Bridie's Fire

Bridie O'Connor's world is torn apart when her parents and baby brother die of hunger in the great potato famine. At the age of 11 she decides to leave Ireland for Australia, dreaming of a richer life. But life as a scullery maid is stifling for a girl with Bridie's fiery spirit.

From The Publisher:

This sweeping historical novel for young adults documents the adventures of Bridie, an orphaned Irish teenager who escapes the potato famine that claimed the lives of her parents and baby brother. Independent and stubborn, Bridie makes a new life for herself in the rough-and-tumble world of Austalia during the nineteenth-century gold rush. Her adventures with miners, other migrants, and even a traveling theater troupe paint a vivid picture of early life in Melbourne. Bridie's resilience and courage make her a compelling heroine for teenage readers and her heartwarming story will engage them in the vivid historical setting.