Where the Heart Should Be

By: Crossan, Sarah

Kirkus Best Book

Chicago Public Library Best Book

A CCBC Choice

"I hold my breath while reading Sarah Crossan's books. Every word is filled with so much love, the book is practically throbbing. A beautiful, perfect, moving read." --Cecelia Ahern, bestselling author of P. S. I Love You

In 1847, everything in Ireland was falling apart--but sixteen-year-old Nell was falling in love. Carnegie Medal winner Sarah Crossan's first historical novel-in-verse is a suspenseful and heartbreaking story of love, family, and the forces that can destroy us or bind us forever. For fans of Joy McCullough, Elizabeth Acevedo, Malinda Lo, and Ruta Sepetys.

Ireland is starving, and a poor Irish scullery maid falls in love with the British heir to the land. Can their romance stay hidden during the devastating famine? The potatoes are black, people are dying, and in the midst of it all, Nell must do everything she can to keep her family together and everyone she loves alive.

It is hard to tell a love story

and also the story of a people

being torn apart.

• Format: MP3 CD
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DFB9RD3T
• ISBN13: 9798874874278
• Release Date: January 2025
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 1 Pages
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

A glimpse of what it was like

I know about the famine that happened in Ireland long ago. But I don't have any idea of how it Shaped the history of the country. I'm more than aware that this is fiction, but this was a great rendition of a glimpse of what it was like. The premise of the book really reeled me in. And experiencing the book as an audio was truly remarkable with all the accents and the heartbreaking narration. For a story in verse, this packed up a lot! I really like the family and the community dynamic, plus, I got to learn a tiny bit of European history. I didn't even know that Ireland had their own language! Of course, the romance in this book was truly something else. The forbidden romance really makes you want to root for them, but you also want the characters to do the right thing. This was truly an experience, and I'm so happy I got to read it.