Kindling of a Firebrand by Brenda Murphy is a semi-biographical historical novel about a close-knit family during the first half of the twentieth century. The story begins with Jim Sweeney during his early years. Raised in a devout Irish Catholic family in Boston, he attends church regularly and develops a love of reading. Jim works on the docks until an injury forces him to find a new career. While working for an Italian wine distributor, he meets Catherine “Cate” Rooney, the company’s bookkeeper. They marry and have a daughter, Frances “Francie” Ursula Sweeney. During Francie’s childhood, her religion, community, books, and a changing world influence who she becomes. At a Catholic high school, she forms close friendships and becomes known as Fran. After her father dies shortly before graduation, she completes her studies and trains as a secretary. There, she gains skills that help prepare her for journalism and later activism. What does Fran stand up for? How does her Catholic faith influence her efforts?

Kindling of a Firebrand by Brenda Murphy introduced me to a remarkable woman I had never known about before. Murphy highlights the importance of the Sweeneys’ Catholic faith and how it shaped their values, ultimately inspiring Fran to expose the wrongs taking place in Boston. There is also a sadness that is woven throughout the novel. It is shown during a long-term illness, Jim’s death at a relatively young age, and other losses throughout the book. Yet there is also something inspiring about seeing how much one person can accomplish. The discussion questions at the end add another layer. One asks whether anything in Fran’s story resonates with the present day, and my answer would be yes. Her willingness to speak out against injustice and stand up for her beliefs feels just as relevant now as it did during her lifetime. Fran reminded me a lot of Susan B. Anthony, whose words, “Failure is impossible,” perfectly match both of their experiences. Both women were dedicated and determined in their causes. Fans of historical fiction based on real people or lesser-known stories from American history will want to read about Fran Sweeney. It’s a thoughtful and memorable book that shines a light on a female whose contributions deserve to be remembered.

Frances “Fran” Sweeney is a working-class Irish Catholic woman who transforms from a sickly, bright girl in Charlestown to a fearless activist and journalist in Brenda Murphy’s Kindling of a Firebrand. This historical novel is set in Boston against the backdrop of the Great Depression and World War II. The story follows Fran Sweeney from her childhood and the influence of her parents through school years, her work as a secretary, and her career in brokerage, to her political awakening against the pro-fascist, antisemitic Christian Front, and the movement formed by Father Charles Coughlin. Sweeney creates the Boston City Reporter to fight homegrown fascism, collaborating with figures like Gus Gazulis and Granville Hicks to expose wartime rumors, bigotry, and hate groups. What difference can a newspaper make in a society being torn apart by pro-Nazi propaganda?

Brenda Murphy’s Kindling of a Firebrand delivers a fully drawn portrait of a historical period and transports readers to an important moment in American history. Fran is a woman with a lot of fight in her, and her stance against bigotry and Nazism is inspiring. The author populates her world with vividly depicted characters, including her pragmatic mother, her intellectually curious father, and her loyal research partner, Gus Gazulis. Boston of the 1930s and 1940s is captured in detail, and the author exposes the antisemitic fervor stoked by the Christian Front, the tribal Irish Catholic neighborhoods, and the ideological battles of wartime home fronts. The pacing is measured and, at times, episodic, as it focuses on the entire life of the heroine, from schoolgirl to muckraker. This historical novel examines the nature of domestic fascism, moral courage, and the intersection between social justice and the Catholic faith. It contains a compelling message for contemporary readers.