Hunger: A Tale of Courage

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Industrial Age
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Hunger: A Tale of Courage
Author: Napoli, Donna Jo
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Time Period: Industrial Age
Time Frame: 1846
Geographic Area: Europe
Country: Ireland
Topics: Irish Potato Famine
Genre: Fiction
Reading Age: Middle Grade
Format: Chapter Book
Published: 2019


World History > Industrial Age > Irish Potato Famine

It is the autumn of 1846 in Ireland. Lorraine and her brother are waiting for the time to pick the potato crop on their family farm leased from an English landowner. But this year is different—the spuds are mushy and ruined. What will Lorraine and her family do?

Then Lorraine meets Miss Susannah, the daughter of the wealthy English landowner who owns Lorraine’s family’s farm, and the girls form an unlikely friendship that they must keep a secret from everyone. Two different cultures come together in a deserted Irish meadow. And Lorraine has one question: how can she help her family survive?

A little known part of history, the Irish potato famine altered history forever and caused a great immigration in the later part of the 1800s. Lorraine’s story is a heartbreaking and ultimately redemptive story of one girl’s strength and resolve to save herself and her family against all odds.

“If ever there was a book primed to show American children why families from other countries are often desperate to reach our shores, this is it.” —Booklist (starred review)

“A timely reminder about conditions in our current world.” —The Horn Book

“A worthy introduction to an important slice of history.” —Kirkus Reviews

Through the eyes of twelve-year-old Lorraine this “moving personal story” (Booklist, starred review) from the award-winning author of Hidden and Hush gives insight and understanding into a little known part of history—the Irish potato famine.

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