Bound for America

The Irish Famine of the 1840s has become such a popular subject for children's historical fiction that it is in danger of developing its own clich$es. The opening chapters of Lutzeier's novel do not quite manage to escape some of these: here, it seems, is yet another story involving family separation, appalling conditions on a transatlantic crossing and dreams of the prosperity America will bring. Once, however, the emigrant ship has finally anchored off Canada's Gross Isle, the details of the narrative become more original, as we see the focus shift to thirteen-year-old Eamonn, his solo journey to Boston and his determination to find his mother and brothers. There are occasional moments of melodrama and unlikely coincidence but these are balanced by some excellently realised dramatic encounters.