Wildflower Girl [Library Binding]

Marita Conlon-McKenna (Author), Donald Teskey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992 | Age Level: 10 and up

Thirteen-year-old Peggy O'Driscoll, left orphaned and homeless by the Great Famine of the 1840s, leaves Ireland to seek her fortune in America. "Readers will feel the enormity of Peggy's decision and the pain of leaving loved ones behind . . . High-quality historical fiction".--School Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- Historic validity and a dramatic writing style work together here to create an engrossing and realistic tale. This sequel to Under the Hawthorn Tree (Holiday, 1990) focuses on 13-year-old Peggy O'Driscoll as she makes her way to America from Ireland after the Great Famine that left her an orphan. Just as the earlier book depicts the hardships of the time, this one offers an honest picture of the problems of immigration. And while it gives readers solid historical background, it also serves up a well-written story with characters who, although somewhat stereotypical, are believable. Passage to America is being offered, and Peggy takes advantage of it. She arrives in Boston with no place to go, but soon finds her way to a home for young girls. She ultimately goes into service to a wealthy family, and it is here that her life in America begins to take shape. Readers will feel the enormity of her decision and the pain of leaving loved ones behind. All the complications of embarking on the journey become clear. The dismal conditions in steerage and the relentless seasickness can almost be felt through Colon-McKenna's sharp prose. High-quality historical fiction.
- Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

'As gripping a story as the original, embracing not just a sense of place -- Ireland -- but a sense of time and history Conlon-McKenna has crafted this book ... not a word, spoken or unspoken, or an emotion, is wasted. Pace and style keep the pages turning, and you are filled with a sense of wanting more at the end. Highly recommended.' -- Books Ireland Books Ireland 'The same good strong writing as is evidenced in Under the Hawthorn Tree' -- The Sunday Tribune The Sunday Tribune 'Peggy's a survivor, but there's little sentimentality. The hardship, fear, and loneliness are always there, as well as the promise of something better.' -- Holiday House US Reviewer 'Marita Conlon-McKenna has obviously done her research properly, and the authenticity, together with a lively story, makes the book a pleasure to read.' -- Historical Novel Society --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 173 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823409880
• ISBN-13: 978-0823409884
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,672,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wildflower Girl (Paperback)

The Great Famine in Ireland is over, but the three O'Driscol children of Under the Hawthorn Tree have been left orphaned, and even though they found their great aunts, they still dream of a better life. Eily, now eighteen, is grown up and has gotton married, and 15 year old Michael has gotten a job at the landlord's estate, taking care of horses. And thirteen year old Peggy, the youngest, has set off on her own for America. Can she survive the difficult ocean crossing and the harsh working conditions in what was called the land of oppurtunity?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best book ever, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wildflower Girl (Paperback)

this was a deeply moving book, al about a 13 year girl in ireland who feels trapped during the famine, so she goes to america, where she starts a new life as aa maid. it is an exellent sequal to under the hawthorn tree. the third book in the triligoy is called feilds if home. it is an exellent triligoy, and martine deserves credit for her fantastic passionate book

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great reveiw on Life, November 5, 2000

By 

Jennifer Lopez (San Fransisco, CAL. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wildflower Girl (Library Binding)

Peggy O'Driscol (13) is an aventurous girl that lives in Ireland. Her older sister Eily (18) and her older brother Micheal (15) have already started their lives in Ireland but Peggy yearns for more. She decides to go to America with neighbors and leaves on a giant ship to go to America. Along with a friend Peggy met on the ship, Sarah (15), she is helped to find as a maid work at a Women's Developing School. Can she survive being split away from Sarah and her neighbors, having nothing but perilous work laying infront of her? Read the book to find out.