Why Not Read...
Rebecca's Rules
'a family and school drama that many readers will find easy to identify with as the book touches upon many problems that teenagers ... especially girls ... have to face every day'
School Librarian 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. She has four children with her husband James, and 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 become a classic. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Bahasa, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Irish. The book has been read on RTÉ Radio and is very popular in schools, both with teachers and pupils. 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. It was also filmed by Young Irish Film Makers, in association with RTÉ and Channel 4. This is available as a DVD.
Marita has written more books for children which were also very well received. The Blue Horse reached No. 1 on the Bestseller List and won the BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR Award. No Goodbye, which tells of the heartbreak of a young family when their mother leaves home, 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 and was shortlisted for the BISTO Book of the Year Award. A Girl Called Blue follows the life of an orphan, trying to find who she really is in a cold and strict orphanage. Marita has also explored the world of fantasy with her book In Deep Dark Wood.
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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Children of the Famine Trilogy
(pb)
This beautifully packaged collection showcases all three books in the Children of the Famine Trilogy; Under the Hawthorn Tree, Wildflower Girl and Fields of Home.
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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 …
'This book is the best book ever. It is so good. I want to keep reading it over and over again. 10 out of 10'
Molly
'All in all this story [is] excellent because it showed that even though the famine was over life was still hard in Ireland... We would recommend this story to fifth and sixth class students who are interested in historical novels about Irish history.'
'I thought the book was really sad and it was a page turner. It teaches everyone about the Irish Famine. I rate this book 9.9 out of 10!
Sarah
'Very touching. I cried lots of times while reading it. One of the best books I've ever read.Top marks.10 out of 10'
Maeve
'Excellent book. Very interesting'
Brenna
'the best book I've ever read'
Onemena
'This book was amazing.'
Jayne
'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
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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.
'I thought the books were really good. I think you should make another book about Peggy and James and they go back to Ireland and Sarah and Michael are introduced it would be a good idea because the books were brilliant but you need to keep writing because there so good!'
Ellen
'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?
'I just love this book. It is the best book I've read so far. It is very emotional and yet it is happy too'
Holly
'This is the best book I've ever read. I was so moved by it'
Leah
'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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Faoin Sceach Gheal
(pb)
The bestselling Under the Hawthorn Tree is now available in Irish.
'fantastic book ... strong description of the hardships of the Famine'
InTouch
'this would be an ideal class novel to read together and enjoy as a group'
seomraranga.com
'the Irish translation adds to the pleasure of reading this classic Irish children’s novel'
seomraranga.com
'The Irish translation adds to the pleasure of reading this classic Irish children’s novel ... This would be an ideal class novel to read together and enjoy as a group'
seomraranga.com
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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.
'This book ends on a hopeful note, but doesn’t gloss over the difficulties and turmoil that parental separation brings.'
Good Books
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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.
'I thought this book was brilliant and would love if a sequel would come out. It showed how hard living a life on the road can be and how people can be so rude to members of the travelling community even though they don't know them. I think Marita Conlon-Mckenna is a brilliant writer. I've read almost all of her books and I think they are all brilliant'
Amy
'I love this book. The minute I started reading it, I got into it. It has a great storyline and seems to never stop. I would read this book a million times if I could. I love every one of Marita Conlon-McKenna's books!'
Nicole Cunningham
'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 ...
'An excellent book. It was a brilliant and interesting story. I loved the whole book and I enjoyed reading it'
Andrea
'I think it was an amazing book, it really shows you how hard life was in an orpanage and how hard it was not having a mother or a father'.
Anna
'Great book. I really enjoyed it. It is a great story. It's one of my favourite books ever. I love it and I could read it a million times'
Nicole
'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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