Could not put this book down. Pignat has a beautiful way of describing all aspects of Kit's experiences. We can sense her hopes and dispair, her pain and joy, her love and hatred. ( )

The 4 star subtitle "really liked it" definitely doesn't apply here. However the author has talent. I just wish that she would apply it to a less-depressing time-period. The characters are real with a brusque finesse that will turn traitor come the finish of the book. Although this isn't as emotionally devastating as Connie Willis's Doomsday Book, it still tears a bit at the soul... ( )

Loved Pignat's Egghead; loathed this one. The language (attempt at Irish dialect) sounded affected. I can't imagine kids liking this book. ( )

The book "Greener Grass: the famine year" takes place in Ireland, during the late 1840's and focuses on Katherine Bryne's family. Kit's(for short) family rents their land (like many other famillies), from Lord Fraiser, the wealthy owner. When the potato blight strikes things surely get harder for the Brynes, especially the second year. Their dad goes looking for work, which can take quite some time, whereas the rest of the family stays put to survive the consiquences of the potato blight such as low income, or none, starvation and eviction. The landlords raise rents, burn down cottages, fire workers, leaving many famillies homeless or forced to go to the deathly workhouse. When Kit's family is next for eviction, she does everything she can to save her family, before they become seperated, homeless and everything else unpleasant.

In my opinion, I think that this is a very empowering novel, no wonder it was selected to be part of Red Maple 2010. This novel is empowering because it tells the typical story of a family in Ireland, during the potato blight. Eventhough this book is fiction, it is based on true events that happened to thoudands of Irish during "The Great Hunger" of 1845-1850. By reading this book I have learned about something very important that has happened to Ireland. The author, Caroline Pignat has written this story with very much detail, consedering this is her second novel, after "Egghead". "Greener Grass" is now going to be a series, the second book, "Wild Geese" is coming out in September 2010. I especially liked the way the characters in the story spoke. When you read the book, you instantly get the vibe that the characters are from Ireland during the 1800's because of their dialect. The book is also written from the main character's (Kit) point of view. The language in this book is understandable, but there may be a few words here and there that will take some time to process.

This book very much reminds me of the "Laura Ingalls Wilder" series, which also took place in the 1800's. The part that was most simillar between both stories was the way their pa or da would tell them stories before they would go to sleep. I can also connect to this book because Kit's mom would send her to buy some flour of ingredients, and when I used to live in Guyana, my mom would also ask me to do the same.

I think that this book is about hope, hope that tere will be tomorrow. Kit and her family fight to survive the potato blight and they try their best to move onwards. Hope is portrayed in many way in the book. When Kit had to take care of her very ill mom, when Kit and her brother have to find food, when they have to look for a job and even when she awaits her love, Tom. I also think that this book is about giving gratitude and respect to those who try to make ends meet. Although they maybe struggling, the respect and gratitude is shown because the Bryne's havent given up just yet, they are determined to move forward. I think that this is an excellent read and I highly recomend this book. I think that this book is directed at kids between the ages of 11-14 because of it's plot. The plot of the story would be too difficult for a child under 11yrs to read and maybe a little too easy for a 15 year old. Overall, I think anyone should pick up this book and read it. ( )