Giff,
Patricia Reilly. 2002. NORY RYAN’S SONG. New York, Random House. ISBN 9780440418290
Plot
Summary:
In
this heart-breaking tale, readers learn about the potato famine that affected
Irish people from1845-1852. The Great
Hunger was a terrible time in Ireland when the potatoes turned black, and led
to the deaths of over a million people.
Readers see the hardships and feel the hopelessness through the eyes of
twelve year old Nory as she struggles to find food for herself, her family, and
Anna. Through the struggles, readers
will find themselves rooting for this brave heroin who risks her life to make
it through each hopeless day. Hope for
food today, hope for a better future in America, and hope to be reunited with
loved ones keeps the characters going.
This same hope keeps the readers reading as well.
Critical
Analysis:
Nory’s
experiences, thoughts, and feelings come through beautifully in this
first-person point of view that captures the speech patterns of the era. Using this historical fiction genre, students
can connect with a young girl, and learn about Irish history in a powerful way
as the author re-creates and describes the setting vividly. Readers will be able to identify with the
major characters as they follow the characters through their patterns of daily
life. The history is not sugar-coated,
and is presented accurately in terms that readers, especially young readers,
will be able to easily understand. Giff’s
tone comes through in a loving way as the characters interact with one another
speaking to the theme ~ the power of family love.
Reviews:
·
ALA
Best Book for Young Adults
·
ALA
Notable Children’s Book (2001)
·
Publishers
Weekly
– September 2002: “Giff meticulously
re-creates the Great Hunger as she traces a 19th-century Irish girls
struggle to survive.”
·
Kirkus: “Newbery Honor winner, Giff weaves wisps of
history into this wrenching tale of an Irish family sundered by the Great
Potato Famine … Riveting.”
·
School
Library Journal: “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.”
·
Booklist: “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-warming novel
that makes a devastating event understandable.”
Connections: Age Level:
8 and up
·
Before
reading, discuss glossary words found in the front of the book, and revisit
these as they appear in the story to enrich reading comprehension skills.
o
Discuss
where we usually find a glossary – expository books – bringing students’
attention to this special feature in this historical fiction book.
·
Create
a timeline of Irish history.
·
Study
Ireland and its history:
o
Potato
famine: What caused it? How widespread was this famine? Has such a famine happened since?
·
Map
skills
·
Sequel to
“Nory Ryan’s Song”:
o
Giff,
Patricia Reilly. 2003. MAGGIE’S DOOR. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 0385326580.
o
Before
reading sequel, brainstorm ideas about what might happen to Nory and her
family.
o
After
reading, revisit brainstorming ideas, and see which were in book and which ones
were not.
·
Booktalk/Brainstorming: What was in Nory’s package that she waited so
long to get, only to have it stolen from her?
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