1870: Not with Our Blood: A Novel of the Irish in America

I had read this book for a class in which I had to read 30 children's stories; two were to be historical fiction, which is where I place this one. This book was a typical Irish story about a boy who has to take care of his family after his father is killed in the Civil War. He is second generation and this book pretty accurately portrays how hate filled and prejudice people were towards immigrants, but specifically the Irish. This is a good story for classes dealing with immigration, life after the Civil War, and early prejudices of American History. See also this book for 19th century immigration, again specifically Irish immigration. Journey of Hope: The Story of Irish Immigration to America

This was a great book about a teenager named Patrick O'neill and his family which is a brother and sister and mother, who move to a town in New England after the Civil War. They get a job in a textile mill even though Patrick wants to be a writer. It was exciting and scary and sometimes funny. It was cool and creepy to see how dangerous the mill was and about street gangs way back in 1870. Patrick was a great character who I wanted to do the right thing! The Clatterbuck girl was so nasty! I wanted it to go on longer to find out what would happen next. Everybody should read this book! Don't take my word for it get it now!

This was a wonderful book that I would recommend to any reader interested in a good story and lots of details about life in a mill town after the Civil War. The characters are true-to-life and sympathetic; I cheered for them and hurt for them, especially James, the main character...Don't miss this one!