Book Cover
Justification
I choose A slip of a girl as my Historical Fiction book for this blog. The book stood out to me because it is a new title from Patricia Reilly Giff who is a two-time Newbery Honor Winner. I was also drawn to this book because of the subject matter. The story is set in the late 1800’s in Ireland during the Land War after the Potato Famine. Being of Irish heritage, I wanted to read more from the Irish perspective during this time. A slip of a girl has received numerous accolades from reviewing publications including Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.
Evaluation
The most striking element of A slip of a girl is the style and language used in the writing. The novel is written entirely in free verse poems. Throughout the book, vivid imagery is expressed. “We hear the trickle of water before we reach the stream. This ribbon of river, teeming with fish, was outs, the Mallons’, before the English came. They own it all now; the road, the house, the soil itself” (Giff, 2019, p. 48). Time and time again in the verses, Giff uses sensory language to transport us to Ireland. We see the river, hear the water, imagine how hungry the Mallons are, longing for fish for dinner. She also conveys the anger and resentment of the English for taking their family lands. While she expertly weaves the story and depicts the desperate situation of the Irish during this time, Giff uses only a few words. Her use of understatement in the verses is powerful. When Anna’s family receives news from her brothers in America that they have a place for her sister Jane, this powerful scene is conveyed in only a matter of words. “I run my fingers over the page. ‘Jane can come,’ I read aloud. She scoops up the letter, holds it to her face. ‘America,’ she breathes. ‘At last.’ Da and I stare at each other. I bite my lip” (Giff, 2019, p. 63). The style of writing and the language used by Giff leaves a profound impact on the reader.
A slip of a girl is written for students ages 10 and older, but the historical information presented is all accurate and not watered down. The plight of the Irish people in this dire time is shown through the text as well as through photographs taken during the time. The photographs scattered throughout the text show evicted families and destroyed homes from the brutal eviction tactics of the English. They also show images of what the scenery in Ireland is like for unfamiliar readers. Photographs of the country houses, the school house, and towns described in the text. The reader gets a better sense of what the world looked like for Anna and her family at this period in time. Readers also feel the palpable sense of fear of eviction and starvation felt by the Irish people during this time. They are completely dependent on a good harvest to pay the increasing rent prices enforced by the English landlords. “If the rain doesn’t give over, the land will be soaked and the crop ruined. No lumpers to eat. No vegetables to sell. How will we pay the rent? Please… I look toward Liam’s, the empty house, the bare field. I try to swallow the ache in my throat” (Giff, 2019, p. 53). We are given an intimate portrayal of what life was like for the Irish people during this time of struggle and uncertainty. Anna and her family must ensure a good harvest to pay the high rents or be evicted and thrown out like her friend Liam and his family.
Finally, the theme of resilience and perseverance shines in this bleak period in Ireland’s history. Anna exemplifies the resilient spirit of the Irish in the face of adversity. Her family is starving, evicted, separated by immigration and death, and yet she continues to fight for her family land and values. “’Anna’s only a slip of girl,’ he says. ‘Ah no,’ Mam whispers. ‘She’s more than that. Much more’” (Giff, 2019, p. 23). Anna proves her mother’s statement about her to be true over and over in the story. When she finds a book she cannot read, she takes lessons and learns from the school master. When her family is arrested for her breaking of the glass at the earl’s country house, she escapes and takes her little sister to safety. When her aunt needs help around the house, she takes on as many chores as she can manage. Anna is the face of resilience in this story. She exemplifies the Irish people’s unwillingness to give up and to fight for what is theirs. Later in the story, the Irish people band together to fight for Anna’s family home and lands. They stand together as a community against the English landlords. The resilience of the Irish people is amazing and showcased proudly throughout the novel.
Response
(A) As a person of Irish heritage, my heart ached for Anna and her family and friends in this novel. They were faced with such an impossible situation, and yet continued to fight for their families and land. My great grandmother grew up in Ireland and had to leave her two small children after her husband’s death. She never forgot Ireland and her Irish roots, even though she never got to go back and see her country or children again. I have always admired the Irish spirit of resilience. The Irish people have been through so much in their history and have always continued to honor family and country.
(C) I was unfamiliar with this piece of Ireland’s history. Of course, the potato famine in the 1840’s is infamous, but this period coming so closely after the famine is less known. Imagine growing up as a child and living through the famine, only to have your land taken and rents skyrocketing despite poor harvests. This text provided personal insight from characters living through such a difficult time. I felt renewed pride in the resilience of my ancestors and heartache for their situation. Giff’s moving novel stirred so much emotion within me.
(E) The writing of this novel is exquisite. The poems are beautiful and powerful. In just over 200 pages, Giff shares a rich narrative of life in Ireland during a bleak time. Her word choices are intentional. She says just enough to convey her message without telling too much. The austerity of the text matches the austerity of the Irish people. Her writing is transportive. I could feel the heartache after losses of family and friends. The anger at the unjust nature of the English. The sharp gravel on Anna’s bare feet as she fled. This book was so moving. It is one I will not soon forgot.
Conclusion
A slip of a girl is a beautifully written testimony to the Irish to a difficult time in their history. The figurative language and accompanying photographs transport the reader to this desperate time. We long for peace and justice for Anna’s family and their neighbors. Irish or not, you can’t help to root for the Irish people. I would highly recommend this novel. It is an incredible demonstration of the power of poetry as a means of storytelling.
APA Citation
Giff, P. R. (2019). A slip of a girl. New York: Holiday House.
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