Maggie's Door

by Patricia Reilly Giff

Book Overview

We will dance on the cliffs of Brooklyn.

Maggie's Door is the story of the journey from Ireland to America told by both Nory and her neighbor and friend Sean Red Mallon, two different stories with the same destination--the home of Nory's sister Maggie, at 416 Smith Street, Brooklyn, America.

Patricia Reilly Giff calls upon her long research into Irish history and her great powers as a storyteller in this deeply involving, riveting...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440415810
• ISBN13: 9780440415817
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Words from an author whose story feels witnessed the Potato plaugue and the Irish migration

Historic, a writer with depth. A reader sees and feels starvation. Bewilderment,loss when the potato perrish. Seven years in a row. Three Irish families suffer Brotish landowners lies go on withput noticing. When all hope is gone look toward a better life dreamed about across the see in America. Every step harsh and harder. Like the skull on the floor of my barracks said 'Only the strong survived!'

A Truly Delightful Book

The author's genius is in taking a complicated historical subject and rendering it powerfully and beautifully, all while keeping the language and the reading skills on an elementary enough level for her readers. My nine year old loved this book, my twelve year old loved this book and I loved this book. The action and pacing are great, moving the story along -- from its start on the coast of Ireland during the days of the potato blight, through the action in Galway where Norey boards the ship to the final chapter where they meet up once again with her family in Brooklyn. The only problem is that the story ends too soon! I'm really hoping there will be a sequel to this book, because we're all waiting for it. One final thought: The author's decision to include both a male and female character with alternating chapters was excellent, and boys in this age range should not be put off by the title or the cover art because this is not just a girl's book. This is a story that will captivate young readers, both male and female.

The Best Book you Would have ever read!!!

The Best Book you would ever Read!!! Nory walked down the long dirt road, which led to the ship that would take her, her dad and her younger brother to New York. Her mom died about eight years ago right after her little brother was born, her town's potato crop went down and everyone has to move to Brooklyn, New York. This book Maggie's Door really puts you in the action of the story. It makes you feel like your there, you're the one who has to move to a different place, you have no food to eat. It makes you feel bad for Nory and her family to have to see what they have to go through, just to have something to eat, and a place to live. This book has thought me that even I the worst of times never give up. You may think that nothing could get any worse, but then it does. While Nory and her brother are on the ship there grandpa dies, from then until they arrive in Brooklyn they have to survive on there own. Now you know some information about his awesome book Maggie's Door, maybe you will read it to find out some more things that Nory and her brother go through. I would recommend this book for people who like to read books about adventures, if so then this would be a good book for you. This would also be a good book for kids between the ages of 12-15, because they would be more likely to understand it than a younger kid. But if you're the kind of person that likes books about fighting and wars than this is not the book for you.

tale as old as America herself

It is the great potato famine of Ireland and everyone is starving, save the rich Englishmen. Surviving on seaweed and scavenged eggs from the seabird's nests, Nory knows it is her turn. Her family has gone on, and she has nothing to hold her back. Nory Ryan sets out, down the road to Galway, alone. She hopes to find her young brother and her neighbor Sean Red Mallon, and together set sail for America. Her sister Maggie has already arrived in Brooklyn, and waits at 416 Smith Street for her family to join her and her new husband, Sean Red's brother. Nory's tale and Sean's are told in alternating chapters and sometimes with connecting moments that demonstrate the synchronicity of life. Sean is forced to leave his Mam and Nory's brother Patch, and when he returns they are nowhere to be found. Distraught, he hopes to find them again and manages to gain passage to Liverpool as ballast in the hold of a ship. From there he is to be the cook's assistant on another ship to America. It is the only way, and he is lucky to have found it. Will Nory find her brother, and perhaps even her father and sister at the docks? Will she find passage on a ship, and if she does, will she survive the trip? And what of her friend Sean - they were destined to be together, or so she thought. In a tale as old as America herself, Patricia Reilly Giff gives us a glimpse into the realities of our immigrant forefathers and mothers. My own great great grandfather an immigrant to New York, the story hits home for me, as it will most Americans. Giff's understanding and interest in the era shows and her gift of story telling shines. Maggie's Door awaits at 416 Smith Street and the journey is unforgettable. The book is suitable for older readers and adults alike, bringing history to life before your eyes.

The strength and endurance of the human spirit.

Nory Ryan has a dream that one day her family will be together again. They will be in America, standing outside the door of her sister Maggie's house in Brooklyn. Nory's friend and neighbor, Sean Red Mallon, also has a dream. He imagines himself together with his brother Francey and Francey's new young wife, Maggie. Nory will be there with her family and they will all be standing outside Maggie's door.Nory and Sean share the same dream, but for now they have only hunger and misery in their lives after the potato famine hits Ireland. With no hope left, the Ryans and Mallons have decided to leave Ireland and in small groups have set off on foot for the nearest port to get a ship to England and then another ship to America.Starving, weak, and not knowing the world beyond their own small community, the straggling travelers lose one another in the chaos of a famine-stricken Ireland. Sean finds himself alone and has to make his own way to America without a ticket or money. In his adventures, he makes a great discovery that leads him to a new goal in life as he decides that he is going to learn how to read and will have a book of his own one day.Patricia Reilly Giff keeps the children's stories separate, alternating chapters and maintaining a sense of suspense as to whether or not the family members will find one another. Giff's graphic description of the horrors of the famine makes her story very powerful. The poverty is almost beyond our understanding and the suffering of the Irish people is unspeakable. Giff also is a master of imagery. For example, when she describes the potato crop as a stinking "ooze" we visualize a vast contrast to the pretty bluish purple flowers that one sees blossoming in a field of healthy potato plants.MAGGIE'S DOOR is a book that most readers will find disturbing. At the same time, it reminds us of the strength and endurance of the human spirit and how powerful love can be. No matter how much people suffer, they can rise above their anguish and find what it takes to keep on going and even help others. One note...readers who have not yet read NORY RYAN'S SONG may want to pick that up. It is the pre-quel to MAGGIE'S DOOR and while it is not necessary to read the titles in order, it will give readers an even deeper understanding of the material. --- (...)

As Good As Nory Ryans Song!

I thought this was a GREAT book!! When i ended the book it seemed like their should be another seaqule to Maggies Door. Its a must read!