Why Not Read...
It's Called Dyslexia
'O'Brien Press are to be commended for publishing It’s Called Dyslexia ... The story is strong and will capture the imagination of any child'
Irish Independent Magazine
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Marita Conlon-McKenna
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Born in Dublin in 1956 and brought up in Goatstown, Marita went to school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Mount Anville, later working in the family business, the bank, and a travel agency. In 1977 she married James McKenna and they have four children, Amanda, Laura, Fiona and James. They live in the Stillorgan area of Dublin.
Marita was always fascinated by the Famine period in Irish history and read everything available on the subject. When she heard a radio report of an unmarked children's grave from the Famine period being found under a hawthorn tree, she decided to write her first book, Under the Hawthorn Tree.
Published in May 1990, the book was an immediate success and has been reprinted many times. It remained in the Irish Bestseller List for over two years. As well as being hugely popular in Ireland, Under The Hawthorn Tree also sold to Puffin in Britain and Holiday House in America; it has been translated into French, Dutch, German, Danish, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils, and Marita is the most requested author for school readings. It has been made a supplementary curriculum reader in many schools and is also used by schools in Northern Ireland for EMU (Education through Mutual Understanding) projects.
Under the Hawthorn Tree has been filmed for RTÉ and Channel 4, screened as a four-part series by Channel 4 in March 1999. A Study Guide to the novel and film is now available, and a Channel 4 video.
Marita went on to write several more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and in 1993 won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home. It was recommended by Book Trust in their guide for One Parent Families. Safe Harbour is the story of two English children evacuated from London during World War ll to live with their grandfather in Greystones, Co Wicklow. It was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award, 1995. Marita's first foray into the world of fantasy, In Deep Dark Wood, was a huge success. A strange new neighbour spirits Mia to a land of legend, and her brother Rory faces dragons and danger to rescue her in this story of wonder and magic.
Marita has won several awards, including the International Reading Association Award, the Osterreichischer Kinder und Jugendbuchpreis, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto Book of the Year Award.
Extracts
Under The Hawthorn Tree
The first two chapters: meet Peggy, Michael and Eily
Fields of Home
The Homestead
No Goodbye
Contents page from No Goodbye
Walkout: Greg's reaction to his mum's sudden departure
Safe Harbour
Chapter 6: St Martin's
In Deep Dark Wood
Chapter One: Stormy Winds
Chapter Two: The Witch Next Door
Resources
Under The Hawthorn Tree
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2
Teaching ideas for fifth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
Teaching guide to the novel and film: introduction and episode 1 (349 kb)
Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 2 (179 kb)
Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 3 (215 kb)
Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 4 (315 kb)
Wildflower Girl
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2
Teaching ideas for sixth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
Fields of Home
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3
Safe Harbour
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3
In Deep Dark Wood
Teaching ideas for fourth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
Four pages of structured teaching guides to the novel
A Girl Called Blue
Teaching guide to the novel by Irene Barber
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Books (select cover or title for more information)
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Granny MacGinty
(hb)
Granny MacGinty's family worry about her living on her own. They decide to buy her a pet for company. But what kind? Finding the right pet for Granny is not as easy as it seems...
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Under The Hawthorn Tree
(pb)
Children of the Famine
The first book in the famine trilogy
The Great Irish Famine brilliantly recreated through the story of three young survivors.
When tragedy strikes their family Eily, Michael and Peggy are left to fend for themselves …
'it is sad in some bits but then it is happy in other bits we are not finshed yet but i think you are a very good writer i cant wait till the end.'
Carmel
'(A) vivid picture of the Famine era'
'fascinating and terrifying'
Evening Echo
'Marita Conlon-Mckenna handles this appalling event in Irish history sensitively but never compromising the truth of hardship and human suffering.'
Jane Murphy, Writeaway.org.uk
'the powerful story of the survival of three children, alone, and against the odds.'
Publishing News
'The Great Irish Famine of the 1840s has received more fictional treatment than almost any other period in Irish historical children's books. Writing about the Famine posed new challenges to writers for children. The traditional passivity linked to ideas about famine would need to be overcome by some kind of action. The intense and horrible suffering and disease would need to be confronted truthfully but without lurid sensationalism. Some sense of an ending would need to be provided. In Under the Hawthorn Tree, Marita Conlon-McKenna confronted these problems with honesty and simplicity: the plight of three children becomes a kind of pilgrimage. The search for survival is not merely that, but also a search to sustain family loyalty and preserve memory.'
The Big Guide to Irish Children's Books
'A great survival saga'
Irish Independent
' ... beautiful and moving ... historically true and fictionally vivid.'
The Sunday Times
'makes a whole part of our history come alive, while it still remains a thrilling adventure tale.'
RTE Guide
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Under the Hawthorn Tree
(hb)
Children of the Famine
The first book in the famine trilogy
A beautiful new hardback gift edition of the world-famous novel about three children in the Irish Famine.
'Brings the story of the Irish Famine thrillingly alive.'
The Irish Post
'The Great Irish Famine of the 1840s has received more fictional treatment than almost any other period in Irish historical children's books. Writing about the Famine posed new challenges to writers for children. The traditional passivity linked to ideas about famine would need to be overcome by some kind of action. The intense and horrible suffering and disease would need to be confronted truthfully but without lurid sensationalism. Some sense of an ending would need to be provided. In Under the Hawthorn Tree, Marita Conlon-McKenna confronted these problems with honesty and simplicity: the plight of three children becomes a kind of pilgrimage. The search for survival is not merely that, but also a search to sustain family loyalty and preserve memory.'
The Big Guide to Irish Children's Books
'... beautiful and moving ... historically true and fictionally vivid.'
The Sunday Times
'A sublime story ... I don't know any child who will not find this book enthralling.'
The Irish Times
'makes a whole part of our history come alive, while it still remains a thrilling adventure tale.'
RTE Guide
'A great survival saga'
The Irish Independent
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Wildflower Girl
(pb)
The second book in the famine trilogy
At seven, Peggy made a terrifying journey through famine-stricken Ireland. Now thirteen, and determined to make a new life for herself, she sets off alone to America …
'When I was in sixth class, we read Under the Hawthorn Tree and Wildflower Girl. I think your an amazing writer and I really love your books. I am reading Fields of Home at the moment'
Bébhinn
I love your books they were great. I saw the video of under the hawthorn tree and thought it was brilliant. I would love to see the movies The wildflower girl and fields of home. I have been looking everywhere for them 3 DVDs!
Louise Sheerin
'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
'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
'The same good strong writing as is evidenced in Under the Hawthorn Tree'
The Sunday Tribune
'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
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Fields of Home
(pb)
The final book in the famine trilogy
For Eily, Michael and Peggy the memory of the famine is still strong. But Mary-Brigid, Eily's first child, has the future to look forward to. What kind of future is it?
'brings to a satisfying conclusion one of the undoubted achievements of contemporary Irish children's literature'
Children's Books in Ireland
'three novels which, in my opinion, must be counted among the very highest achievements of contemporary children's writing - from Ireland or elsewhere'
Robert Dunbar
'a very rich and appropriate end to the trilogy'
The Big Guide to Irish Children's Books
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The Famine Trilogy Special Offer
(pb)
Marita Conlon-McKenna's award-winning trilogy of children's novels, set during the Great Famine.
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No Goodbye
(pb)
It's hard to pretend that everything is normal when your whole life has been turned upside down …
Four children come to terms with their mother's sudden departure.
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Safe Harbour
(pb)
Sophie and Hugh are left homeless when their house is bombed during the London Blitz. Their mother is seriously injured and their Dad is away fighting, so the children are sent to their grandfather in Ireland.
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The Blue Horse
(pb)
Katie's whole world is turned upside down when her family's home is destroyed by fire. Everything they had is gone, and instead of pulling together it seems as though her family is falling apart.
'A children's writer of world stature'
Dr Pat Donlon
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In Deep Dark Wood
(pb)
A thrilling adventure story from Ireland's best-selling children's author.
'You will have to read this enchanting book. And as you read, you will find yourself falling under the spell of Conlon-McKenna's wonderful writing and vivid imagination.'
Dublin Echo
'An absorbing tale of magic and dragons by one of our most popular children's writers.'
Sunday independent
'An enchanting story with a magical touch.'
Southside People
'Marita Conlon McKennas is rightly famous for her ability to tell a good story and In Deep Dark Wood is no exception.'
Children's Books in Ireland
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A Girl Called Blue
(pb)
The orphanage is the only home Blue has ever known. She is desperate to find out who she really is. The closed file in stern Sister Regina's office holds the secret of her identity. And that is forbidden territory ...
'there is a sense of moderation rather than sentimentality in Conlon-McKenna's writing, in so much as, the misfortunes and joys that befall Blue are very much within the realms of reality and probability. Set in the late 1960's, young modern readers should find its treatment of universal themes such as friendship, hope and acceptance relevant as well as poignant.'
Deborah Buley, writeaway.org.uk
'the details of the girls' daily lives and the characters of Blue, Sister Monica and Jimmy Mooney catch and sustain the reader's interest'
Lesley martin, The School Librarian
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