Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Nory Ryan's Song
Book Review: A Good Boook to Read
Summary: 4 Stars
Welcome to Nory Ryan's Song. This book is about the Great Hunger that was in Ireland. To understand this book you could read more about the famine in Ireland that took place in 1845-1852. In this book you will be stunned about what happens to the people when the potatoes go rotten and can't be grown. It becomes a "dog eat dog" world. Nory tries to find out what happened to the potatoes and look for food at the same time. But the richest guy in Ireland is being greedy and trying to buy everything from homes to the beach! And this is why I liked the book!
I recommend you read this book if your'e in Middle School. This book was a good novel for my age group. It will really capture your mind. If I liked this book, I am sure you will too.
Book Review: A great historical fiction!
Summary: 4 Stars
Most students know that the Irish potato famine killed millions of people, but they may not understand any more than that. Nory Ryan's Song takes students back to Ireland in 1845 and shows them what life was like. The oppression of the English was a terrible problem for the Irish at that time. The Great Hunger killed many, but it is also the reason that many Irish came to America. It took great strength for them to make the journey. It is an important book for children to read. It helps explain what really happened and what life was like for these people.
Children will be able to relate to the main character, Nory Ryan. She is a young girl with many responsibilities. This book is a wonderful tool for teaching about Ireland and the Great Hunger. It might also be a good tool when talking about family history. Students with Irish ancestry may be very interested in the story. A glossary of Irish terms included at the front of the book and a letter from the author at the end makes this story even more real. The author explains that it was her family history that caused her to write this book. She wanted people to know the truth about what happened during that horrible time in history. She accomplished her goal with the publication of this book.
Book Review: A heartrending read
Summary: 5 Stars
The Great Hunger of 1845-1852 was a devastating time for the Irish. The devastation caused by the famine was terrible - families torn apart, untold suffering, and many making their way to America. It is this famine that forms the backdrop of Nory Ryan's Song. Nory and her family have lived by Maidin Bay in Ireland for many generations. Their home is leased from the local English lord Cunningham, a cruel man with little regard for his tenants. His sole aim is to drive the tenants out so that he can have sheep grazing on the land. In this Cunningham is aided by his henchman Devlin who is merciless and ruthless in collecting rent owed on the homes.
Nory's father has gone off fishing to earn enough money to pay the rent, and leaves behind Nory, her older sisters Maggie and Celia, younger brother Patch, and Granda. Life is incredibly hard, but Nory's gift of song and her family and friends keep her spirits high. Things take a turn for the worse when the potato crop goes bad. The disease causes all of the crops to fail, and leaves the people of Ireland wasting away from hunger. Nory's sister Maggie leaves for America with her new husband, and Nory dreams of joining them someday, a dream shared by other members of the family.
The story focuses on Nory as the protagonist, of her feelings and struggles as she copes with the problem of surviving day-to-day and figuring out ways to find food or making whatever they find edible. Nory is a strong and selfless individual - she gives and gives, and gives some more. It is this great spark of humanity within Nory that attracts the attention of the village healer, Anna. At first Nory is troubled by this woman's attentions, thinking her gift of healing possessed of some dark force, but as time goes by and times get more desperate, Nory realizes how much of a kindred spirit the older woman is, and comes to appreciate the old woman's generosity, kindness, and gift for healing.
This is a story that haunted me even after I finished it. The author writes with such heartfelt sincerity that I could picture the desperation within Nory and her family and friends as they struggled to contain their hunger and survive. The prose is descriptive and vivid, and the reader is able to visually picture the great suffering of the people of Ireland as portrayed by Nory and company. This is truly one of the best pieces of YA historical fiction I have read!
Book Review: Amazing Book. A real page-turner.
Summary: 5 Stars
Nory Ryan's Song is a great page turning book. Light reading, but an amazing plot. The book is about a girl named Nory Ryan who lives in Ireland during the Irish Potato Famine. I enjoyed wondering what was going to happen next. This was a great book, I cannot wait to read the sequel.Book Review: An Ireland Tale -- a review by Kira, age 9
Summary: 4 Stars
In Ireland in 1845, Nory's friends, the Neelys, can't pay the rent, so they get kicked out of their house! Nory wants to try to save the Neelys, but just as she can, they are gone. Now she must work for the scary Anna Donelly, while everyone's potatoes have just gotten poisoned by strange creatures from another world! Nory's family starts starving -- what can they do!
This is a scary but heartwarming story. Just when you think they are safe something else happens! If you like exciting stories then you'll like this! Nory's bravery is quite breathtaking - at first it scared me, but then it made me think of Nory as a heroine. It is sweet when some of the characters come together and help each other out when they need it most. When you read this you'll feel like you are actually there!