Behind the Lines (Point) [Library Binding]

Isabelle Holland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0613003276 | ISBN-13: 978-0613003278 | Publication Date: January 1997

In this moving historical novel, an Irish immigrant girl risks everything to aid a young African-American man who is caught up in New York's brutal draft riots of the 1860s.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Centering on the 1863 New York City draft riots, this historical novel abounds with political, racial and moral conflicts--and protagonist Katie O'Farrell is conveniently at the fore of them all. Just before the 1863 New York City draft riots, Katie works as a kitchen maid for the Laceys, an American family of British heritage with a house on Washington Square Park. While she serves tea and cake to the upper crust, she supports her father and siblings, who live in crowded quarters on the Lower East Side with other recent Irish immigrants. When a draft is instituted for soldiers to fight in the Civil War and Christopher Lacey is obliged to register, his parents offer Katie's brother Brian $300 to take his place. Meanwhile, New York's Irish community, enraged by the draft, angry at the abolitionists and frustrated with their lowly status, begins to riot, looting shops and lynching blacks. Holland's ( The Journey Home ) prose is prone to cliche ("Katie stared back at Mr. Lacey, her blue eyes blazing") and the ending somewhat pat (Katie learns to see her black friend Jimmy as an individual who transcends his racial identity; Jimmy learns that not all Irish are the same), but the novel is well-researched and will appeal to those interested in this turbulent time. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10-Motherless Katie O'Farrell, 14, works as a live-in maid for the wealthy Lacey family in order to supplement the meager wages of her father and older brother, Brian. Reluctantly, she leaves her younger siblings at home, unsupervised. Ill at ease in this comfortable WASP environment, Katie is treated harshly for being Irish, Catholic, and poor. The year is 1863, and the government begins to conscript young men into the Union army, but allows the wealthy to purchase the services of alternates to fight in their stead for $300. When the Laceys decide to make Katie's brother the target for such an arrangement to save their son, she jeopardizes her job by conspiring to prevent her employers from contacting him; she further endangers herself when she hides a young black friend in the cellar of the Lacey home. Scene after scene of impending disasters and narrow escapes finally end when secrets are revealed and the girl finds allies in the rational Mr. Lacey and his sympathetic mother-in-law. Katie is a vibrant, well-developed character who carries this novel that is mostly populated by minimally drawn representations of the harsh adult world. Holland obviously cares deeply for her heroine and for historical accuracy, but the strain of trying to serve two masters adequately in limited space produces somewhat rushed and cluttered results. Still, the story is skillfully constructed, and the role of the Irish in the Civil War is brought to light. A painless way to fulfill a school assignment.
Margaret Cole, Oceanside Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613003276
• ISBN-13: 978-0613003278
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,027,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THIS WAR AND SLAVERY ARE NOT OUR PROBLEM!, May 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Behind The Lines (Point) (Paperback)

Katie O'Farrell is a plucky, fiery Irish girl of 14 who is In Service to a rich, pro-English family in New York City during the Civil War. Her life is a struggle in several areas: to prevent her brother from being bribed to take the place of a her master's son once the draft is held; to hide and keep a mongrel puppy she names Paddy; to keep her position which helps feed the rest of her siblings living elswhere in squalor; to avoid antagonizing the vicious cook who wants the scullery maid's place for her own niece.

Raised in Ireland to hate the English with all the justified passion of her oppressed people, Katie learns much in America about national prejudice. She realizes that the Irish are considered expendable even by English Americans and that most Americans do not care about the Blacks at all-- whether slave or free.

Will she turn her back while her own people torture and murder innocent Blacks during the New York Draft riots of 1863? Does she dare jeopardize her menial job to warn her brother of the plot and convince him NOT to be bought, not to risk his life for a war which does not concern the Irish immigrants? This is serious reading as a hot-tempered colleen comes of age in a nation bent on self-destruction. Ms Holland is not of Irish descent herself, but she lived in NY city for many years where she studied the history of immigrant groups. This aspect of the Civil War has been neglected in most American History texts, but the information flows naturally with this dramatic story or war and faith in family.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An overlooked time in history., July 11, 2003

By 

MAB (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind The Lines (Point) (Paperback)

"Behind the Lines" is a great historical fiction. I've never read a book detailing the Irish riot over the draft, so I was very much intrigued by this book. Coming from Irish decent, I at times felt angry towards everyone's opinion about the Irish. But yet, I was angry at the Irish people who revolted the way they did. Holland did an excellent job conveying thoughts and emotions. A must read - I recommend.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was absolutily marvles!Well writen,exiting,and wonderful!, January 27, 1999

By 

Marianne (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind The Lines (Point) (Paperback)

It was well thought out. Wonderful characters. Everybody had a differn't personality, it was great! I just want to read it over, and over again!