1. How does Bartoletti's text emotionally involve readers?

2. In what ways does Bartoletti focus on specific groups associated with the potato famine? Does she seem biased in her presentation of certain people? Why or why not?

3. How do the Irish quotations and lyrics enhance the text? How are the Irish words and translations useful or distracting? In what way does the information about fairies, mythology, and folklore illuminate the facts?

4. Would you have preferred that Bartoletti have written her book in topical chapters rather than chronologically, and, if so, why?

5. Do you consider any of the details Bartoletti includes to be too horrible or violent for young readers? Why or why not?

6. Why do you think Bartoletti chose to describe specific people? Did she ignore any groups, such as Protestants, who should have been included among the victims of the famine?

7. Discuss why famine relief...