I know that for me and many others, it is far more interesting to read about people who walked before us. Even historical fiction, which takes historical events and people and embellishes to bring intriguing stories presents a more palatable way to expand our knowledge and appreciation of history. Call Me Kate by Molly Roe meets the criteria of bringing historical events to life beyond a dry retelling in the history books. I would even wager that many of us have little background or knowledge of the unrest among mining communities of Pennsylvania during the Civil War.Call Me Kate illustrates the harsh living conditions many immigrant workers faced as well as the unsafe working environment for the boys and men who worked in the coal mines. Kate is a young girl who finds her dreams of completing school thwarted after her father is in a mine accident. While he does not meet the same fatal end as others, he is no longer able to work. So, Kate begins her life as a servant to help the family survive.
At first, she works for a local man while he awaits the arrival of a female relative to tend to his needs around the house. She misses the simplicity of life before employment, yet finds a balance between work and play as she becomes friends with sisters that live near her employers house. And, she begins to transition into adulthood with feelings towards one neighborhood boy moving from friend to something else.
When that short term job ends, she is then faced with moving away from her family and all she knows. Seeing anger in her one friend after his brother is seriously injured in the mine, she also brings her worries about what he might do and how he might be involved with the Molly Maguires. Under the employment of a rich and powerful businessman’s vacation home, she makes the decision to take action to protect those she loves back home. There’s plenty of action and tension as Ms. Roe weaves her tail of Kate infiltrating the Molly Maguires in an attempt to save her friend and ultimately save lives.
(To read the rest of this Historical Fiction Review, please visit my blog: Raising {& Teaching} Little Saints)
