Hurricane Mercedes Watch: Call Me Kate
Posted By Mercedes Christesen on January 10, 2010
Mercedes Christesen, Reviewer
by Mercedes Christesen
1st Turning Point Reviewer
Copyright © 2010 Mercedes Christesen
Call Me Kate
Meeting the Molly Maguires
by Molly Roe
Mercedes’ Rating
3 Parrots
| Call Me Kate Meeting the Molly Maguires by Molly Roe Publisher: Tribute Books ISBN:9780981461939 (paperback) ISBN:9780981461953 (hardcover) Buy Link |
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Mercedes’ Comments:
Meeting the Molly Maguires is intended for readers aged 11 to adult. The video had some very interesting choices in graphics and music. I really liked the use of silhouette instead of recognizable pictures, as the Molly Maguires was a secretive society, and the silhouettes set a secretive tone to the video. The use of an Irish style folksong showed the feeling of happiness as the naïve girl grew into a knowledgeable young woman. I had a problem reading the text because it moved by too fast, and I had to rewind and re-watch the video several times. I’m not sure the average reader would have the patience to do the same.
Before I watched the video, I read the back cover blurb, and if it were not for that as well as my knowledge of the history involving the Molly Maguires, I would have been lost with the story line that was given.
This video may not work for younger readers unfamiliar with the Molly Maguires since they may not know the history behind it all. I had both of my daughters watch the video and I asked them what they thought the book was about. My nine-year-old thought it was about horses, due to the silhouette pictures that I loved so much. She couldn’t read the text because it moved too quickly, but she really liked the music.
My thirteen-year old also had a hard time with the fast-moving text, so she kept stopping on each screen to read. When I had her watch it without stopping, she had no idea what the book was about. However, she did like the music, as did her sister.
When I showed the video to my husband, he said he liked the images and the music, but his one complaint was the same as mine: the text moved way too fast. He did say, however, that the video sparked his interest in the book.
Overall, I personally enjoyed the video, but we don’t need a full synopsis, just enough to reel us in.
Back Cover Blurb
The Civil War Draft Meets Immigrant Coal Miners
Fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty risks job, family, and eventually her very life to rescue a lifelong friend. Disguised as a draft resister, Katie infiltrates a secret Irish organization to prevent bloodshed. Tragedies challenge her strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can Katie balance her sense of justice with the law?
Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story’s rich context and drama.
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Hi Mercedes (waving wildly!)
I thought you got it exactly right with this video review. I loved the music and thought the silhouettes were an excellent idea. But the frames were gone too fast for me to read all the text. Great concept and it did make me curious about the book.
Good review, Mercedes. I agree also about the reading. I think a book video needs very minimal text to be effective. I didn’t take notes or go back to watch again, but I had the impression a lot of the text could have been condensed to lots fewer words. It’s an exciting, significant time in history, however, and the book looks very worthwhile.
Thank-you all.
I enjoyed your review Mercedes. I agree, the text went way too fast to read and also enjoy the images. I liked the music, too.
Thanks for the review, Mercedes.