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Greener Grass #2
Wild Geese
Wild Geese, the sequel to the Governor General’s Award winning novel Greener Grass, follows Kit Byrne and her friend Mick O’Toole after fleeing famine ravaged Ireland. Across the Atlantic a notorious “coffin ship”, through quarantine, and into the heart of North America, the two displaced teenagers endure storms, epidemics, and discrimination. Desperate to find her family in the New World, Kit is willing to sacrifice everything, even her love for Mick, to reunite the remaining orphaned Byrnes. Jack and Annie are out there somewhere and Kit will not stop searching until she finds them, until her family is together again.
The original Wild Geese were Irish soldiers fighting outside of Ireland, but the term later came to encompass all expatriate Irish. People fighting for survival a long, long way from home. People like Kit. This is her Wild Geese story.
335 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Pignat
14 books141 followersCaroline Pignat is the two-time Governor Generalʼs Award winning author of highly acclaimed young adult novels. Her historical fiction, contemporary, and free verse novels use multiple points of view and varied forms to engage readers of all ages.
As a Writer's Craft student, Caroline wrote a short story that years later became Greener Grass, the first of a critically acclaimed series, and went on to win her first Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature in 2009.
A teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Caroline has taught elementary, intermediate and high school students. She spends her mornings teaching grade 12 Writer’s Craft and her afternoons working with students in Writing Workshops and Author Visits, or deep in her next work-in-progress.
A confident and inspiring speaker, Caroline has presented to students and educators; to historical societies and library groups; and at writing conferences such as: MASC, CANSCAIP, and SCBWI. In 2012, she was one of 12 Canadian authors chosen to tour with TD Book Week.
Recipient of two Red Maple Honour Book Awards and the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year Honour Book, Caroline has been shortlisted for many others including: the CLA Book of the Year, three Geoffrey Bilson Awards for Historical Fiction, and the IODE Violet Downey Book Award.
Born in Ireland, she grew up in Ottawa where she lives with her family.
As a Writer's Craft student, Caroline wrote a short story that years later became Greener Grass, the first of a critically acclaimed series, and went on to win her first Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature in 2009.
A teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Caroline has taught elementary, intermediate and high school students. She spends her mornings teaching grade 12 Writer’s Craft and her afternoons working with students in Writing Workshops and Author Visits, or deep in her next work-in-progress.
A confident and inspiring speaker, Caroline has presented to students and educators; to historical societies and library groups; and at writing conferences such as: MASC, CANSCAIP, and SCBWI. In 2012, she was one of 12 Canadian authors chosen to tour with TD Book Week.
Recipient of two Red Maple Honour Book Awards and the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year Honour Book, Caroline has been shortlisted for many others including: the CLA Book of the Year, three Geoffrey Bilson Awards for Historical Fiction, and the IODE Violet Downey Book Award.
Born in Ireland, she grew up in Ottawa where she lives with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 7, 2020
A good story which provides insight into the plight of new immigrants (in this case the Irish) to Canada in the early days. Great book for youth to learn about Irish and Canadian history while enjoying a good tale with a strong female protagonist.
February 28, 2019
YA.. sequel to Greener Grass... nicely written.. well researched..
January 26, 2016
This book was recommended and I read it, not knowing anything about it. Two things I should have known: 1) it is a young adult book and 2) it is the second book of a series. Knowing those things in advance would probably have changed my enjoyment of the book.
As to #1 - this is actually a very good young adult book. It is about the Irish who had to flee Ireland because of the potato famine. I was able to figure out that book one was about their experiences in Ireland. This book was about their crossing and what awaited them in Canada. The descriptions of the conditions crossing, the illnesses of small pox and typhus, the horror of finally arriving at Gross Pointe and having hundreds die there, the less than welcoming hand from the locals, the humanitarian work of the nuns, etc. All was very interesting and educational.
Because I had not realized at first that it was young adult, I was disappointed in the character development. I would have been more understanding from the beginning if I had known. Even so, I thought the characters were not as fully developed as I would have liked. There were also a few too many "coincidences" to be believable.
Even so, it was a good book and I would certainly recommend it to young readers. Adults, be your own judge.
As to #1 - this is actually a very good young adult book. It is about the Irish who had to flee Ireland because of the potato famine. I was able to figure out that book one was about their experiences in Ireland. This book was about their crossing and what awaited them in Canada. The descriptions of the conditions crossing, the illnesses of small pox and typhus, the horror of finally arriving at Gross Pointe and having hundreds die there, the less than welcoming hand from the locals, the humanitarian work of the nuns, etc. All was very interesting and educational.
Because I had not realized at first that it was young adult, I was disappointed in the character development. I would have been more understanding from the beginning if I had known. Even so, I thought the characters were not as fully developed as I would have liked. There were also a few too many "coincidences" to be believable.
Even so, it was a good book and I would certainly recommend it to young readers. Adults, be your own judge.
June 4, 2013
One of my favourite Canadian YA novels.
Wild Geese, the sequel to Greener Grass, is Kit Byrne’s immigration story as she flees Ireland in 1847, endures a terrible ocean crossing and quarantine at Grosse Ile, Quebec, and ends up in Bytown (now Ottawa), all for the purpose of reuniting her family in Canada.
While the historical time and events on which the story is based are fascinating, I am captivated by Kit’s voice. Here are a couple of samples:
• nothing to our names but the tales we tell
• The salt air scuffs my cheeks and I breathe it in. Let it scour the places in me where hope has gone stale from long hours in the musty hold.
Wild Geese was a finalist for the 2011 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. As an author of historical fiction, one of my goals is to read all of the books that qualify as finalists for this award in order to develop and strengthen my writing.
Wild Geese, the sequel to Greener Grass, is Kit Byrne’s immigration story as she flees Ireland in 1847, endures a terrible ocean crossing and quarantine at Grosse Ile, Quebec, and ends up in Bytown (now Ottawa), all for the purpose of reuniting her family in Canada.
While the historical time and events on which the story is based are fascinating, I am captivated by Kit’s voice. Here are a couple of samples:
• nothing to our names but the tales we tell
• The salt air scuffs my cheeks and I breathe it in. Let it scour the places in me where hope has gone stale from long hours in the musty hold.
Wild Geese was a finalist for the 2011 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. As an author of historical fiction, one of my goals is to read all of the books that qualify as finalists for this award in order to develop and strengthen my writing.
February 11, 2011
The talent of the writing style still shines through (someone called it "lilt" and that is a very apt word to describe her style). However, while it wandered through many historical situations and Mick, bless his heart, was all you could want, the plotline soon reached ridiculous proportions as far as Tom and his brother were concerned. Really? I mean really! Back in the day it was a round-the-world, yearlong journey across the ocean, fraught with peril and REALLY. It wouldn't have happened that way. Unhelpful complications that just strained the (already) taunt storyline.
February 18, 2011
What a beautiful and inspiring sequel to Greener Grass. Filled with both heartbreak and hope, readers can't help but be emotionally engaged by Kit and her long journey. While there isn't really any set up for another book about Kit, I was left wondering what ultimately happens to her two siblings, and would love to see a book featuring them.
April 21, 2011
We finished this one up in a few days - read the last couple pages last night.
I liked the story in the general sense - it moved along nicely. But I think it lacked that 'whomp' that a mature writer gives to historical fiction such as this one.
I will, however, be looking to see what else this writer does in future. It will be interesting to watch her grow.
I liked the story in the general sense - it moved along nicely. But I think it lacked that 'whomp' that a mature writer gives to historical fiction such as this one.
I will, however, be looking to see what else this writer does in future. It will be interesting to watch her grow.
March 5, 2011
Winner of the Governor Generals' award, this book traces the plight of Irish during the potato famine, their flight to Canada and their reception in Ottawa. Although written for younger readers, it is an excellent read for adults interested in the Irish question. Gut-wrenching.
December 24, 2015
I read this last year as the sequel to Greener Grass - both are awesome, both are highly recommended! Greener Grass is the story of a girl during the famine in Ireland trying to save her family (or what is left of it) and get them across the sea. Wild Geese continues the story once they get there.
June 19, 2011
This was a very sad book, but at least it had a happy ending. I wish they told us what happened to Jack.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2011
SSSoooo goood! It had a happy ending in this one, unlike Greener Grass. Can't wait to see what happens in Timber Wolf!
July 8, 2011
it was a amazing book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews