Kathleen: The Celtic Knot (Girls of Many Lands) [Paperback]

Siobhan Parkinson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Girls of Many Lands

Twelve-year-old Dubliner Kathleen Murphy is given the chance to take Irish dancing lessons in 1937 and discovers she has a talent for it. Simultaneous.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: American Girl (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158485748X
• ISBN-13: 978-1584857488
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Riverdance" meets "Angela's Ashes", December 16, 2003

By 

Sarah - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kathleen: The Celtic Knot (Girls of Many Lands) (Paperback)

Kathleen Murphy lives in Dublin, Ireland in 1937. Ireland is in the midst of another Depression, and Kathleen's father is out of work. After showing up to her (Catholic) school late one too many times, one of the sisters recommends Irish dance lessons as a way to keep Kathleen out of trouble. Kathleen finds from the very first lesson that she loves to dance and has a real talent for it, but the issue of not being able to pay for classes nearly ends her career at the beginning.

She is chosen to represent her dance school at a feis (dance competition), but is haunted by her mother's severe illness and her lack of money for a dance costume (a requirement to participate). Her favourite Aunt Polly grows distant as well, and Kathleen prays for a miracle. Her miracle does indeed come, but not in a way anyone expected!

"Kathleen: The Celtic Knot" is a fabulous read, very Irish in character (each novel is written by someone from the country it takes place in) and similar at times to Irish novelist Frank McCourt's voice. Many Irish expressions and Gaelic words are sprinkled liberally in the text. The back of the book features a segment on life in Ireland and a glossary of Irish/Gaelic words and expressions. An uplifting tale for American Girl fans and Irish dance enthusiasts, those who love Irish culture or those just looking for an entertaining read.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of miracles, November 20, 2003

By 

hiphopgirl_1000 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathleen: The Celtic Knot (Girls of Many Lands) (Paperback)

It is 1937 and Ireland is in another Depression and once again twelve-year-old Kathleen Murphy's father is out of work. For Kathleen it is devastating for she will never be able to afford Irish dancing lessions which she hold so dear to her heart. But miracles do happen, and because she has a great amount of talent Mrs. Maguire , the dance teacher, allows Kathleen to take lessons for free, but when the yearly contest draws near, Kathleen begins to dread each impending day for she knows her family has no money to spare for a fancy dance costume. Of course miracles continue to happen for Kathleen and it looks like she might acturally get her dress, but yet again there is another roadblock for her mother falls unexpectantly ill. Who will now make the dress Kathleen so desires and where will the money come from? It seems impossible, but when one thing leads to another Kathleen finds herself flying across the stage in her first contest. This was another great Girls of Many Lands book. I recommend you to read all the other ones too.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passed By (Too Quickly) With Flying Colors!, May 27, 2004

By 

Bob (Dresher, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathleen: The Celtic Knot (Girls of Many Lands) (Paperback)

"The rough, distempered floorboards seemed to disappear from under me, my feet barely brushed them, and I flew. It was all airy and feathery, like walking on water, like skimming over clouds. I was kicking and twirling in a new, airy element flying in time with the music into a different world, where weight didn't matter, where gravity didn't exist...I was going to dance my way to the stars on airy-fairy feet, light as air, free as a bird." Just like Kathleen feels when she's dancing, this book flew by in a whirl of vivid characters, brilliant descriptions, and happily ever afters.
Kathleen Murphy, a poor Irish girl, is made to take dancing lessons by her strict teacher Mother Rosario. After being tricked into believing the lessons are free, she has to quit after one wonderful, tantalizing class because it is too expensive. Mrs. Maguire, the dance instructor, gives her a scholarship, and it seems like she can finally dance, as she loves to do. But soon, she is accepted into the dancing feis, a big competition, and needs a costume. Kathleen will try anything to get that expensive costume!
This book was delightful to read. The plot was sometimes funny, sometimes serious, and it ended in a wonderful happy ending. The characters were all very true-to-life, and you could relate to them and feel happy and sad for them. I also learned about Ireland in the 1930s and `40s.