Shannon M. (confuzzledbooks) reviewed Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires on + 482 more book reviews
In 1862, a young Pennsylvania girl named Kate McCafferty stops going to school after her father is injured working in the coal mines. Now she has to be the bread winner and gets a job in another town as a maid. Soon she hears about how awful the coal miners are being treated and begins posing as a boy in the Molly Maguires, an rough underground Irish group who tried to improve the coal miners lot. Will she get caught, or will the coal miners get the benefits?
I was attracted to this book because my family comes from coal miners in the same area where young Kate lived. There are some family rumors that my great great grandfather was in the group, but that is another story. I thought this book seemed well researched. As I read, I felt as if I was in the story.
I was attracted to this book because my family comes from coal miners in the same area where young Kate lived. There are some family rumors that my great great grandfather was in the group, but that is another story. I thought this book seemed well researched. As I read, I felt as if I was in the story.
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
From the first page, when the mining bell rings through the town, with Kate being called from the school, Call Me Kate grabbed my attention. It never let go until I turned the last page. Kate is a charismatic and fearless character who I immediately liked. Trying to survive in a time where everything was simple and education took a back seat to working for a living, I found this novel fascinating, and historical accurate as I recall learning about it. It's devastating to see such young children working the mines, and to see such hardship with no hope for tomorrow. You won't want to miss this journey with Kate, it is extraordinary and I am definitely glad I picked this one up! Young adults and adults will enjoy this one.
