Signed, A Paddy
Book 1 of The Paddy Series
by Lisa Boyle
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Jun 25 2021 | Archive Date Mar 01 2022
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Description
Ireland, 1848. Fourteen-year-old Rosaleen watches her mother die. Her country is reeling from the great potato famine, which will ultimately kill more than one million people. Driven by a promise and her will to survive, Rosaleen flees her small coastal town.
She eventually arrives in America at the birth of the industrial revolution and is filled with hope and a new sense of independence. Yet the more Rosaleen becomes a part of this new world, the more she longs for a community she lost and a young man she can’t forget.
Through a series of both heartwarming and tragic events, Rosaleen learns that she can’t outrun the problems that come along with being Irish. And maybe she doesn’t want to.
Advance Praise
"This powerful and endearing Irish immigrant's story sharply explores the emotional turmoil that is associated with the experience of leaving a native country for a life in an unfamiliar one...Boyle's narrative form of writing submerses the reader into the time and environment; an entire world is set-up for deep imaginative reading." -The BookLife Prize
"Lisa Boyle crafts a hauntingly beautiful tale...one of love, of finding peace in one's purpose, and of hope. This moving book will grip you from the first page and will stay with you long after you've finished the last." -Annabelle McCormack, author of Windswept
"Lisa Boyle's Signed, A Paddy is timely and true...Boyle proves she is the right person to tell a story of such historical significance. I'd recommend Signed, a Paddy to anyone who enjoys an underdog story rooted in stark reality. Boyle beautifully toes the line of staying true to history and originality in story-telling, never sacrificing one for the other." -Independent Book Review
"A compelling and reflective mix of tragedy and optimism..." -Kirkus Reviews
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781736607718 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Caroline P, Reviewer
Heartbreaking from the first page. There are so many trials and tribulations in Rose’s story, and yet she manages to keep herself whole and fight or what she believes in.
Vicki Q, Bookseller
Signed A.. Paddy starts in Ireland in 1848 with Rosaleen. Rosaleen is just 14 years old when her mother passes away during the potato famine. She had lost her father several years before so now she is completely alone. With her family gone, Rosaleen decides it is time for her to leave her family home.
Rosaleen travels to a larger city in Ireland and takes a job to earn money to provide for herself. With nothing left in Ireland for her, she decides to go to America, “the land of opportunity”. On her journey she meets Emmett and the two become fast friends. The boat lands in Boston. Emmett is going to Lowell, a place where he already has friends and a job. Rosaleen stays in Boston and finds a job working in a hotel.
Rosaleen finds out quickly, and very much to her surprise the prejudices of the people across the country. She feels she needs to help somehow. She knew nothing of slavery, nor the extreme dislike of the Irish in her new country, but what can she do?
Rosaleen feels out of place and needs to find a way back to her own people, but how? How do you become a party of the community and help others in the process? These lessons and more are all a part of Rosaleen’s story.
Beautifully written, and heart wrenching this story is definitely worth the read. The story keeps you wanting for more and thankfully, Lisa Boyle continues the story of Rosaleen.
Thank you #netgalley and #victoryeditingnetgalleycoop for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own and truly express my feelings on this wonderful story.
@history_girl_reading L, Reviewer
Told through the eyes of an orphaned teenage girl, Signed, A Paddy is a beautiful historical novel about what it means to leave your home and become an immigrant.
Despite the heavy themes (poverty, slavery, women's rights) the story remains upbeat due to Rosaleen, the sweet natured protagonist. I love historical fiction and this story didn't disappoint. I found it to be well researched with out having the facts shouted at me. My only concern would be some of the language (such as "wow") was inaccurate for the time. This jolted me out of the setting, which was a shame, because I was completely absorbed in the story.
Rosaleen's journey from famine hit Ireland to the mills of New England was beautifully told. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
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