"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... read full description
Maggie's Door" is the story of the journey from Ireland to America told by both Nory and her neighbor... read full description
reviews
Nov 05, 2009
NSAndrew
rated it: 
416 Smith Street, Brooklyn, America: this is the ultimate goal for Nory Ryan as she flees her famine-ridden home in mid-1800s Ireland. One by one, her family has departed for a new life in America; Nory is the last to go. Keeping her sister Maggie's address close to her heart, Nory embarks on the perilous, heart-breaking journey to Galway and onward. Meanwhile, her friend Sean Red Mallon is just a few days ahead, traveling with his mother and Nory's little brother, Patch, with the same destinati
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Dec 13, 2011
Megan
rated it: 
Megan M.
Maggie's Door
By: Patrica Rielly Giff
Copyright Date:September 2003
Publisher: Random House/ Wendy Lamb Books
Price: Hard Cover:US $15.95/ CAN $23.95
Age recommendation: 5th-7th grade
Two perspectives one goal – Maggie's door.
Have you ever wondered what a journey from Ireland to America was like? Well then Maggie's Door is the perfect book for you. Patrica uses wonderful elements throughout this book. Flashback is very import More...
Maggie's Door
By: Patrica Rielly Giff
Copyright Date:September 2003
Publisher: Random House/ Wendy Lamb Books
Price: Hard Cover:US $15.95/ CAN $23.95
Age recommendation: 5th-7th grade
Two perspectives one goal – Maggie's door.
Have you ever wondered what a journey from Ireland to America was like? Well then Maggie's Door is the perfect book for you. Patrica uses wonderful elements throughout this book. Flashback is very import More...
Oct 21, 2009
Elaine
rated it:
Ireland's poorest depended heavily on potatoes for their daily survival, eating the vegetable for all three meals. In Nory Ryan's Song, a fungus wipes out the entire crop of many of the residents. Nory's friend Sean and his mother are on their way to America, taking with them Nory's very young brother, Patch. Maggie's Door is the continuation of that story as Nory leaves her new friend Anna and embarks alone on a long walk from their village to the sea so as to catch the boat going to Brook
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Jan 08, 2011
KidsFiction
rated it:
J Giff
Kay Farmer
A fast paced historical fiction novel about a horrible potato famine in Ireland in the mid 1800's. A young girl, Nory, sets off to join her family for a voyage to America, where they hope to have a better life. Her neighbor and friend, Sean, has also separately set off for the docks. Not only are the characters trying not to starve before reaching Brooklyn, where Nory's sister and brother in law are living, but they are faced with many tragedies to endu More...
Kay Farmer
A fast paced historical fiction novel about a horrible potato famine in Ireland in the mid 1800's. A young girl, Nory, sets off to join her family for a voyage to America, where they hope to have a better life. Her neighbor and friend, Sean, has also separately set off for the docks. Not only are the characters trying not to starve before reaching Brooklyn, where Nory's sister and brother in law are living, but they are faced with many tragedies to endu More...
Feb 19, 2009
Melinda
rated it: 
This book was a realistic look into the dismal life of 19th century impoverished farmers from Ireland. It details the trials of two families and their attempts to get to America with little to no food, money or provisions to make the journey.
I found most of the book to be depressing and disturbing though I appreciated the bits of strength, unity and love that the characters mustered to make it through a little longer. Despite their constant anguish, Nory and Sean grip to the idea of the More...
I found most of the book to be depressing and disturbing though I appreciated the bits of strength, unity and love that the characters mustered to make it through a little longer. Despite their constant anguish, Nory and Sean grip to the idea of the More...
Jan 10, 2012
08jaimev
rated it:
This is the story about the aftermath in Ireland when all of the potatoe farms had failed and not everyone but many people resorted to going to America. Nory Robert's family has already made their way toward the ships and her older sister Maggie already has a house with her husband in Brooklyn. There, she is with her husband, who is her neighbors older brother, and also her best friend. Everyone has left and now it is her time to go. She must make this journey alone. Her little brother started
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Jun 21, 2011
Brett
rated it:
This is not necessarily an easy book to read, but then it isn't an easy topic - it's short, but it's intense. Picking up where "Nory Ryan's Song" left off, it follows Nory & her dear friend Sean in alternating chapters as they desperately struggle to make it to their married siblings in Brooklyn - to the "Maggie's Door" of the title. It will give middle-grade readers a good taste of the immigrant experience & its numerous challenges - both those of the Irish of the last centu
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Oct 30, 2009
Jodi Z
rated it:
This is the sequel to Nory Ryan's Song. We had to find out what happened to Maggie and Sean. This is probably closer to 3.5 stars--good book, engaging story but felt choppy. That is largely due to the nature of the story--trying to tell what is happening in the lives of two characters that are simulatenously having different experiences. All in all, a sobering look into what it might have been like to immigrate to America in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Mar 08, 2010
Grace
rated it:
Looks boring doesn't it? Thats what I thought too, tell I started reading it.
It is a story of a journey from Ireland to America. Slightly sad. It is told by both Nory and her neighbor, Sean Red Mallon. They both are trying to get to Nory's sister, Maggie. Who will make it? Who won't? Who would totally spaz out and not go on the ship at all?
You will only know if you read this book.
It is a story of a journey from Ireland to America. Slightly sad. It is told by both Nory and her neighbor, Sean Red Mallon. They both are trying to get to Nory's sister, Maggie. Who will make it? Who won't? Who would totally spaz out and not go on the ship at all?
You will only know if you read this book.
May 01, 2009
Christina
rated it:
Haunting book about the Irish potato famine told from the point of view of two alternating characters: Nory Ryan and Sean Mallon. The characters face many hardships and are sustained by the dream of joining their family in Brooklyn, NY. Great deatils.
I actually listened to the 3 1/2 hour audio book and really enjoyed the reader's Irish and English accents.
I actually listened to the 3 1/2 hour audio book and really enjoyed the reader's Irish and English accents.
Mar 26, 2008
Moneyloverrim
rated it:
I read this book over spring break and the word that came to mind when i finshed it was just WOW this was the most amazing books i have read so far in my life i read this book this year and im in seventh grade so this book i would say is mostly for young audults i wouldent let a child read this it does have alot of imagery about burns and sckinees that might scare children heck it even scared me but what im saying is that this book is about a girls journey to america becuase she lives in irealan
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Feb 10, 2012
Christy
rated it:
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.
Great Voice. Chapters alternate between Nory and Sean.
Great Voice. Chapters alternate between Nory and Sean.
Jul 20, 2011
I'd never read any books by this author and after this book, I want to read more. She did a great job of building characters you liked and was really good at building tension in the story. But one warning: after reading about people who are starving in Ireland, you will want to go eat.
Jul 14, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
So this is the second one in the series, the third is water street. I didn't know that when I read water street the first time. In the second book, the family leaves for america. It was a little laborious at some points to read, but again, 4 stars because it really got me thinking
Apr 29, 2009
Stacy
rated it:
While I still enjoyed Nory's story, I just found myself thinking---how much more could these people really take and still survive? I couldn't bear some of it. I was angry at the British! And I wanted a different outcome for some of it. However, I still really really enjoyed it.
Oct 17, 2010
Kristina
rated it:
I read Pictures of Hollis Woods by the same author and really really liked it. However this one was good, just not awesome like the other book. It's about an Irish woman and her friend on two separate journeys to America with the same destination in mind....Maggie's door.
Dec 17, 2008
Cheryl
rated it:
Sequel to Nory Ryan's Song. Nory heads towards her sister’s home in Brooklyn, America. It is a harrowing journey, and no easier for Sean, her friend who went ahead with her baby brother. Fascinating information, harrowing tale, switches between Nory and Sean
Oct 17, 2010
Forgetfulone
rated it: 
My sixth graders were required to read this book over the summer if they were enrolled in advanced social studies this year. I finally finished reading the book last week. I wasn't impressed. The main character is a young girl whose family is trying to get to America from Ireland during the potato famine. I didn't feel like there was enough historical background information to convey why it was so important for them to leave their home country. The characters were also one-dimensional. The
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Aug 25, 2009
Conley
rated it:
I enjoyed this book because it told of two families being separated and slowly every one found each other while completing hardship to save each other and find one another. It tells people who read this book to never give up.
Jan 28, 2010
Mylinda
rated it:
Nory Ryan's Song left me wanting moor. This is the moor. Like I mentioned before, this is a piece of history that I'm not very familiar with and I'm very glad to learn a little more in such a simple pleasant way.
Jun 24, 2009
Heidi
rated it:
I hadn't realized that there was a sequel to "Nory Ryan's Song." I am really coming to love this author's work, and as I was looking for a shorter audiobook, this was a great choice. However, it is always difficult (for me) to do one book in print and another in audio. It was great listening to the accents and correct pronunciations. It gave the book such a flare. But I think I missed some possible great parts of the book that wouldn't have happened if I'd read the print. Still, the bo
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Oct 22, 2010
Janet
rated it:
A beautiful and well-written story. All though Nory lost a dear loved one, her hope stayed strong. The road was very rough, but she finally made it to America. A very heart-warming story. All will love.
Nov 16, 2009
Frederica
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Realistic and grim story about two children's journey to America from the poverty of the 1845 potato famine in Ireland. Vivid details with a happy ending on a street in Brooklyn.
May 23, 2011
Launna
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This book along with the book before it Nory Ryan's Song really do a great job of painting a picture of this period of history. It is a bit of a hard read, but good stuff.
Oct 31, 2010
Manders
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It was a good book.It may seem slow at first but dont stop reading, it picks up and becomes a lot moor interesting and I think the title goes very, very well with the plot of the book unlike other books.
Apr 21, 2010
Hapzydeco
rated it:
Journey to America from Ireland by Nory and her neighbor Sean Red Mallon. The quest - reach Maggie’s door in Brooklyn. Alternating chapters between Nory and Sean.
Aug 03, 2010
Alison
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This is the 2nd or 3rd book in the series. I loved it. Life was really hard for those poor starving Irish immagrants. I think I'll go have some chocolate!
Dec 18, 2009
Charlotte
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I liked this one better than Nory Ryan's song. Both books were a good look at the potato famine in Ireland in the 1800's, and the conditions some had to endure to escape.
Feb 22, 2010
Marilyn
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The second book telling the story of Nory Ryan and her struggles to find her family. These are great books. I love childrens lit
