Starred Review Last of the Name

  • Interest Level: Grade 5 - Grade 8
  • Reading Level: Grade 6

Twelve-year-old Danny O’Carolan and his sister, Kathleen, arrive in New York City in 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Kathleen finds a job in domestic service for herself and Danny, hoping to keep Danny from being drafted into the US Army as a drummer boy. As he explores the city and shares his talent for Irish dancing, Danny discovers the vast variety of New York’s neighborhoods. With the threat of the draft pitting Irish immigrants against the free Black population, stoking tensions between the rich and the poor, and threatening the life Danny hopes to build, can he find a safe place to call home?

Format Your Price Add
978-1-7284-6766-5
$9.99
978-1-5415-4646-2
$22.99
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Interest Level Grade 5 - Grade 8
Reading Level Grade 6
Category Diverse Books: Immigration & Refugees, Diversity, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2019
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Books ®
Language English
Number of Pages 344
Publication Date 2019-04-02
Text Type Fiction
BISACS JUV016200, JUV039250, JUV013070
Dewey [Fic]
Dimensions 5.25 x 7.5
Lexile 720
ATOS Reading Level 4.8
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 501102
Accelerated Reader® Points 9.0
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Author/Illustrator note, Awards, Reviewed, Starred Reviews, and Teaching Guides

Awards

  • Oregon Spirit Book Award, Winner, 2021
  • Oregon Book Award Finalist, Runner-up, 2020
  • New York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize Finalist, Runner-up, 2020

Reviews

Booklist

“Textured and well-researched, Parry’s latest historical novel brings to life New York City during the peak of the Civil War . . .”—Booklist

School Library Journal

“An excellent addition to any historical fiction collection; recommended for fans of Little Women or A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.”—School Library Journal

Starred Review Kirkus Reviews

“An exuberant dash through a pivotal year in American history.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews

Susan Fletcher

Last of the Name is a rich, brave, brawling novel of the immigrant experience, bringing the cacophony of Civil War-era New York City vividly to life. Painstakingly researched, this story of holding on to family and heritage while making a new home in America is told with poetry, humor, and heart.”—Susan Fletcher, author of Shadow Spinner, Walk Across the Sea, and Journey of the Pale Bear

Deborah Hopkinson

“With loving attention to detail, Rosanne Parry recreates Civil War-era New York City and the struggles of intrepid Irish immigrants. More than a survival story, Last of the Name is a celebration of the power of music and family to sustain us through hard times. Truly a grand adventure!”—Deborah Hopkinson, author of How I Became a Spy: A Mystery of WWII London

Emily Whitman

“Civil War New York springs to life with danger, humor, and grit. You can feel the dance steps as a young immigrant’s family traditions bring him strength and connection in a challenging new world. Historical fiction with a strong resonance today.”—Emily Whitman, author of The Turning