Customer Reviews

Kathleen: The Celtic Knot (Girls of Many Lands)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

"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.

I loved this book. It is about twelve-year-old Kathleen Murphy, who lives in a poor section of Dublin, Ireland in 1937. At first Kathleen is goofing everything up, from burning breakfast to being late for school. But when she discovers her talent for Irish dancing, she gains more confidence in herself. Then her teacher announces that there will be a feis, or dance competition. Kathleen dreams of winning, but her family has no money for a costume. But Kathleen's Aunt Polly comes up with a surprising solution. Read this book and find out the rest of what happens!

The year is 1937, and twelve-year-old Kathleen Murphy lives in the poverty stricken part of Dublin, Ireland, where she is made fun of for her torn clothes, and has a hard time making it to school everyday, what with having to try and help her Mother with the other children. It is only when strict Mother Rosario recommends that Kathleen begin taking Irish dance lessons, to keep her out of trouble and give her something constructive to do in her spare time, that Kathleen finds something in life that she loves more than anything. However, when Kathleen is chosen to dance at the feis - a dance competition - she begins feeling badly that she is so selfish as to pray to God for a special costume to wear, as her Mother is sick in bed. It is only when her marvelous Aunt Polly comes up with a fabulous idea for Kathleen's costume that she realizes that miracles do happen.

I have read three GIRLS OF MANY LANDS books since Christmas, and I will admit that KATHLEEN: THE CELTIC KNOT is one of my favorites. Kathleen is a wonderful character, whose fabulous spirit, and friendly nature will make her an appealing character to readers of all ages. Siobhan Parkinson has done a lovely job with the story of Kathleen, and has added many wonderful facts about life in Ireland during the 1930's which will attract history buffs. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the GIRLS OF MANY LANDS book series.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This is definetly one of my favorite books! More than anything, I want to be an Irish Step Dancer, but, like Kathleen, don't have the means to acheive that dream. Kathleen helped inspire me to give that dream all I have, and, even if I don't make it, I will have given it my best and that's really all that matters. I reccomend this book highly for girls as young as 10. Awseome book!

Bought this for my granddaughter, who is an Irish Dancer. Was unable to locate the story anywhere else as it has been discontinued by the American Girl line. Very happy that I was able to get this at a great price for my granddaughter. Her eyes lit up when she read the title!!!

Girls of Many Lands books completes my set. This is a wonderful story for girls of all ages. I have 5 granddaughters and they all read this series. Highly recommended.

I love anything to do with Irish dance (I'm an Irish dancer) so this book was especially great to me, but it would have been a wonderful, historic story no matter who was reading it, and I give it five stars. A wonderful, inspiring story!

Kathleen, a twelve year old Dublin girl, is living among a struggling family in the early depression. When she shows up late to her strict, Catholic school a few to many times, the nuns suggest she enroll in Irish dance lessons in order to keep out of trouble. Upon the first lesson, she finds that she loves Irish dancing--and has a talent for it. The only problem is, her family has many financial problems, which ends the dream that never was.
Kathleen does not give up hope. When she is chosen to represent her class in a competition, she is thrilled, but finds herself in need of a miracle. With her mother's declining health and her family's lack of money, all she can do is pray for a miracle.
Beautifully written, and a very sweet addition to the Girls of Many Lands series.