Last of the Name, by Rosanne Parry

     Not the latest release by wonderful Oregon author Parry, but a really engaging historical fiction story that I truly enjoyed! Last of the Name is new to me but was actually published in 2019. It tells the story of brother and sister Danny and Kathleen, two teens from Ireland who have emigrated to the United States to escape the long history of oppression at the hands of the English. They arrive in New York in 1863 - right in the middle of our own Civil War. The Last of the Name follows them both as they do all they can to survive in a time and place where Irish are not necessarily welcome, and being children they are fighting for their lives day to day - to eat, to have shelter, and to navigate this entirely new country that is in the middle of trying to sort itself out. 

    I quickly found myself turning pages to discover what was coming next! I love how strong Parry made both characters, in their own ways, while never making it seem as if these teens were unrealistic. As an author Parry is very good at crafting strong voice in her characters, whether they are people, like Kathleen and Daniel, or wolves, or whales...she will put you right in the character's mind, regardless of the species, which is why I enjoy her stories so much!

    The action here is constant, and the storyline is unpredictable. Near the end of the story I was a little disappointed at how easily one of the big conflicts got resolved, but only the one time (and you may see that differently, of course!). But the dialogue and situations that the main characters encounter seemed very real. Parry did a superb job of weaving many of the historical elements of 1863 New York into the story - the war, slavery, the Draft Riots of 1863, prejudice, poverty...I found myself rooting for the two kids the entire way but not sure if they were going to make it through together! 

    I recommend any Rosanne Parry book to you, reader, and this is no exception. A fun page-turner with subject matter I have not read before, not from the vantage point of the Irish. A nice way to learn something new about our nation's history and the importance of considering other people's perspectives (empathy). 5 paws!