Dancing for Danger: A Meggy Tale

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

The inhumane treatment of the Catholics in Ireland by their English
Protestant overlords during the last century is the background for this
story. After the English banned the education of Irish Catholics, the
Irish set up secret “hedgerow” schools. Twelve-year-old Meggy,
who’s known in the community as “the Dancin’ Banshee,” attends
one of the banned schools. In addition to her love of dancing, Meggy is
also known for her love of her family and her desire to learn. Master
Cleary is the school’s very fine teacher.

Having once witnessed the destruction of her hedge school, Meggy
worries that the English soldiers will find the new school and destroy
it—or worse, hurt her younger brother or Master Cleary. When Meggy is
posted as the lookout for the school, her worst fears come true. Master
Cleary gets shot, and she must find a way to save him and herself.

Throughout the novel, the beauty of the rural Irish countryside is
described in loving, proprietary terms and contrasted with the harsh
brutality and wanton destructiveness of the soldiers. Griffin’s
descriptive writing also extends to the people who inhabit the
landscape. Her characters are well drawn and speak realistic dialogue;
she’s reproduced the spoken language of the time with attention to
archaic colloquialisms and appropriate accent.

Dancing for Danger is a fast-paced, action-driven, historical adventure
story that young readers are sure to enjoy. Recommended.