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Under the hawthorn tree
children of the famine
First published 1990 · 208 pages
A harrowing but deeply moving journey of survival that anchors the vast tragedy of history in the fierce love of three siblings.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like walking through a stark, mist-shrouded landscape where every step is heavy with history, yet illuminated by the fierce, protective love between siblings. The narrative moves at a steady, determined pace, mirroring the children's grueling physical journey across a devastated country. Its prose is unadorned and direct, refusing to sugarcoat the bleak reality of starvation and loss, which makes the moments of warmth and shared memory all the more piercing. The atmosphere is undeniably harrowing and steeped in dread, but it is ultimately anchored by an unshakable undercurrent of resilience. It is a deeply affecting experience for anyone drawn to historical survival stories that balance profound tragedy with the enduring, quiet triumph of the human spirit.
- Mood
- bleak
- desperate
- atmospheric
- hopeful
- harrowing
- Tone
- earnest
- unflinching
- compassionate
- resilient
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- sibling bonds · survival against the odds · loss of innocence · the weight of history · enduring hope
- The writing
- Direct, unadorned, and accessible, grounding historical tragedy in vivid, sensory details suitable for younger readers.
- The arc
- From devastating loss and desperate hunger to a hard-won, fragile sense of safety and belonging.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate moving, historically grounded survival stories centered on fierce family loyalty and resilience.
Content notes
- starvation
- death of a parent
- death of an infant
- illness
- child abandonment
- historical trauma
About the book
During the Great Famine in Ireland in the 1840s, three children are left alone and in danger of being sent to the workhouse, so they set out to find the great-aunts they remember from their mother's stories.
Description from Open Library.
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