A compelling story of rebellion, survival, and the perseverance of Irish culture.
In this historical novel, Kelly tells a story of Irish oppression during the Industrial Revolution.
The story begins in 1864 in Dublin, Ireland, with Superintendent Ryan discovering someone going through the files of the Dublin Metropolitan Police. The snoop turns out to be John Mallon, an up-and-coming detective who is investigating the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). The narrative focuses the Fenian movement and its fight against English oppression, which fails; among the rebels is William Kelly. Despite its failure, the Rising strengthens the Irish Nationalist cause. The story focuses on young John Kelly, a relative of William Kelly, who is fascinated by the machinery at Donaghy’s Mill Shoe Factory. John develops a talent for repairing complex machines, which sets him apart—he becomes a sought-after “Mr. Fix-it” and earns respect among his peers. Meanwhile, William Kelly is served a court summons, causing John to reflect on the barriers faced by Irish workers, including restricted access to bank loans and business opportunities. His idea of an “Irish Bank” emerges—a vision of economic independence to challenge the English-controlled financial system. He later proposes this idea to Red, a member of the IRB, who introduces John to Samuel Leary, a New York investment banker, and Clint O’Hanna from Clan na Gael, an American organization supporting Irish nationalism. He also reconnects with childhood friend, Margaret. Their partnership is portrayed as both romantic and pragmatic, with shared dreams of building a future together. This sparks interest in emigration to America, where opportunities for someone with John’s skills may be more accessible. He uses his connections with the IRB to evade British forces as he and Margaret sneak onto a ship headed for America. When they arrive in Philadelphia, they begin to carve out a new life together as John further develops his mechanical skills to become a respected member of his community and Margaret demonstrates her own resourcefulness and adaptability. John is able to impress factory owner Mr. McCormack, and this interaction highlights the opportunities for skilled workers in America—as well as a source of labor exploitation.
Kelly effectively conveys the story of Irish oppression during the period using the life of John Kelly as the vehicle. While the focus is on the larger political themes of the era, chapters that focus on John Kelly’s life events, such as his and Margaret’s wedding day, put the narrative of his personal life at the forefront. The author highlights the stakes of the loss of Irish culture by referencing Irish traditions: “Take the salt, put some on your tongue, then eat your oatmeal. It will ward off evil spirits. I had a neighbor boy take a bowl and shaker to John. It only works if you both do it at the same time.” While Kelly goes into great detail describing John using his mechanical prowess to repair factory machines, this can sometimes slow the pace of the story. Happily, these are contrasted by other exciting scenes, such as when William Kelly is summoned to a lineup or when John Kelly is making his way to the small barge boat that will take him to Philadelphia. This section in particular creates great tension for readers as the narration is repeatedly interrupted by his anxious thoughts.
A compelling story of rebellion, survival, and the perseverance of Irish culture.Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9798393819446
Page Count: 380
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 6, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
A debut novel with bright spots, but unbalanced and lacking in finesse.
A high school senior pursues an affair with her teacher.
Seventeen-year-old Waldo, the narrator of McCurdy’s fiction debut, lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with her mother, though she’s long been the parent in their relationship. She heats her own frozen meals and pays the bills on time while her mom chases man after man and makes well-meaning promises she never keeps. Waldo blows her Victoria’s Secret wages on online shopping sprees and binges on junk food, inevitably crashing after the fleeting highs of her indulgences. Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher, has “thinning hair and nose pores”; he’s 40 years old and married with a child. Nevertheless—or possibly as a result?—Waldo’s attraction to him is “instant. So sudden it’s alarming. So palpable it’s confusing.” Mr. Korgy professes to want to keep their friendship aboveboard, but after a sexual encounter at the school’s winter formal that she initiates, an affair begins. Will this reckless pursuit be the one that actually satisfies Waldo, and is she as mature as she thinks she is? Waldo is a keen observer of people and provides sharp commentary on the punishing work of female beauty. Readers of McCurdy’s bestselling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died (2022), will surely be curious about the tumultuous mother-daughter relationship, and it is one of the novel’s highlights, full of realistic pity and anger and need. (“I want to scream at her. I want her to hug me.”) Unfortunately, the prose is often unwieldy and sometimes downright cringeworthy: When Waldo tells Mr. Korgy she loves him, “The words hang in the air in that constipated way they do when you know that you shouldn’t have said them.” Waldo frequently lists emotions and adjectives in triplicate, and events that could be significant aren’t sufficiently explored or given enough space to breathe before the novel races on to the next thing.
A debut novel with bright spots, but unbalanced and lacking in finesse.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9780593723739
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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