Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires is the debut novel of writer Molly Roe. Roe’s writing combines family genealogy, Irish and coal region lore, local history, and imagination creating historical fiction for a young adult audience. Call Me Kate is the fictionalized life of Roe’s great great grandmother, Catharine McCafferty, a.k.a. Kate.
Kate lived at a time when the Great Hunger struck Ireland, and droves of poor peasants were shipped to the United States by their English landlords. Kate arrived in America at a time when nativists persecuted immigrants, and her teenage years coincided with the American Civil War. Family and friends had to depend on each other to survive.
Some factions of this immigrant group became militant in their struggle for safety, justice, and human rights. A group of Pennsylvania miners became known as the Molly Maguires. There is still controversy about whether the group were labor activists, criminals or even whether they actually existed. One fact is known: twenty men were hanged for crimes committed by an association called the Molly Maguires.
Roe feels a strong tie to her female ancestors who showed strength and endurance during tough times. She depicts their sense of injustice over discrimination and anger at the cavalier attitude of the coal companies who controlled their lives.
$19.95 hardcover, $12.95 paperback, Amazon.com
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Leigh,
Thank you very much for sharing Call Me Kate with your blog readers and for naming the book your product of the day.
Best wishes,
Nicole
Tribute Books
You’re very welcome, Nicole. I hope it goes well for you.