Skip to content
Wonderfest Children's Book festival
  • Programme
    • All events
    • Speakers
    • — PAST EVENTS —
      • 2021 festival
      • 2020 festival
  • Books
    • Festival Books
    • Festival Bookshop
    • — PAST EVENTS —
      • Books 2020
  • Gallery
  • About WonderFest
    • About the event
    • The Team
      • Past team members – 2020
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Latest news
    • Media pack
    • Contact – Booking support
  • Free Downloads
Menu
  • Programme
    • All events
    • Speakers
    • — PAST EVENTS —
      • 2021 festival
      • 2020 festival
  • Books
    • Festival Books
    • Festival Bookshop
    • — PAST EVENTS —
      • Books 2020
  • Gallery
  • About WonderFest
    • About the event
    • The Team
      • Past team members – 2020
    • Child Safeguarding Statement
    • Latest news
    • Media pack
    • Contact – Booking support
  • Free Downloads
Twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube

Celebrating Irish Children’s Books | Online School and Family Book Festival. This year we are part of the Dublin Book Festival.

Festival books

Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland - Literature

The Boldness of Betty: A 1913 Dublin Lockout Novel

Dublin 1913

My name is Betty Rafferty. A few weeks ago I had to leave school and go out to work in a cake shop, serving fancy cakes to rude, rich people. No choice.

But since then so much has happened. It all started when old Miss Warby took our pay away. And we walked out!

The whole city – well, all us union members – are going out on strike. Even my dog Earnshaw has joined in!

Life on the picket line in the lashing rain isn’t much fun. Lots of people, like Peter Lawlor, just don’t understand how unfair everything is. But we workers have to stand together – no matter what!

“Told in Bettys’ own voice as she reaches towards her dream of being a writer, beginning with this memoir, a fascinating picture of life during the Dublin Lockout emerges with insight and feeling. While this is a work of fiction, it has a vision of historical accuracy woven through its’ strands. The portrayal of Betty and her family and friends rings true against this background with all its’ hardships, hopes and dreams and is highly relatable even today. All the confusion and determination of young adult life is relayed in genuine voice. The plot builds steadily with perfect flow, taking us from drama to crisis to resolution and back again. And it is an intriguing read; full of life, heart and reality. An absolutely marvelous book!”

Fallen Star Stories

“Carey’s lightness of touch means that descriptions of police brutality towards workers, or the hypocritical actions of Catholic pressure groups, are all the more shocking. ‘You can learn a lot from a story,’ Betty notes, talking to – rather than down to – the young/pre-teen audience for this compelling, satisfying book’ …’endearing, Adrian Mole-esque”

Irish Times
Buy The Book

Author

Anna Carey

Illustrator

Lauren O'Neill

Publisher

The O'Brien Press

Related events in the festival

From the Arctic to the 1913 Dublin Lockout: Bringing History Alive and Kicking with Judi Curtin, Nicola Pierce and Anna Carey

Connect with Wonderfest online

Wonderfest Wonderfest · 4 months ago
@WonderFestIre
Watch out for the #BookElves2022 during the @RTELateLateShow #latelatetoyshow2022
They will be recommending some great children's books during the show on social media. https://t.co/KXEM0BnlL6
View on Twitter
WonderFestIre photo
Sinéad O'Hart 🌈🌿@SJOHart
And my favourite #picturebook this year is the amazing #BeWildLittleOne by Irish author @Hopewrites and illuminated by the marvellous art of @DanielEgneus. It's a definite #IrishBooks recommendation for #BookElves2022. A perfect gift for little readers - and not-so-little ones! https://t.co/1zjERJ3FRO
2
7
Wonderfest Wonderfest · 5 months ago
@WonderFestIre
We have a full morning of online events for schools tomorrow with @DublinBookFest - we can't wait!
Drawing with @AlNolan and @whackochacko
Writing with @Erika_McGann and Debbie Thomas
Stories with @chrishaughton and @MuirNiChiobhain and @PForde123
Let the creativity flow! https://t.co/f2G9uSAR84
View on Twitter
WonderFestIre photo
12
25
Wonderfest Wonderfest · 5 months ago
@WonderFestIre
THIS SATURDAY! 12th Nov 11am @DLR_Libraries @dlrLexIcon
Want to write or illustrate for children. This event is for you!
The latest in the #ProperBook from @KidsBooksIrel in partnership with @DublinBookFest - with some terrific speakers.
Tickets still available. https://t.co/ql3ME8cCYN
View on Twitter
WonderFestIre photo
Wonderfest@WonderFestIre
Want to write or illustrate for children? This
@KidsBooksIrel
and
@DublinBookFest
event is a must. Sat 12th Nov 11am
@DLR_Libraries
Lexicon. Supported by
@DLR_Libraries
Hear all about getting published from the experts!
RTs appreciated.
Booking: https://t.co/K2LRJyy13z https://t.co/18EwEEWG6b
9
12
To see the Instagram feed you need to add your own API Token to the Instagram Options page of our plugin.
Oops, something is wrong. Instagram feed not loaded
WonderFest Children's Book festival
  • Info@WonderFest.ie
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube

Events

  • Programme
  • Speakers
  • Free downloads

Books & Illustration

  • Books
  • Bookshops
  • Illustration gallery

About

  • About the festival
  • The team
  • Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Latest news
  • PR press pack
  • Contact and booking support

In partnership with
Dublin Book festival

Kindly supported by
Children's Books Ireland

Children's books Ireland Logo

dlr Libraries: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Libraries

dlr Libraries: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

© All rights reserved

WonderFest logo by Mary Murphy

Website by Alan O'Rourke Illustrator