Dark Waters [Hardcover]

Catherine MacPhail (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2003

Col McCann is used to being in trouble. It is always the McCann family, in particular Mungo, Col's brother, that the police think of first when trouble comes to their town. But when Col saves a boy from drowning in a nearby loch and discovers what it is like to be a local hero, his loyalty to his trouble family wavers. Beyond that, Col has seen something underwater in the loch, something that is still submerged in his memory. When it resurfaces, Col is led to a devastating truth about his brother. His loyalty to family and his need to do what is right collide as he races to uncover Mungo's darkest secret yet. A fast paced novel set in the fascinating and mysterious land of the Scottish lochs.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. Col McCann's family is notorious in its small Scottish town because both his father and his older brother, Mungo, have run afoul of the law. So when Col saves wealthy young Dominic Sampson from drowning, his heroism brings a new sort of fame to the McCanns and he is pleased by the unexpected positive attention. But why is Mungo so angry about Col's fame? Then Col has nightmares and remembers the terrifying things he glimpsed underwater while saving Dominic. He finds that his act of heroism has uncovered Mungo's dark secret. This is a fast-paced, exciting tale with lively characters and realistic family friction among both the wealthy Sampsons and the impoverished McCanns. Though obviously firmly rooted in Scotland, the situations and emotions are universal. Short sentences, spacious type, and an intriguing cover make this a natural for reluctant readers; but it is a cut above most reluctant reader fare, with ample character development and thought-provoking issues of loyalty and truth. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

'Young adult fiction is going from strength to strength, led by authors like Catherine MacPhail' The Bookseller --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (January 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582348464
• ISBN-13: 978-1582348469
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,847,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book!, September 22, 2005

By 

webshred (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Waters (Hardcover)

A powerful and moving story about family, friendship, and loyalty. Col is a vibrant, interesting and extremely sympathetic character, and though the "secret" of what he saw beneath the ice is fairly predictable, it doesn't matter, because it's Col we care about, not the "surprise" itself. In fact, what is most moving about his story is how once Col makes the decision to help other people, they are moved to help him.

A dark yet inspiring book. You won't regret reading it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book, October 31, 2003

By 

Kelcony "katk303" (Penfield, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Waters (Hardcover)

This is the story of Col, a Scottish teenager who acts tough and idolizes his older brother Mungo, a skilled robber. When Col saves a younger boy's life, his whole world changes and he is forced to confront the truth about his brother.
This is an terrific book with a slightly fantastical under-theme but mostly it is realistic fiction and great. Col is alive and the minor charaters are well done. The Scottish accent adds credibility to the story.