Lorraine faces many challenges to provide for her family.
July 23, 2022
I don’t usually read Historical Fictions, but this one caught my eye. When I showed my dad, he was like, “My little baby is growing up! I can’t believe your reading an Historical Fiction!” When I started reading this, I was in love with it. I loved the detail and how you felt like your in the story! My favorite character was Lorraine. I loved how fearless she was and how she was a great leader when this happened. This book was perfect!
I loved it! ❤️
I loved it! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
Hunger by Donna Jo Napoli. It’s about the potato blight in Ireland that led to crop failure and famine and disease and death. This story is dated from the Autumn of 1946 to the Spring of 1947 and is in the point-of-view of a twelve-year-old girl named Lorraine who lived in County Galway on a farm leased by an English lord. I recommend this story to anyone who doesn’t know this history and enjoys middle grade reads.
October 28, 2025
Lord, thank you that I live in a time and place of abundance. Please protect my family from ever having to endure starvation…amen
September 15, 2023
Before I get to the actual story, I have to say that the part of this book that impacted me the most was the Timeline at the end. I listened to this on audio and I think the narrator somehow got the perfect tone for reading out the devastating Irish history. It made me shake with anger at the English and although I know I'm not as well read on the subject as I could be (or want to be), I know enough. Living in Ireland for 6 months and taking classes there only makes this book more heartbreaking. In the classes I took, the professor wouldn't teach about the Potato Famine. It is still too raw for them. And now I think I understand that a little bit better.
As for the story of Lorraine and her family and friends, it was nothing short of disturbing to watch her helplessness as though around her died and emigrated. Even though she was able to help in a small way, it wasn't enough. As far as I know, this is a pretty accurate depiction of what happened during this time period and it's worse than I've ever heard about, read about. I think Napoli does a good job at weaving in the utter desperation of the time without sacrificing the humanity of the characters. After all, life did go on after 1852 but it certainly left a deep mark in history. This is a good intro historical fiction for young teens are might just being getting into the genre or are interested in Irish history.
As for the story of Lorraine and her family and friends, it was nothing short of disturbing to watch her helplessness as though around her died and emigrated. Even though she was able to help in a small way, it wasn't enough. As far as I know, this is a pretty accurate depiction of what happened during this time period and it's worse than I've ever heard about, read about. I think Napoli does a good job at weaving in the utter desperation of the time without sacrificing the humanity of the characters. After all, life did go on after 1852 but it certainly left a deep mark in history. This is a good intro historical fiction for young teens are might just being getting into the genre or are interested in Irish history.
March 7, 2019
I really liked this book with all the plot twists and courageous things Loraine did in the book. The book is really special to me because I was always so exited to read it whenever I had a chance to. Because the main story line of the book was always changing I got hooked and know that that I am finished I wished there was another book coming off this one
April 18, 2018
Hunger Satisfies Appetites For A Moving Historical Fiction Novel
3.5 stars
You can read my full review on my blog.
FIRST I have to tell you, friends, that I’m not a fan of Donna Jo Napoli’s writing. I’ve read two books by her and started two more but didn’t end up finishing them. Gosh. I don’t mean to come across as bashing her books but there’s something about them that makes my mind put up a fight.
Her voice is often bland and slow and fluctuates between either overly telly or overly showy. I’ve come to associate DJN’s books with that dull and draggy pace and some seriously peculiarly scenes. She has a no-frills way of writing that combined with her bald prose makes for some seriously awkward or uncomfortable moments.
Soooo, why did I pick up Donna Jo’s latest title, Hunger: A Tale of Courage?
Reason #1) It’s set in Ireland in 1846 during the first outbreak of the potato famine. I haven’t read many books, YA, Middle grade, or otherwise, around this period in history.
Reason #2) Siobhan Dowd, the late Irish author, wrote three compelling books full of heartbreak and hope that are still with me even though it’s been over a year since I read them: Solace of the Road, A Swift Pure Cry and Bog Child.
Reason #3) I believe in second chances! Just because several of DJN’s books haven’t been compatible with me in the past, doesn’t mean I have to permanently write her off. DJN always had a little speck of something in her books that kept me reading them and in some cases deciding to DNF a few. That same speck is at work here.
While Hunger: A Tale of Courage is historical fiction, it’s predominantly a dramatic character study. We get background on the state of Ireland in the mid to late 1800s and how English rule took over, claiming Irish land for its own, and subjugating the Irish people. For teen readers who may not have a familiarity with Ireland’s political climate during the potato famine this is a lesson that flows organically in the pages of the text instead of being preached about or emphasized in teacherly fashion.
Hunger hones in on the experience of one young girl, Lorraine, and her small family and the many friends and peasant farmers who live on and work the same land under the rule of a snobby and clueless English landlord.
Family is pivotal to the story. Lorraine’s obligations as a daughter, and a big sister to her little brother Paddy take up much space. As the death toll mounts, and Ma and Da begin to lose faith, Lorraine’s eyes are opened to her new harsh reality. She sees little Paddy begin to waste away and loses her closest friends to a raging fever.
When the food becomes scarcer than ever it seems like there’s no relief from this nightmare of starvation and deprivation… that is, until Lorraine gets in a unique situation where foraging becomes a possibility… if she’s willing to bend and redefine who she considers to be her enemies. For another 12 year old girl, one clothed in lacy, frothy, confections of dresses, who hosts tea parties at the edge of the wood for her trio of dollies. On the china and serviettes, she serves the dolls a daily feast of roast hare and other rich foods. Foods that dolls, porcelain as they are, have no way of eating…
It's from this that Hunger encourages us to consider friendships in a new light. Lorraine’s tentative and tense relationship with said girl, Susannah, the English daughter of the English landlord shifts during the span of the 250 page book. Both girls cling tightly to misconceptions.
As the two girls bicker and insult one another they come to realize they have more in common than they once thought, and a begrudging respect morphs into a genuine friendship. Lorraine and Susannah both benefit from it. That’s one of the best things about this novel. If readers take anything away from Hunger let it be this: keep an open-mind, be willing to forgive, and carry on even when hope seems miles and miles away. We are far more resilient than we give ourselves credit for.
Recommended
Again, you can read my full review on my blog.
3.5 stars
You can read my full review on my blog.
FIRST I have to tell you, friends, that I’m not a fan of Donna Jo Napoli’s writing. I’ve read two books by her and started two more but didn’t end up finishing them. Gosh. I don’t mean to come across as bashing her books but there’s something about them that makes my mind put up a fight.
Her voice is often bland and slow and fluctuates between either overly telly or overly showy. I’ve come to associate DJN’s books with that dull and draggy pace and some seriously peculiarly scenes. She has a no-frills way of writing that combined with her bald prose makes for some seriously awkward or uncomfortable moments.
Soooo, why did I pick up Donna Jo’s latest title, Hunger: A Tale of Courage?
Reason #1) It’s set in Ireland in 1846 during the first outbreak of the potato famine. I haven’t read many books, YA, Middle grade, or otherwise, around this period in history.
Reason #2) Siobhan Dowd, the late Irish author, wrote three compelling books full of heartbreak and hope that are still with me even though it’s been over a year since I read them: Solace of the Road, A Swift Pure Cry and Bog Child.
Reason #3) I believe in second chances! Just because several of DJN’s books haven’t been compatible with me in the past, doesn’t mean I have to permanently write her off. DJN always had a little speck of something in her books that kept me reading them and in some cases deciding to DNF a few. That same speck is at work here.
While Hunger: A Tale of Courage is historical fiction, it’s predominantly a dramatic character study. We get background on the state of Ireland in the mid to late 1800s and how English rule took over, claiming Irish land for its own, and subjugating the Irish people. For teen readers who may not have a familiarity with Ireland’s political climate during the potato famine this is a lesson that flows organically in the pages of the text instead of being preached about or emphasized in teacherly fashion.
Hunger hones in on the experience of one young girl, Lorraine, and her small family and the many friends and peasant farmers who live on and work the same land under the rule of a snobby and clueless English landlord.
Family is pivotal to the story. Lorraine’s obligations as a daughter, and a big sister to her little brother Paddy take up much space. As the death toll mounts, and Ma and Da begin to lose faith, Lorraine’s eyes are opened to her new harsh reality. She sees little Paddy begin to waste away and loses her closest friends to a raging fever.
When the food becomes scarcer than ever it seems like there’s no relief from this nightmare of starvation and deprivation… that is, until Lorraine gets in a unique situation where foraging becomes a possibility… if she’s willing to bend and redefine who she considers to be her enemies. For another 12 year old girl, one clothed in lacy, frothy, confections of dresses, who hosts tea parties at the edge of the wood for her trio of dollies. On the china and serviettes, she serves the dolls a daily feast of roast hare and other rich foods. Foods that dolls, porcelain as they are, have no way of eating…
It's from this that Hunger encourages us to consider friendships in a new light. Lorraine’s tentative and tense relationship with said girl, Susannah, the English daughter of the English landlord shifts during the span of the 250 page book. Both girls cling tightly to misconceptions.
As the two girls bicker and insult one another they come to realize they have more in common than they once thought, and a begrudging respect morphs into a genuine friendship. Lorraine and Susannah both benefit from it. That’s one of the best things about this novel. If readers take anything away from Hunger let it be this: keep an open-mind, be willing to forgive, and carry on even when hope seems miles and miles away. We are far more resilient than we give ourselves credit for.
Recommended
Again, you can read my full review on my blog.
March 1, 2018
Through the eyes of twelve-year-old Lorraine this haunting novel from the award-winning author of Hidden and Hush gives insight and understanding into a little known part of history—the Irish potato famine.
It is the autumn of 1846 in Ireland. Lorraine and her brother are waiting for the time to pick the potato crop on their family farm leased from an English landowner. But this year is different—the spuds are mushy and ruined. What will Lorraine and her family do?
Then Lorraine meets Miss Susannah, the daughter of the wealthy English landowner who owns Lorraine’s family’s farm, and the girls form an unlikely friendship that they must keep a secret from everyone. Two different cultures come together in a deserted Irish meadow. And Lorraine has one question: how can she help her family survive?
A little known part of history, the Irish potato famine altered history forever and caused a great immigration in the later part of the 1800s. Lorraine’s story is a heartbreaking and ultimately redemptive story of one girl’s strength and resolve to save herself and her family against all odds.
I’ve been a fan of Donna Jo Napoli’s writing since I stumbled upon Hush while doing reviews for an old YA book review site. When I saw Hunger listed on NetGalley I requested it right away and crossed my fingers that I’d get approved. I was not disappointed.
Napoli has once again proven that she is a master in historical fiction. Not only has she constructed a well-researched world for her characters, but she’s delivered a heart wrenching storyline that kept me thoroughly tied to the pages.
Hunger is set during the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840’s. Twelve-year-old Lorraine, awakens one morning to the panicked sounds of her parents desperately trying to salvage their crops from another devastating fungal outbreak. In Lorraine’s small community of cottier farmers—and across Ireland—the Irish tenants face another winter of starvation and disease while their British landlords ignore—and even deny—their plight.
Lorraine soon finds herself walking a line between her dying friends and family and a friendship with the landlord’s sassy and self-involved daughter. Lorraine finds herself trying to convince Susannah as to the reality of the plight of the Irish, but Susannah has been raised believing the Irish have every opportunity if only they would take it upon themselves to fulfill them.
Hunger is filled with heartbreaking realities and conflicting moral decisions that must be made as Lorraine and her friends face a crisis of historical proportions. I was mesmerized, heartbroken, and could even feel the hunger—and guilt—as I read. Donna Jo Napoli has proven again that she is a master of historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It is the autumn of 1846 in Ireland. Lorraine and her brother are waiting for the time to pick the potato crop on their family farm leased from an English landowner. But this year is different—the spuds are mushy and ruined. What will Lorraine and her family do?
Then Lorraine meets Miss Susannah, the daughter of the wealthy English landowner who owns Lorraine’s family’s farm, and the girls form an unlikely friendship that they must keep a secret from everyone. Two different cultures come together in a deserted Irish meadow. And Lorraine has one question: how can she help her family survive?
A little known part of history, the Irish potato famine altered history forever and caused a great immigration in the later part of the 1800s. Lorraine’s story is a heartbreaking and ultimately redemptive story of one girl’s strength and resolve to save herself and her family against all odds.
I’ve been a fan of Donna Jo Napoli’s writing since I stumbled upon Hush while doing reviews for an old YA book review site. When I saw Hunger listed on NetGalley I requested it right away and crossed my fingers that I’d get approved. I was not disappointed.
Napoli has once again proven that she is a master in historical fiction. Not only has she constructed a well-researched world for her characters, but she’s delivered a heart wrenching storyline that kept me thoroughly tied to the pages.
Hunger is set during the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840’s. Twelve-year-old Lorraine, awakens one morning to the panicked sounds of her parents desperately trying to salvage their crops from another devastating fungal outbreak. In Lorraine’s small community of cottier farmers—and across Ireland—the Irish tenants face another winter of starvation and disease while their British landlords ignore—and even deny—their plight.
Lorraine soon finds herself walking a line between her dying friends and family and a friendship with the landlord’s sassy and self-involved daughter. Lorraine finds herself trying to convince Susannah as to the reality of the plight of the Irish, but Susannah has been raised believing the Irish have every opportunity if only they would take it upon themselves to fulfill them.
Hunger is filled with heartbreaking realities and conflicting moral decisions that must be made as Lorraine and her friends face a crisis of historical proportions. I was mesmerized, heartbroken, and could even feel the hunger—and guilt—as I read. Donna Jo Napoli has proven again that she is a master of historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2018
Hunger by Donna Jo Napoli, 259 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2018. $17.
Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Lorraine is a twelve year old living in Ireland during the potato famine. It is 1846 and regardless of the precautions taken by the farmers, the potatoes are rotting, and people are starving. Lorraine watches as her village grows smaller because people are starving to death, dying of illness or moving away in hopes of better opportunities. Lorraine finds a wealthy British girl on the nearby estate, and although Lorraine sometimes finds food for herself, she feels guilty that she can’t share with her family, so she comes up with a plan.
This book is slow and the amount of detail put into their starvation is exhausting. The first half of the book doesn’t really have a story line because it is mostly descriptions of the foods the kids are dreaming of eating. Lorraine is a likable character and the helplessness of those who lived during this famine is conveyed. The back of the book has an extensive timeline of Ireland through the end of the famine, but I don’t think it’s something kids would spend the time to read. The violence is rated PG because Lorraine sees someone shot during an uprising.
C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Lorraine is a twelve year old living in Ireland during the potato famine. It is 1846 and regardless of the precautions taken by the farmers, the potatoes are rotting, and people are starving. Lorraine watches as her village grows smaller because people are starving to death, dying of illness or moving away in hopes of better opportunities. Lorraine finds a wealthy British girl on the nearby estate, and although Lorraine sometimes finds food for herself, she feels guilty that she can’t share with her family, so she comes up with a plan.
This book is slow and the amount of detail put into their starvation is exhausting. The first half of the book doesn’t really have a story line because it is mostly descriptions of the foods the kids are dreaming of eating. Lorraine is a likable character and the helplessness of those who lived during this famine is conveyed. The back of the book has an extensive timeline of Ireland through the end of the famine, but I don’t think it’s something kids would spend the time to read. The violence is rated PG because Lorraine sees someone shot during an uprising.
C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
January 11, 2024
**SPOILERS**
The book is basically about a family that goes through a hard time. All they can eat is food from their garden but sometimes the food doesn't grow the greatest but sometimes it does. They ate spuds which are potatoes in 1846 and they ate other foods, but spuds are yummiest thing that they had. The family lives in a little house with one room but they are a family of 4 or 6 I believe. They are peasants so they work for someone who they do not like very much.
I liked how the book includes what kind of job they do and what kinds of people they are. The author had a decent length of paragraphs that were easy to read. She also had an interesting plot of the book where things certain things were interesting. The book did not have a lot of words on one page which I liked so it would not take like 3 minutes to finish the page. There were a decent amount of pages in between each chapter.
There could have been fewer words on the page so it was faster to read. Some of the chapters could have been chopped up because sometimes they got a bit lengthy. I would have liked to see fewer words on a page so it was faster to read because I am a slow reader. I wish the chapters were chopped up a little bit the chapters were faster to read. Some of the word choices to a bit hard to read since I did not know what some of the words meant.
I would recommend this book to those who like reading about history and reading what their struggles were at the time.
The book is basically about a family that goes through a hard time. All they can eat is food from their garden but sometimes the food doesn't grow the greatest but sometimes it does. They ate spuds which are potatoes in 1846 and they ate other foods, but spuds are yummiest thing that they had. The family lives in a little house with one room but they are a family of 4 or 6 I believe. They are peasants so they work for someone who they do not like very much.
I liked how the book includes what kind of job they do and what kinds of people they are. The author had a decent length of paragraphs that were easy to read. She also had an interesting plot of the book where things certain things were interesting. The book did not have a lot of words on one page which I liked so it would not take like 3 minutes to finish the page. There were a decent amount of pages in between each chapter.
There could have been fewer words on the page so it was faster to read. Some of the chapters could have been chopped up because sometimes they got a bit lengthy. I would have liked to see fewer words on a page so it was faster to read because I am a slow reader. I wish the chapters were chopped up a little bit the chapters were faster to read. Some of the word choices to a bit hard to read since I did not know what some of the words meant.
I would recommend this book to those who like reading about history and reading what their struggles were at the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2019
Like so many Americans, I can trace much of my ancestry to Irish immigrants who emigrated due to the potato famine. This novel tells the story of the suffering that precipitated the mass exodus of people to countries around the world.
Lorraine and her family live on the estate of an Anglo-Irish landlord, near Galway. The story starts off just after the first bad potato crop. People are still hopeful that things will improve. She spends time with her younger brother and the other children of the estate workers. As time passes and the next year's crops are even worse, things get bad for everyone. Disease and starvation abound and discontent at the ruling class, who were mostly English, grows. The belief that the Irish were lazy and that they could find food if they just tried led to an appalling lack of any relief or assistance beyond workhouses, which were death traps.
Lorraine meets by accident the daughter of the landlord and despite a distrust of each other, the girl does offer some help. They become friendly, although friendship is out of the question due to the differences in their circumstances. They appear to be the same age but Lorraine has had to grow up and is much more mature.
This was a great middle grade level book that tells the story of the potato famine from a perspective that is not always shown, those who are left in Ireland. Highly recommended!
Lorraine and her family live on the estate of an Anglo-Irish landlord, near Galway. The story starts off just after the first bad potato crop. People are still hopeful that things will improve. She spends time with her younger brother and the other children of the estate workers. As time passes and the next year's crops are even worse, things get bad for everyone. Disease and starvation abound and discontent at the ruling class, who were mostly English, grows. The belief that the Irish were lazy and that they could find food if they just tried led to an appalling lack of any relief or assistance beyond workhouses, which were death traps.
Lorraine meets by accident the daughter of the landlord and despite a distrust of each other, the girl does offer some help. They become friendly, although friendship is out of the question due to the differences in their circumstances. They appear to be the same age but Lorraine has had to grow up and is much more mature.
This was a great middle grade level book that tells the story of the potato famine from a perspective that is not always shown, those who are left in Ireland. Highly recommended!
February 5, 2018
Hunger is a great introduction for younger teens to what is commonly known as the Irish Potato Famine.
The story is told from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl, Lorraine. Her family are tenant farmers and Hunger depicts the extreme hardships of the Irish people during the long winter with no food.
Because of a chance meeting in the woods, Lorraine meets a rich English girl, Susannah, who is the landlord's daughter. Susannah is privileged and has no idea of the suffering of her father's tenants. She has been told they are lazy. Lorraine tries to set her straight, and Susannah at least helps her with some additional food.
Starvation brings with it diseases and death, and Napoli doesn't shy away from this truth. The English are not made to look very good.
The ending does leave the reader with some hope, but if you read the detailed history of Ireland at the end of the book, there is still a lot of hardship ahead for these people.
Hunger would be most appealing to middle-grade students, but older students with an interest can also learn from this tale. Hunger is a relatively short book and keeps your attention, so reluctant readers interested in historical fiction should be pointed to this one.
The story is told from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl, Lorraine. Her family are tenant farmers and Hunger depicts the extreme hardships of the Irish people during the long winter with no food.
Because of a chance meeting in the woods, Lorraine meets a rich English girl, Susannah, who is the landlord's daughter. Susannah is privileged and has no idea of the suffering of her father's tenants. She has been told they are lazy. Lorraine tries to set her straight, and Susannah at least helps her with some additional food.
Starvation brings with it diseases and death, and Napoli doesn't shy away from this truth. The English are not made to look very good.
The ending does leave the reader with some hope, but if you read the detailed history of Ireland at the end of the book, there is still a lot of hardship ahead for these people.
Hunger would be most appealing to middle-grade students, but older students with an interest can also learn from this tale. Hunger is a relatively short book and keeps your attention, so reluctant readers interested in historical fiction should be pointed to this one.
March 23, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review Hunger by Donna Jo Napoli. This historical fiction tale of the year follows the aftermath of the potato blight in Ireland, 1846-1847. Once again the potato crops aren’t doing well and people are contemplating leaving Ireland for a more hopeful and prosperous land. The sentence describing the people’s worries about traveling to other countries, where guns are needed to fight off criminals, and how they were so shocked by this idea was an eye-opener. How times have changed. The story takes us through how tenants rebel against the landlords and how people die from starvation, injuries from fighting and also sickness. The postscript states the fictional and true parts of this story and recalls the horribly high death toll because of the potato blight and how the suffering continued for several years. The author’s note explains the reasons for the blight and the timeline of Ireland to the famine’s end starting at prehistoric times up to 1851. I appreciate the author taking the time for extensive research into Ireland and its history and for describing what the Irish people went through when their crops were devastated. 4 stars!
February 20, 2019
The story: Something dangerous is lurking in the soil of Lorraine's family farm. It will kill their potato crop and cause starvation. The Irish girl has to do her part to help her family stay alive...but will it be enough? Or will they, too, fall victim to the Irish potato famine?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexal content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT cntent G; adult themes (famine, starvation, societal collapse) PG-13; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: Don't get me wrong--I thought this was a serviceable story. But there's pretty much no middle school kid anywhere who's voluntarily going to read this. Historical fiction is always a hard sell, and this one, particularly so. Plus, the cover is pretty terrible. There's no happy ending here, and happy endings are generally in demand for MS readers. If the main character were older, it might work for HS readers, but with a 12-year-old narrator, the target audience is pretty limited. Good for adults and the very occasional MS reader who likes sad historical fiction--but if your book money is limited, get something else.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexal content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT cntent G; adult themes (famine, starvation, societal collapse) PG-13; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: Don't get me wrong--I thought this was a serviceable story. But there's pretty much no middle school kid anywhere who's voluntarily going to read this. Historical fiction is always a hard sell, and this one, particularly so. Plus, the cover is pretty terrible. There's no happy ending here, and happy endings are generally in demand for MS readers. If the main character were older, it might work for HS readers, but with a 12-year-old narrator, the target audience is pretty limited. Good for adults and the very occasional MS reader who likes sad historical fiction--but if your book money is limited, get something else.
April 2, 2019
This book brought me to tears at times. As the grand daughter of Irish emigrants to the US, I closely identified with the characters. That of course, is the author's skill. The story grips your innards with hunger and truly makes you feel a small sense of the hunger and devastation that affected the Irish in the mid 1800's...a hunger caused by the potato blight at that time but more by the refusal of English land- lords to do much to help the starving as they (the English) sent boatloads of tenant's grain back to England.
The plot of the story involves Lorraine and her family as main characters but also tells of her neighbors' suffering and despair. Without the courage of Lorraine and her brother, her own family and many of the others would die. Lorraine visits the mansion of their English landlord and finally convinces the daughter of the family (about her age) to allow her and her brother to gather eggs from the estate. These eggs eventually save many lives, but still, some of the immediate group perish from starvation.
Tragic as this historical event was, in the story at least, Lorraine and her family, held-up by their courage, inspire.
The plot of the story involves Lorraine and her family as main characters but also tells of her neighbors' suffering and despair. Without the courage of Lorraine and her brother, her own family and many of the others would die. Lorraine visits the mansion of their English landlord and finally convinces the daughter of the family (about her age) to allow her and her brother to gather eggs from the estate. These eggs eventually save many lives, but still, some of the immediate group perish from starvation.
Tragic as this historical event was, in the story at least, Lorraine and her family, held-up by their courage, inspire.
June 14, 2020
2.75 stars (I can’t give it a “2” because it’s not that bad but I can’t say “I liked it” completely to be a true 3).
This historical novel takes place during the Irish Potato Famine and is told through the eyes of a curious and empathetic 14yo girl.
This book was so-so for me. I picked it up because I wanted to learn more about the Irish Potato Famine and reading historical novels is one of my favorite ways to “learn.”
After a few chapters, however, I realized I’d be better off reading a non-fiction book (or Wikipedia). Yet I pressed ok because I liked the narrator’s accent... I fell asleep/nodded off through several parts of this book. Yet it didn’t seem to matter or affect my ability to carry on with the story.
I did end up quitting altogether around 77% (I have too many other books I want to read).
Disappointing for me, but I can see how people who enjoy slow, drawn out stories might enjoy this more. I’m not sure anyone looking at this with an appetite for history or to learn (eg Diane Chamberlain novels) will feel “satisfied” by this story.
This historical novel takes place during the Irish Potato Famine and is told through the eyes of a curious and empathetic 14yo girl.
This book was so-so for me. I picked it up because I wanted to learn more about the Irish Potato Famine and reading historical novels is one of my favorite ways to “learn.”
After a few chapters, however, I realized I’d be better off reading a non-fiction book (or Wikipedia). Yet I pressed ok because I liked the narrator’s accent... I fell asleep/nodded off through several parts of this book. Yet it didn’t seem to matter or affect my ability to carry on with the story.
I did end up quitting altogether around 77% (I have too many other books I want to read).
Disappointing for me, but I can see how people who enjoy slow, drawn out stories might enjoy this more. I’m not sure anyone looking at this with an appetite for history or to learn (eg Diane Chamberlain novels) will feel “satisfied” by this story.
September 28, 2017
The Irish Potato Famine has always been an interesting tragedy to read about to me (same with the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire). While it was a devastating blight and result, it was perhaps even more tragic the way the Irish were treated by their English landlords. They added insult to injury. But as I learned from this book, their unwillingness to have dead bodies littering up the property, as well as the North American shipping need for ballast on the return journey, is what brought so many Irish to America in the 1840s and 50s. History is amazingly interesting when viewed through the lens of cause and effect--the Potato Famine is filled with actions leading to others leading to another leading to seemingly unrelated conclusions. This book was beautifully written, featuring a well-developed MC and showing through one family how the Famine affected an entire nation leading, ultimately, to Irish independence. But that's a story for another book.
March 6, 2018
4.5 stars
The Irish potato famine is often just a footnote in English history, if it's mentioned at all. I was aware of two successive crop failures, and that it spurred a diaspora. I knew that they continued exporting grain throughout.
I did not understand the reality of it, how the prejudices worked against them (and even came out of this period ).
This might be a YA book, but it kept me reading. The desperation of the characters, the community aspect, and even the ending struck me as so real. (I did find the infuriating ignorance of Susanna frustrating, even within her role, and not entirely realistic. But that was it)
The Irish potato famine is often just a footnote in English history, if it's mentioned at all. I was aware of two successive crop failures, and that it spurred a diaspora. I knew that they continued exporting grain throughout.
I did not understand the reality of it, how the prejudices worked against them (and even came out of this period ).
This might be a YA book, but it kept me reading. The desperation of the characters, the community aspect, and even the ending struck me as so real. (I did find the infuriating ignorance of Susanna frustrating, even within her role, and not entirely realistic. But that was it)
March 14, 2018
The author, Donna Jo Napoli, obviously did quite a bit of research in writing this book and for me it shows in the small details of life in Ireland during the potato famine. So many things I never knew like, keeping a pig in ones cottage for warmth, being barefoot in winter, having only kale and cabbage to eat with very little or no protein, the horror of the English attitude towards the Irish...
When people are starving, finding and eating food, becomes central to their lives, and this in a central theme. Lorraine, the main character, is such a strong, determined 12 year-old. Her little brother, Patty, is so fragile and lovable and her parents loving and compassionate as they share what little they have with those even less fortunate than themselves.
This story can break your heart, while at the same time making the reader believe in the indomitable will of people to survive under extreme conditions.
When people are starving, finding and eating food, becomes central to their lives, and this in a central theme. Lorraine, the main character, is such a strong, determined 12 year-old. Her little brother, Patty, is so fragile and lovable and her parents loving and compassionate as they share what little they have with those even less fortunate than themselves.
This story can break your heart, while at the same time making the reader believe in the indomitable will of people to survive under extreme conditions.
October 17, 2021
In this novel set during the Irish Potato Famine in the fall of 1846, twelve-year-old Lorraine’s family members are tenant farmers for an English lord in County Galway, where their close-knit community is falling ill as potatoes, the staple of their diet, are blighted for the second year—and the English blame them for their poverty and high death rates. While gathering wild greens, Lorraine encounters Susanna, the spoiled and lonely young daughter of the manse, who entices Lorraine to attend her dolly tea parties that come with delicious treats. When Lorraine’s little brother, Paddy, becomes gravely ill, Susanna devises a plan for Lorraine to gather eggs for him (which she secretly uses to feed her family and community). While many Irish abandon their country to survive, Lorraine and her family stay to fight for their human rights and to build a new Ireland. Back matter includes a postscript, glossary, bibliography, and timeline of famines throughout history.
July 29, 2018
The Nory Ryan trilogy by Giff consisting of Nory Ryan's Song, Maggie's Door, and Water Street, would be a good companion to this story about the Irish potato famine, but from a little older perspective. Those books were juvenile fiction and this one is young adult.
The depictions of whole families slowly staring to death amidst brutally cold winters, the sacrifices made to try to save the most vulnerable among them, the ingenuity in finding something edible that could be taken home to be shared with the family or community, is heart wrenching. The loyalty to their native land, and courage against overwhelming odds is inspiring. For those of us who have Irish ancestors who lived in the west counties, it's a sobering and sorrowful read.
The role of the British in suppressing the Irish, who they considered "substandard," is at the center of the story.
The depictions of whole families slowly staring to death amidst brutally cold winters, the sacrifices made to try to save the most vulnerable among them, the ingenuity in finding something edible that could be taken home to be shared with the family or community, is heart wrenching. The loyalty to their native land, and courage against overwhelming odds is inspiring. For those of us who have Irish ancestors who lived in the west counties, it's a sobering and sorrowful read.
The role of the British in suppressing the Irish, who they considered "substandard," is at the center of the story.
September 19, 2023
Wow, bleak is the word for it, all right. Also depressing & heartbreaking. If you’ve been feeling too cheerful, read this. I can’t exactly say I ENJOYED it, but I’d say it was well-written, & the audiobook was well-read (enough accent for authenticity, not so much I couldn’t understand what she was saying). I’m not sure why I put this on my WTR list, & it was too depressing to listen to at certain times, like just before going to bed, so it took me a little longer than usual for me to finish it. But if you like to learn about history thru historical fiction, this would do it for you. Someone else’s review mentioned all the various prejudices & discrimination & misinformation the people were dealing with, & this book touches on many of them briefly. I like that she included a brief history of Ireland at the end, too.
June 18, 2018
While the book started out slow for me, I eventually trudged my way and the story soon picked up. Shown from a 12 year old girl's perspective, it shows the trials and tribulations the Irish went through during the potato famine. Lack of food, money and the deaths and why so many moved to America. The thought of how the English landlords treated their tenants as if they didn't matter shows how there is discrimination everywhere.
The togetherness the family showed to one another and people around them pulled at my heart. It also showed that although you cannot change the circumstances in its entirety you can make a difference locally. Miss Susannah thought she was helping yet at the same time Lorraine sometimes felt she was mean.
The togetherness the family showed to one another and people around them pulled at my heart. It also showed that although you cannot change the circumstances in its entirety you can make a difference locally. Miss Susannah thought she was helping yet at the same time Lorraine sometimes felt she was mean.
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