DALLAS TWP. — The Friends of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library at Misericordia University is sponsoring a presentation and book signing by award-winning author and retired educator Molly Roe on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Catherine Evans McGowan Room of the library. The program is free.
Molly Roe is the pen name of Mary Garrity Slaby, Ph.D., a veteran language arts and reading teacher who retired from the Lake-Lehman School District. She will discuss and autograph copies of her award-winning book, “Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires.’’
A recipient of the Mom’s Choice Awards Silver Recipient Paperback award, the novel is set amidst the unrest of the Civil War and focuses on a feisty 14-year-old girl named Katie McCafferty, who infiltrates the Molly Maguires to rescue a lifelong friend. The struggles to prevent bloodshed place her own life in jeopardy. Eventually, a series of tragedies challenge Katie’s strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can she balance her sense of justice with the law?
“Call Me Kate’’ is a historical novel suitable for readers from age 11 to adult. Its dramatic and adventuresome story line expresses the daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. “Call Me Kate’’ is the first in the author’s trilogy of novels loosely based on the lives of the strong women of the era.
“The writing style employed in the book entertains, educates and communicates to the reader a general understanding of the hardships of life in the anthracite coal fields of northeastern Pennsylvania in the 19th century and Irish-American history,’’ Bill Strassner, museum educator at Eckley Miners Village, said in a review of the book upon its release.
‘“Call Me Kate’ absorbs the reader into a tightly woven narrative of tumultuous times in the anthracite region,’’ added Ruth Cummings, museum educator at the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, in her own review. “Through Kate, the reader becomes a participant in that story.’’
Slaby holds a doctorate in education from Temple University and Pennsylvania teaching certification in six areas. She has pursued the hobby of genealogy for the past decade. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Schuylkill County, she currently lives in Dallas with her husband, John. The couple has two grown children, Melissa and John Garrett, cover illustrator of “Call Me Kate.”
Due to limited seating, reservations are suggested, but are not required. To reserve a seat, please email Sue Lazur at [email protected] or call 570-674-6225. Light refreshments also will be available during the program.
