Greener Grass

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

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.

“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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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