On my first Christmas as a married woman, my husband (of
only two months) surprised me with the gift of a Claddagh ring. The striking ring, which symbolizes friendship,
love, and, loyalty is steeped in Irish tradition and culture. It was the perfect gift from the Irishman I
loved and had so recently promised to share my life with….
When I heard that Laura Pearl’s newest YA novel, Erin’s Ring,
features just such a ring I knew I had to read it. The Claddagh ring in the story is found in the churchyard and on it is an engraving
from Michael to Erin. Thirteen year old
Molly McCormick, after discovering the treasure, sets out to solve the mystery
of Michael and Erin, and why the ring bearing their message of love was found
buried in the dirt.
As Molly delves deeper into the history of her new home, the
reader is treated to a second storyline intertwined with the first. Going back
over 170 years, Pearl also tells the tale of young Ann O’Brien, as she leaves
her home country of Ireland and immigrates to the small town of Dover, NH.
This is historical fiction at its best. The two story lines, masterfully braided
together across time, complement and balance each other. Ann is living
the stories that Molly is learning
about as she pours over records in the town library searching for the owner of
the Claddagh ring and researching a school project.
As it turns out, the ring, though fairly prominently
featured and obviously of importance, is not really what Erin’s Ring is all about though. The story is really about a deep and abiding love for the Catholic faith. Both Molly and Ann, in every challenge and
situation, are driven by their faith.
They are unapologetically passionate about their faith. They are inspired to work for what is right
because of their faith.
Pearl is an expert at creating authentically Catholic characters
who are also multi-dimensional. So, it
comes as no surprise that it was the characters that drew me into the
story. I especially love that the
relationships in their lives create a perfect conduit for their strengths and
weaknesses to be revealed. The
relationships in the book are full of ups and downs, misunderstandings and insecurities,
and, like the characters themselves, are just so real.
Erin’s Ring is a beautiful love story but it’s not so much
about the romantic love between a man and a woman. Rather, it is about true love and devotion to
the Catholic faith and to family. With
so many immoral worldly books on the shelves of our library these days, it can
be nearly impossible to find wholesome reading material for teen girls. This story fills a need for real Catholic
fiction that never preaches, yet clearly delivers a message of hope and piety. Erin’s Ring is exactly the kind of story I
feel good about encouraging my daughters to curl up with. In fact, it’s exactly the kind of book I
myself enjoy curling up with!
** I received a free copy of Erin's Ring in exchange for my honest review. **
