Why Not Read...
Kicking On
'essential reading for all football-mad 10-year-olds'
Sunday Tribune
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Morgan Llywelyn
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Historian and novelist Morgan Llywelyn was born in New York City, but after the death of her husband and parents in 1985 returned to Ireland to take up citizenship in the land of her grandparents and make her permanent home there.
After making the shortlist for the United States Olympic Team in Dressage in 1975, but not making the team itself, she turned to writing historical novels exploring her Celtic roots. The most successful of these was Lion of Ireland - The Legend of Brian Boru, which was published in 1980 and has sold into the millions of copies.
She received the Novel of the Year Award from the National League of American Penwomen for her novel The Horse Goddess as well as the Woman of the Year Award from the Irish-American Heritage Committee for Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish. The latter award was presented to her by Ed Koch, then-mayor of New York City.
Morgan is also the author of A Pocket History of Irish Rebels for the O'Brien Pocket Books Series.
In 1990 Morgan Llywelyn turned to writing for the young reader, with the publication of Brian Boru, Emperor of the Irish, a biography in the novelistic style, by The O'Brien Press, Dublin. For this book she won an Irish Children's Book Trust Bisto Award in 1991. Her second book for the young reader is Strongbow, The Story of Richard and Aoife (The O'Brien Press) 1992, for which she won a Bisto Award in the Historical Fiction category, 1993 and the Reading Association of Ireland Award, 1993. Her third novel for young readers, entitled Star Dancer, (The O'Brien Press) was drawn from her experience of the world of showjumping and dressage. She has also written The Vikings in Ireland, an exploration of what actually happened when the Norsemen landed in Ireland. Morgan's latest book for children is Pirate Queen, the story of Grace O'Malley, told partly through letters from Granuaile to her beloved son. It is a thrilling tale of adventure that brings this unorthodox and inspiring historical figure to life
Links
Morgan's personal website
Wikipedia page about Morgan
Interviews
Morgan Llywelyn describes the adventure of writing historical fiction:
Extracts
Pirate Queen
Granuaile's truimphal return to her castle, Rockfleet
The Young Rebels
Chapter One: September 1913
Strongbow
Chapter 3: Aoife - An Insult to the King of Brefni
Resources
Pirate Queen
Teaching Guide for Pirate Queen by Peter Heaney
The Young Rebels
Teaching guide to the book by Liz Morris
Strongbow
Teaching ideas for fifth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1
Brian Boru
Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2
Teaching ideas for fifth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
Star Dancer
Teaching ideas for fourth class from O'Brien Reading Programme
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Books (select cover or title for more information)
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Pirate Queen
(pb)
The Pirate Queen
A story of immense bravery and daring, as Granuaile takes on the great Norman lords, smuggles weapons and mercenaries for the Ulster Gaelic O'Donnell and O'Neill clans and finally goes to confront Elizabeth Tudor herself.
'an amazing story of courage, determination and cunning ... Her story is set in one of the most turbulent times in the history of our country and tells of the bravery amongst a people determined to survive.'
Irish Examiner
'The story is told partly in the form of letters from Granuaile to her youngest son ... and in present tense third-person accounts. This combination of partly-fictitious personal narrative and factual events blend together in a pacy story.'
The Sunday Tribune
'This book, despite the well-covered subject, is outstanding ... One can smell the sea and feel the slippery boards underfoot, in this story of a passionate, strong yet wise woman, while learning much about the English and the Irish in the 16th century.'
The Irish Post
'At once both a lesson in 16th century history and a thrilling adventure story ... Despite its educational content, the books veers away from the didactic and remains an animated and enthralling adventure with an emancipated, audacious and inspiring heroine.'
Children's Books in Ireland
'Engaging and quite accessible to younger readers.'
Books Ireland
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O'Brien Pocket History of Irish Rebels
(pb)
The stirring story of eighteen of Ireland's greatest rebels, from the sixteenth century to today. The personalities featured include Grace O'Malley, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Daniel O'Connell, Countess Markievicz, Patrick Pearse and Michael Collins.
'Here are neat watertight profiles of eighteen well-known trouble-makers from 16th-century Silken Thomas and Granuaile to 20th century Michael Collins, Bobby Sands and Gerry Adams.'
Books Ireland
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The Vikings in Ireland
(pb)
In Irish history the Vikings are often seen merely as attackers. Morgan Llywelyn gives a fascinating account of the wider picture - how the Vikings significantly influenced Irish art and trade and the growth of towns and cities.
'The book is peopled by intriguingly named historical characters -- as well as a shoal of fictional Vikings. Lavishly illustrated with drawings by David Rooney and archive photographs, this is an informative and entertaining read.'
Sunday Tribune
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The Young Rebels
(pb)
A stirring story set against the background of the 1916 Rising. John Joe is a pupil in Padraig Pearse's school, and gets caught up in the dramatic events of the Rebellion. Compelling and evocative.
'The novel is refreshingly committed to the heroic interpretation of 1916 and has none of the doubt nor irony that are hallmarks of the revisionist perspective'
Bookfest
'Guaranteed to make children think about the human cost of the Rising, the book inspired this reviewer to visit the Pearse Museum for the first time!'
Marian Keyes, Bookfest
'Morgan Llywelyn is well known for blending fiction with Irish history to great effect and with The Young Rebels she excels once again.'
Irish Farmers Monthly
'A compelling fictional drama.'
Evening Echo
'An informative and thought provoking read, bringing 1916 alive for a new generation of children.'
The Irish Independent
'A readable, exciting history that introduces the young reader to historic events and those who made them.'
Books Ireland
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Strongbow
(pb)
The Story of Richard and Aoife
The dramatic story of the Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th century. Full of battles and warfare, but a story of love, too, between an unlikely pair - wilful and wild Irish princess Aoife, and Strongbow
'This is an ambitious and wholly successful recreation of the life and times of Strongbow, daringly presented in alternate chapters as the narratives of the hero himself and of Aoife, destined to become his wife.'
Children's Books in Ireland
'... the Norman knight, Richard de Clare, and his wife-to-be, Aoife, tell their stories in alternative chapters. The device works well, the incredibly complex history of the period is made comprehensible and the reader is spellbound ...'
Irish Times
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Brian Boru
(pb)
Emperor of the Irish
This internationally best-selling author, winner of many awards in adult historical fiction, now turns her hand to historical fiction for children with a personalised account of the life of Brian Boru.
'One of the choices one makes in writing a book about history is that of deciding what to leave out. We all tend to fall in love with our research ... In Brian Boru I tried to tell children what they would like to know about the man and his time. If I have succeeded, when they are older some of them will investigate him further. They will not feel cut off from their past but will think of it as an exciting place and of Brian Boru as a real person.'
The author writing in Children's Books in Ireland
'Rare indeed is it to find in such a book a clear sense of history, researched impeccably and written in a style which I can only describe as compulsively readable ... Fascinating details of life in Ireland 1000 years ago are interwoven in an ingenious way throughout the story.'
Woman's Way
'Morgan Llewelyn has a tough and compelling style which makes this a really good read.'
Cavan Leader
'A life full of battles, intrigues, alliances and betrayals, which make a stirring tale told in realistic detail.'
The Irish Times
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Star Dancer
(pb)
From the land of the racehorse, an international bestselling author writes a horse story for children. An adventure story about growing up, filled with thrills and excitement, and a tingle of danger.
'There are no illustrations, but I found it very easy to imagine the pictures in my head because the story was so good.'
Child reviewer, Woman's Way
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