With the famine upon her, Ginny Doyle fled from Ireland to America, but not all of her family made it.
Then, at her childhood home in Queens, Majella discovers the diary of her maternal ancestor Ginny-and is shocked to read a story of murder in her family history. Cummins chose not to fully re-create the Pavee dialect in her narrative, which makes the novel quite accessible to teens, offering a glimpse into this unique nomadic lifestyle from an adolescent’s point of view.From the national bestselling and highly acclaimed author of The Outside Boy comes the deeply moving story of two mothers-witty, self-deprecating Majella, who is shocked by her entry into motherhood in modern-day New York, and her ancestor, tough and terrified Ginny Doyle, whose battles are more fundamental: she must keep her young family alive during Ireland’s Great Famine.Īfter the birth of her daughter Emma, the usually resilient Majella finds herself feeling isolated and exhausted.
Many teens will recognize the agony of Christy’s dilemma as he is driven to defy his beloved father in order to learn the secrets of his own birth. The young characters, which include Christy’s unapologetically brash cousin Martin, a social misfit named Beano, and adored Finnuala Whippet, are fresh and believable, adding a delightful air of youthful fun to the story. Cummins wonderfully conjures the beauty and hardship of the Pavee way of life in this impressive coming-of-age story. Believing that it is a message from his dead grandfather, Christy sets out to learn the truth of his past, and to understand his place in the world as a Pavee. He learns that the woman holding a baby in the photograph is his mother, whom he has been told died seven minutes after his birth. Christy catches a newspaper photograph as it flies out of the flames. When Christy’s grandfather dies, the family honors the Pavee tradition by burning his wagon. But by the spring of 1959, they are increasingly reviled as nuisances and thieves. They are Pavees, nomadic Irish Travellers, who were once respected for the skills they brought to remote villages. Adult/High School–For all of his 11 years, Christy has travelled the Irish countryside, living out of a wagon he shares with his Dad.
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