1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Giff, Patricia Reilly. Nory Ryan's Song. New York:
Dell Yearling, 2002. ISBN: 0440418291
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Nory Ryan is a
young girl living in Ireland at the onset of the potato famine in 1845. Life
was difficult for famers, even at the best of times. Nory’s family raised
potatoes, but the rent for the land and house was so steep her father would
also leave to earn money for the family, returning for the potato harvest each
year. In that fateful year, while her father was away, the famine struck the
potatoes all across Ireland. With the failure of the crops, people couldn’t pay
their rents and were evicted. Hundreds of others abandoned their farms as they
faced starvation. Others joined backbreaking work gangs with their only payment
a bowl of soup each day. In the midst of all the chaos, Nory’s family found
themselves struggling to survive.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This
book addresses not only the potato famine, but also the oppressive system of landlords
that existed in Ireland after the English invaded it. Ms. Giff explores the
life of these tenant farmers at a time when it was barely possible for them to
survive. The landlord and his overseer act as the antagonists of the story, but
the famine itself proves to be the greatest conflict. As the famine deepens,
Giff tries to show the changes in the lives of the people. These
historically-based events create the rising action of the story.
At
some points Nory Ryan’s Song makes
jumps in time. Sometimes those jumps are short, but at other times they are
significant. It can be hard to follow those jumps when they happen, as there
isn’t much transition between them. The reader may find him or herself having
to reread parts of the story to fill in the gaps. Even then, sometimes the time
lapses are so great, with such minimal transitional information, that they make
it hard to understand what is happening. One such example is when the jump
occurs shortly after the famine begins to a point when it had been in full
effect for several months.
Throughout
the book, Giff uses local dialect smattered throughout her dialogue. This helps
add authenticity to the story. She also weaves local superstitions and customs
into the lives of the characters. Patch, Nory’s young brother, wears dresses in
order to confuse the sidhe, who like to steal young boys. Pigs live in the
house with the people. Most people can’t read. These tidbits make the story
believable.
Overall,
the story of Nory Ryan is authentic. It depicts the lives of the farmers in
general well. However, the potato famine itself is woven into the story, but so
subtly that it can be hard to follow.
4.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST: “From the first scene on a cliff's edge, the
characters in Giff's latest novel balance perilously between survival and
loss…The finely paced novel balances the physical and emotional horrors of
famine--described in visceral detail--with Nory's courage and intelligence, the
love she has for her family, and her close friendship with Sean, a local boy.
No notes are provided, so children with some basic historical background will
glean the most from the story. But Giff brings the landscape and the cultural
particulars of the era vividly to life and creates in Nory a heroine to cheer
for. A beautiful, heart-wrenching novel that makes a devastating event
understandable.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “… woven with poignant memories and
realistic conversations that vividly re-create this tragic period in Ireland's
history…The fast pace might occasionally force readers to pause and assimilate
the details she shares, and to seek out more information…Today's readers will
appreciate this compelling story with a wonderful female protagonist who is
spirited and resourceful, and has a song in her heart.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*
This book would be an interesting one to include in a study of why people
immigrated to the United States.
*Other
books that depict immigration to the United States include the following:
Lawler, Veronica. I WAS DREAMING
TO COME TO AMERICA: MEMORIES FROM THE ELLIS ISLAND ORAL HISTORY PROJECT. ISBN: 0140556222.
Yaccarino, Dan.
ALL THE WAY TO AMERICA: THE STORY OF A BIG ITALIAN FAMILY AND A LITTLE SHOVEL.
ISBN: 0375866426.
Yep, Laurence.
THE JOURNAL OF WONG MING-CHUNG: A CHINESE MINER, CALIFORNIA, 1852 (MY NAME IS
AMERICA). ISBN: 0590386077.
No comments:
Post a Comment