The Kidds of Summerhill

Happy #WorldBookDay - today I’m reading The Kidds of Summerhill by @aine_treasa - perfect for young fans of Marita Conlon McKenna. Ann is a local historian and her research is always meticulous

* Sarah Webb *

Nancy’s first-person narration is a pleasure to read. Murtagh is fast becoming one of our most accomplished historical novelists for children and it will be interesting to see what period of Irish history she tackles next

* Irish Independent *

Amazing, enthralling … This story is captivating… I would give this book 9 ½ / 10 as it is such a well-written book. The reader is able to empathise with the characters in the story and the narrative continues to hold your attention throughout the whole book. Overall, it is a thoroughly enjoyable book to read

Conor, 5th Class, Scoil Ailbhe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary 

* Seomra Ranga *

Incisive descriptive writing evokes a genuine sense of time and place, the squalor and beauty, the details of life. And it is with great depth of feeling and understanding that Murtagh presents us with all the characters and how they relate to each other, their joys and sorrows overlapping in their day-to-day world. The ever-present threat of the ‘Cruelty Men’ has great impact on them all, but this does not overrun the wonder, cleverness and warmth of friendship and family that flows throughout the story, page after page. Nancy is a wonderful character; curious, loyal and determined. But this does not mean she remains undaunted. Faced with seemingly insurmountable situations for one so young, she buckles, she grieves and then…she rises. Together with her young friends, she will not give up. Filled with accurate historical detail, full of life, hope, steadfastness and with moments of humour and delight, a simply marvelous story!

* Fallen Star Stories *

Has resonances that echo from its time of 1945 right up to the present day … Ann Murtagh paints an utterly convincing picture of what life was like for the working classes in Dublin in the middle of the last century. Her research has been intensive, and she goes so far as to provide a map of the area so that the eager reader can trace the characters’ movements … The first chapter plunges the reader right into the sights and sounds of the Dublin of the time, and from there on it is an absorbing read … highly recommended

* Tuam Herald *

Attention to historical detail marks out Ann Murtagh’s The Kidds of Summerhill as a valuable insight into life in the Dublin tenements of the mid-1940s … laden with descriptive detail of street games and songs from the period, painting young readers a colourful picture of a relatively overlooked period in Irish history

* Evening Echo *

a wonderful read

* CBI Guide Free to Be Me *

a wonderful read for fans of history

* CBI Deliver the Joy of Reading *

fast-moving, funny and addresses many cultural and economic dilemmas of the time. It highlights how the coming together of a community can overcome tragedy and deliver promise. As a class novel, it addresses many topics in history, thus it is a highly effective didactic tool for a teacher. Similarly, a budding young historian and able reader, would enjoy this book and gain great insight into the life and times of post-World War II Ireland’ Reviewed by Lorna Roche, Co Dublin

* InTouch Magazine *

carefully researched and highly readable historical fiction

* Irish Independent *

filled with accurate historical detail, telling a story of family struggle, it is full of life, hope, steadfastness and with moments of humour and delight. A simply marvelous story

* Fallen Star Stori