Boggart and the Monster [Library Binding]

Susan Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

When the Scottish owner of Castle Keep died, the ancient castle went to his Canadian great-nephew, Robert Volnik. There was no way the Volniks could keep the castle, so it was sold to an Edinburgh lawyer, Mr. Maconochie. Two years later, Emily Volnik and her younger brohter Jessup return to the castle for a visit. To their delight, the Boggart, a mischievous shape-shifting spirit who has lived in the castle for centures, playing tricks on the owners, is still there, making Mr. Mac coubt his won sanity as strange things happen.

At Jessup's urging, Mr. Mac takes them and Tommy Cameron, a local friend, on a comping trip to Loch Ness, Where a new expedition with advanced underwater equipment is planning another search for the Loch Ness Monster. The boggart comes along, and, on thier first night there, he is entranced to rediscover Nessie, a boggart cousin who has long forgotten how to change shape and remains in the prehistoric-monster form he long ago adopted.

Beautifully imagined and beautifully written, this is an unforgettable adventure, filled with humor, suspense, and wonderful characters. It is a stunning companion to Susan Cooper's earlier book, The Boggart.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Set in the Highlands of Scotland, The Boggart and the Monster has all the trademarks of a first-class adventure: magic, high-tech expeditions, and mythical monsters. The boggart of MacDevon Castle, a mischievous shape-shifting spirit, spends his days happily playing tricks on the new owner of the castle. After discovering his old cousin Nessie miles down in the murky waters of Loch Ness, the boggart must enlist the help of a few human friends to return, with Nessie in tow, to his beloved castle. With a team of scientists hot on their trail, the MacDevon boggart and Nessie begin their adventure. Susan Cooper's inventive writing, infused with both scientific and magical elements, will captivate even the most disbelieving of young adults. (Ages 8 to 12) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

This follow-up to The Boggart teams the invisible sprite with the Loch Ness Monster. In a starred review, PW said, "Cooper adroitly incorporates ancient lore into a contemporary setting while producing an imaginative and compelling tale." Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613099389
• ISBN-13: 978-0613099387
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,307,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

SUSAN COOPER is best known for her acclaimed sequence of fantasy novels known as The Dark Is Rising which includes OVER SEA, UNDER STONE; THE DARK IS RISING (1974 Newbery Honor book); GREENWITCH; THE GREY KING (1976 Newbery Award book); and SILVER ON THE TREE. Her novels for young readers also include VICTORY, GREEN BOY, KING OF SHADOWS, THE BOGGART and its sequel THE BOGGART AND THE MONSTER, SEAWARD and DAWN OF FEAR. She has written books for younger children as well, including the Celtic retellings THE SILVER COW, THE SELKIE GIRL, and TAM LIN, all illustrated by Warwick Hutton, and FROG, illustrated by Jane Browne. In collaboration with actor Hume Cronyn, she wrote the Broadway play Foxfire and--for Jane Fonda--the television film The Dollmaker, for which they received the Humanitas Prize in 1985. Born in Buckinghamshire, England, Susan Cooper moved to the United States in 1963 and now lives in Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Family fun fit for a movie?, May 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boggart and the Monster (Audio Cassette)

As my family read this book and later listened to it on audiocassette, my wife and I both thought that this would make an excellent text for a quality kids movie that would also appeal to adults. This fun-loving story of kids helping a "mythical" creature while adults either belittle their efforts or try to take advantage of them contains the features that made many of the original Disney stories so much fun. The antics of the lovable boggart and his human allies Emily and Jesup as they try to save "Nessie" are easy to visualize.

Our son was 7 when we first introduced him to the story; he was bored and disinterested by it. However, when we reintroduced it a year later he loved it and promptly began making plans to visit Scotland to find a boggart of his own. That extra maturity was needed to appreciate the joys of the book and thoughtful humor that is presented.

This is a great story for older children developing an understanding of the subtleties of human nature. Particularly how "villains" are not always as dastardly as they may initially appear and how even heros have struggles and challenges to overcome. It also does a good job of illustrating how a brother and sister can work together to solve a problem.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Sequel!, January 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boggart And The Monster (Aladdin Fantasy) (Paperback)

The Boggart and the Monster is as exciting as Susan Cooper's first Boggart book (The Boggart). This is a fast paced, entertaining and witty book. I couldn't put it down!

This book is an exciting read not only because the Boggart is up to his old tricks, but also because the favorite characters of the first book (Jessup, Emily & Tommy) appear again and the character of the Boggart is developed and begins to take shape a definitive shape of his own.

Susan Cooper draws you into the story in a way that makes you believe in magic.

Reading this book you feel like a kindred spirit with the Boggart (not to mention the Monster, the children and Mr. Mac).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Far from monstrous, July 11, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boggart and the Monster (Paperback)

Scotland's favorite mischief-making spirit is back in "The Boggart and the Monster," the sequel to Susan Cooper's half-comedic fantasy "The Boggart." While this book moves a little too quickly, Cooper's sense for the fantastical makes it an entertaining, sometimes bizarre read.

The Boggart is back in Scotland, happily living in MacDevon castle, and playing pranks on the new owner. But then Jessup and Emily Volnik return to Scotland, and clue in the castle's relieved owner as to the nature of the family Boggart -- harmless, but loves mischief. But a trip to Loch Ness starts to mess things up -- Jessup and Emily encounter an investigator, working for an eccentric millionaire, who is trying to find the legendary Nessie.

The problem is, the Loch Ness monster is actually a boggart, who sank into depression and sleep after his castle was destroyed. Despite the urgings of the Boggart, Nessie can't change form for very long -- he keeps popping back into his monster form. Now the Boggart and his friends must tackle the best of modern technology, to keep Nessie hidden.

Like most sequels, it's best to read "The Boggart" before tackling "The Boggart and the Monster." But don't expect a stale rehash. Cooper gives her story about boggarts a new twist with the Loch Ness monster. What's more, she manages to weave in the legend of Nessie, without making it feel like a cash-in-on-a-mystery-creature book.

The story goes at a more breakneck pace than the first book, and at times it's easy to lose track of it. But Cooper's writing is vivid and compelling, bringing the lakes, hills and ruined castles of Scotland to life. And she gets into the heads of the boggarts wonderfully -- Nessie's loneliness and depression, and the Boggart's desperation and giddy enjoyment.

Jessup and Emily are nice heroes, not exceptional but well-drawn and likable. The Boggart himself is the scene-stealer -- one minute he'll be cheerleading Nessie, then pulling dog's tails, and making an ROV explorer do an underwater dance. And Nessie is a nice addition, a rather pitiful boggart who has lost his knack for boggartry.

Susan Cooper serves up a solid sequel in "The Boggart and the Monster," returning to the world of Celtic sprites and spirits. Fun and enjoyable.