In Search of the Liberty Tree

by Tom McCaughren

Although written for teenagers, this well-researched novel by the award-winning children's author about the 1798 Rising can be enjoyed by adults as well. When the United Irishmen marched into Ballymena in June, 1798, conflict was inevitable. The divided loyalties of the people were symbolized by two imposing figures -- a local schoolmaster, fanatical in his opposition to the Rebellion, and a rebel leader, equally fanatical in his opposition to British rule. In this dramatic story of the Rebellion and its aftermath, Joshua and his friend Sammy become involved with the rebel leader and his followers, now on the run from the forces of the crown, and become, unwittingly, witnesses to the final hunting down of the last United Irishman to hold out.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good premise, the book takes place during the uprising of 1798, and through the eyes of two boys of different social classes tries to explain the rising of the United Irishmen (a combination of Anglicans, Presbyterians and Catholics) who wanted to secure independence and civil rights).

Although McCaughrean does depict the awful reprisals that the British Government licensed, somehow this book just isn't nasty enough. The British committed massacre in Ireland in this period, far beyond anything ascribed to Cromwell, at a level that looks familiar to twentieth century eyes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_R...