The Coldest Winter
By Elizabeth Lutzeier

The novel is set in Ireland in 1846-the period of the Potato Famine. It’s about the tragic life story of eleven-year-old Eamonn and his family.

The Kennedy’s used to live in a cabin in Ballinglas, Ireland. They were never rich, but had enough money not to suffer from hunger and felt comfortable living there with their friends. However, one summer the whole potato harvest goes rotten due to the blight and suddenly everything changes for them.

Their landlady decides that it would be more lucrative for her not to grow potatoes any more, but to keep cattle. So she has soldiers turning the families out of their homes and makes them tumble down every last one of the cabins.

So, Eamonn, his parents, his baby-sister, his two brothers and his grandmother have to find a new place for living soon, since it’s a very cold winter. It’s very hard to get new work for Eamonn’s father and so they starve nearly all the time, because the workhouses don’t provide enough food for the floods of poor people.

After all, they find a place to live in Tullamore, but also in this big city it’s nearly impossible for Eamonn’s father to find a job. Luckily, Eamonn gets to know a girl from a reach family who tries to support them as far as possible. Still, it’s hard for them to survive, because the prices rise dramatically and because of the outbreak of typhoid fever.

While the English don’t do too much to help the Irish people, the richer Irish set out for America. In Ireland only the poor people stay struggling for survival. Eamonn and his family have to suffer a lot until they raise hope.

It’s a really touching story and gives an insight into life back in 1846. Anyone who likes this book will be glad to hear that there is a second book telling about how live goes on for the Kennedy family that is much smaller by then. ( )