Sunfire #08 Kathleen

To a collector of Scholastic's late, lamented young adult historical romances, the tale of Kathleen is the "holy grail". Is it worth it? Not as moving as Emily but it features so much more than your typical Sunfire. Kathleen watches her world crumble around her - sometimes, literally. She loses her home, her family, and finds herself alone in an 1840's Boston that is none to friendly to the Irish. Kathleen finds work at the grand Thornley mansion, and meets David... but while the ending seems too pat, too easy in those last two pages the journey there is just as vivid - Ransom's gift for painting images of a long-ago time and place is just as strong here as it was in Emily, Susannah and Amanda. Hint for hunters: their large size would often mean that the first 15 Sunfires are often incorrectly stuck in the regular romance, not children's, section at many a used bookstore. Just a tip!

I read this book when it was first published in 1985. I seem to recall that my mother bought it for me when I cleaned up my room! The Sunfire series is excellent. This book, Kathleen by Candice F. Ransom, is rich in history and very informative about the Irish working class in America in the late 1840's. Kathleen is a heroine who had to overcome great odds to come to America, only to find life just as hard. I recommend this book to any young girl who is interested in a time gone by. I have saved all 32 Sunfires books published for my own two little girls.

I love this book because it shows poverty and wealth in all aspects. Kathleen is so strong and brave it makes me think, a girl who has lost almost all and still has hope. From famine in Ireland to hope in America, Kathleen shows how a very special girl survives to many things. I checked it out of my school library thinking maybe I didn't like it, but I absolutely loved it! I recommend it to EVERYONE who is 12 and up.

This is the first SUNFIRE book I've ever read. I think it is the best. Especially towards the end. It's about a poor Irish girl who has to move because of a potatoe famine. Her parents die, and she is all alone. She works for the wealthy Thorneley family and must choose between two wonderful men who love her.

It's 1847, and 16-year-old Kathleen O'Conner has just arrived in America from Ireland. Her parents died during the long sea voyage, and her younger brother and two younger sisters died in Ireland because of the famine. Kathleen is alone. She has nothing else to do but work so she gets a job as a maid to the wealthy Thornley family. Only she falls in love with the 18 year old son of her wealthy employers, and it could cost Kathleen her job.