Customer Reviews

Behind the Lines (Point)

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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.

"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.

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!