This historical-fiction novel in verse is an excellent pick for students in grades 7 - 10. While I'm familiar with Irish history, Crossan brings the potato blight and resulting famine into stark clarity, revealing the impossible choices, grief, and cruelty that the Irish farmers had to face. The stakes are high and all too real for the protagonist Nell and her family and friends throughout the novel as the tension between the farmers and their English landlord escalate. A deeply engaging and quick read, I would especially recommend it to students with a keen sense of justice, those interested in historical romance, and students in a reading slump.

This is the first time that I have read anything by this author. I was not disappointed. Crossan had the ability to move me to emotion through her use of words. The book was an excellent and emotional read that was during one of the worst times in Irish history. I was moved and cried with this one. So be sure and have some tissues handy. The main character, Nell, was so well written so well. Her as a character, and the way the time period caused strains on all those around and especially close to you. It sadly showed the way the British actually didn't care for the Irish as a whole. I would recommend this book to others. It is emotion and gripping from the beginning. Thank you Net Galley ARC!

This was excellent, and very powerful. I was learning about the famine recently, but this introduced an incredible humanistic aspect on the entire situation, vividly showing the strains on family, lovers, and entire communities. It artfully observed the negligence of the British, and the resilience of the Irish. This was fantastic.