Between Before and After
Page 25
There are a number of theories about the geographic origins of the Spanish flu. One theory is that the virus began in a small farming community of Haskill County, Kansas in the spring of 1918, but other theories point to Europe or East Asia.
WWI, which ended November 11, 1918, had a profound influence on the spread of the virus. The deadly second wave, when the flu was at its peak, was in October 1918. During that time, the death rate for 15–34-year-olds was twenty times higher than in previous years. (Taubenberger, “1918 Influenza: the Mother of All Pandemics,” Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 12, No. 1, January 2006)
The locations in Brooklyn are accurate to the best of my ability. As far as I know, pigeons were never kept on the roof of Sacred Heart Church. I did take certain liberties with history to make dates work with my timeline. After all, this is a work of fiction! For example, the McDonald’s on Meridian Ave in San Jose didn’t have its grand opening in 1955. It opened in the early 60s and was still serving up burgers from the original building until 1999.
While the story has its roots in my own family story, the individuals and families in the novel are all products of my imagination. Any errors in historical detail are mine alone.
Why Hansel and Gretel?
In fairy tales, the woods are dark and dangerous places where anything might happen. There are many tales of children lost, abandoned, or sent into the woods at the request of a parent or evil stepmother. “Hansel and Gretel” is one such tale of abandonment and against-all-odds survival. Author and fairy tale expert Terri Windling put it this way in her blog post Into the Woods, 10: Wild Children: “The heroism of such children lies . . . in the ability to survive and transform their fate—and to outwit those who would do them harm without losing their lives, their souls, or their humanity in the process.”
In late 1800s New York, up to 30,000 abandoned or orphaned children filled overflowing orphanages or lived on the streets. The vast number of orphans was due in part to the overwhelming number of destitute immigrants. By 1900, there were 16 million Irish immigrants alone. During these years, childbirth was still the number one cause of female mortality, leaving impoverished fathers with young children.
Then the Spanish flu arrived with its scythe and black cloak.
Many children became half-orphans, abandoned by one parent after the other died. For these children, the streets of our cities were the woods of the grimmest fairy tales, dark, full of predators and danger. Against all odds, many of these immigrant children survived their sojourn through the woods without losing their humanity. Many, of course, did not. Surviving childhood is not always easy, or is it guaranteed.
Children still struggle in the woods today. Some are still locked in the witch’s house by parents’ addictions, cruelty, or dire circumstances. There is still a need for tales of hope, stories that say circumstances, no matter how dark, need not define you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book has been more than ten years in the making.
During those years, there have been many voices of encouragement that kept me going and pointed the story in the right direction. The seed of the story was planted by stories my father, Joseph Doyle, told about growing up on the streets of Brooklyn and working in Wallabout Market. My mother, Lillian Fitzpatrick Doyle, introduced to me fairy tales, and they’ve inhabited my writing ever since.
A grateful heart to:
Sandra Bishop, who believed this story was meant to be a book and championed it from the start. David Bennet, of Transatlantic, who stepped in to support her vision.
Early readers who offered encouragement, insight, and feedback: Martha Swedlund, Jennie Sphor, Stephen Wallenfels, Randy and Gretchen LeBarge, Nancy Smith, Claire McQuerry, Fiona Kenshole, Renee Riva, and Caitlin Blasdell.
My critique group: Mary Cronk Farrell, Stephen Wallenfels, and Jeanette Mendel. They are some of the smartest, kindest, and funniest people I know.
Jillian Manning for her excitement at acquisitions, Sara Bierling for smart editing. I’m so thankful she understood the importance of the Hansel and Gretel retelling. And Jacque Alberta for bringing her thorough research, wise insights, and for loving Molly and Elaine as much as I do.
Terri Windling and her work on fairy tales in Endicott Studio and her blog Myth and Moor, which inspired the Hansel and Gretel retelling.
A tour guide, a lifelong resident of Brooklyn, whose name I have shamefully forgotten, who showed me around the old neighborhoods of Brooklyn and made my settings come alive.
Suzanne Selfors, Megan Chance, Kyle Reynolds, and Sara Nickerson for the gift of encouragement, laughter, and good food when I needed it most.
And to my family: Dennis McQuerry, my stalwart companion in all; Brennan, Kristen, and Asher; Claire and Duane; Roger Doyle Knox; and Richard Doyle. It is your story too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maureen McQuerry is an award-winning poet, novelist, and teacher. Her YA novel, The Peculiars, was an ALA Best Book for YA 2013 and a Bank Street and Home Book recommended book. Her middle grade fantasy duo, Beyond the Door and The Telling Stone, were both a Booklist Top Ten Fantasy/SciFi for Youth and a finalist for the Washington State Book awards. Her poetry appears in many journals and anthologies. She lives in Washington State.