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Caroline Pignat

Greener Grass Paperback – October 1, 2008

by Caroline Pignat (Author)

9 ratings

Book 1 of 1: Greener Grass

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Kit Byrne's family is a strong one, but their strength and unity are being severely tested, as life becomes more and more desperate in 19th century rural Ireland. Lord Fraser is the wealthy landowner, from which the Byrne's and many other families rent their lands. When the potato blight hits, the farmers can no longer make their payments much less produce food for themselves, and the cruel system has no mercy as Lord Fraser wields an iron fist, driving families from their homes and burning their cottages.

Kit's dreams are now dashed as her family experiences a series of tragedies, and as she undergoes a daunting event that tears her away from her family. With her father dead, she must fight for survival and help her ailing mother and siblings escape Ireland for good.

This story is a glimpse into the tragic events of the Great Hunger, the famine that devastated Ireland, forcing thousands of impoverished families to seek better livelihoods outside of their homeland.

Governor General's Literary Award winner 2009

CLA Children's Book of the Year Award shortlist, 2009

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People 2009 finalist

Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards shortlist, 2010

Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice, 2009 Starred Choice

Red Maple Book Award nominee 2010

Rocky Mountain Book Award Shortlist, 2011

Reading age

11 years and up
Print length

278 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 - 10
Lexile measure

650L
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 7.25 inches
Publisher

Red Deer Press
Publication date

October 1, 2008
ISBN-10

088995402X
ISBN-13

978-0889954021
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In 1847, 15-year-old Kit is jailed for digging up potatoes on confiscated land to feed her starving family, and during the three weeks that she is incarcerated, she reflects on the past year in Ireland: the blight, famine, evictions, and deaths. Lord Fraser, an Englishman, wants to repossess the land where Kit’s family lives for grazing, and his estate manager, Lynch, sets fires to drive people from their homes. Much as Kit hates working as a kitchen maid in the estate’s Big House, her family needs the money. Then she loses her job, and as she watches her mother sell family treasures, including the Bible and the bed, her sorrow (“I never cried once for fear of never being able to stop”) and raging hatred make her plot dire revenge. Complicating everything further is Kit’s love for Lynch’s son, who loves her back. But can he stand up to his brutal dad? True to Kit’s voice, the plain, rhythmic language (“My home was gone. My heart was broken”) is lyrical but never ornate. The tension in the story and in the well-developed characters is always rooted in daily detail, and it builds to the final question, which suggests a possible sequel: Will Kit make it onto the ship to Canada? Grades 7-10. --Hazel Rochman

Review

""Pignat's writing is strong and detailed, bringing to life historical events in a personal and tangible way. . . For its good writing, its keen perception of human emotions and its incredibly accurate portrayal of An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger), this is definitely an addition to any 'must read' list of young adult novels.
Highly Recommended.""
-- ""CM Magazine""

""A remarkable work of historical fiction.""
-- ""Canadian Children's Book News""

Publisher : Red Deer Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2008)
Language : English
Paperback : 278 pages
ISBN-10 : 088995402X
ISBN-13 : 978-0889954021
Reading age : 11 years and up
Lexile measure : 650L
Grade level : 7 - 10
Item Weight : 12 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 1 x 7.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,369,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,699 in Teen & Young Adult European Historical Fiction
- #10,316 in Teen & Young Adult Family Fiction

Customer Reviews:
9 ratings

Customer reviews

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4 star		26%
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Top reviews from the United States

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J. C. La Grow

Good read

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

I read this book out of order. I read the sequel, Wild Geese, first. I thought it worked well to do it in this order. The story was good and there was lots of Irsh history n it

Helpful

M. R. Roos

Great historical novel

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

I chose the novel because I wanted more knowledge of the Irish Potato famine. The book was very informative and entertaining. I would recommend it to those who teach either reading/literature or history. It make the fact come to life for students. In addition, I feel that any reader who likes historical fiction would enjoy this book. Give it a read.

Helpful

Mensa for Kids

Struggles during the Great Famine

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2020

“Greener Grass” is a historical fiction novel set in 1847 in Ireland about a fourteen-year-old Irish girl named Kit Byrne. She lives with her sister, brother, mom, and dad. She lives in poverty in a small cottage just barely getting by. Her dad, brother, and Kit find any job they can just to make a little bit of money. Life becomes extremely hard when the famine hits and all of their crops begin to die. The landlords raise their rent and burn the houses of those who cannot pay, leaving thousands of people homeless. The Byrne’s watch as all the neighbors around them are forced out of their homes or as they leave for America, for the chance at a better life. Just to get a little food, they sell all of their belongings inside their house. They are fighting to survive. When Kit realizes that they won’t be able to pay rent on their tiny cottage and that roof over their head is the only thing keeping them from hunger and disease, she will do anything to keep her home. It may cost her to go to jail. It may even cost Kit her life. Is murder allowed if it’s done to keep her home and protect her family?

I recommend this book for middle schoolers who are interested in learning about the struggles during the Great Famine. In the beginning, the plot is a little hard to understand, but the more you read, the easier it is to understand. This book takes you through the journey of what it would be like living during the time of the Great Famine in Ireland.

The theme of this book is that even through struggles, homelessness, poverty, violence, hard challenges, and the loss of loved ones, you should never give up. This book taught me that even through the hardest of times, family and friends stick together and will do anything to help each other even if it means risking your own life to protect your family and friends. Friends and family are what kept Kit going, what helped her to persevere, and gave her the determination to never give up, keep going, and fight for her family and for her home.
Review by Alexis N., 14 years old, North Texas Mensa

Helpful

Martina

A great novel by Caroline Pignat

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2011

This is a beautifully written heart-wrenching book. The book captures a time in history when thousands of Irish lived through the Great Hunger during the Potato Famine of the mid nineteenth century. Through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Kit Byrne we experience the suffering and losses of death and eviction of the people in her community. The story is a page-turner as we watch Kit grow from an innocent youth in love to a young woman that struggles with hatred and faces a moral dilemma over the theft of food and the murder of their landlord's middleman, Lynch. Although this book is intended for a younger audience, it can be appreciated by anyone wanting to experience a time long past.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Canadian Reader

Not engaging for target audience

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2010

Yes, the book is well researched and ably written. However, few of my students want to read it, and those who have started it, having read Pignat's earlier book--Egghead, have not stuck with it. The Irish cadence of the language feels forced and there is something about the book--can't quite place my finger on it--that does not ring true. Others have addressed the Irish famine and I don't feel this offering contributes markedly. I prefer Under the Hawthorn Tree.

Helpful

Brandy Riggs

Fantastic book of family struggle

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2013

Caroline Pignat does an amazing job of putting you into the young teen's mind and heart with this book. You fall i love with all the characters and can find your favorite quickly. My daughter and I both read the book and enjoyed every page, we can't wait for the next one!

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

patricia Dell'Aquila

A rich and accurate historical account

Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

I bought this book when submitting my own manuscript to publishers. I saw it noted as a previously published book on the same historical period. I only wish I had read it before I completed my novel, as it would have been an excellent resource. It received the Governer General's award and upon reading it, there was no wondering why. It is a beautifully told story of a young woman's immigration story. While written with young adult readers in mind, like many great works, it is an equally nourishing a literary experience for adults. I would highly recommend this exceptional book. I am currently reading the second in the trilogy and have purchased the third.

J. Bugeja

Greener Grass

Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

I ordered this book for a friend. He was very happy with it. It was in excellent condition. Thank you!

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