While on a business trip to Scotland with his mother and his sister, Mikey discovers that he is very familiar with the land and begins to think that he had somehow lived there before in a previous life, possibly as Firth Lauder, a man put to death fifty years earlier.
| ||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7?When Christie and her brother accompany their mother on a business trip to Scotland, five-year-old Mikey begins talking about the time when he was a man named Firth and lived in a castle. The family ends up staying at Castle Lauder with Firth's sister, Em, who still mourns the man's death by hanging 50 years ago and still asserts his innocence in his fiancee's murder. Christie begins exploring the possibility of reincarnation and sees Firth's ghost. Em eventually brings in her friend Dr. Dalvercroft, a professor of parapsychology. Christie finally confronts the ghost and all mysteries and problems are resolved, including Mikey's asthma and apparent "birthmark" from when he was hanged as Firth. The book ends with Em explaining that Mikey will become the next Lauder piper, responsible for all clan (or sect) history. There is so much going on in this story that several of the threads are lost or tangled. Its worst flaw is the stilted, unrealistic dialogue. The only time Christie actually sounds like a 13-year-old is when she is whining about having to care for her little brother. Characters are shallow types: Dr. Dalvercroft has all the answers, Em is trusting and serene, and Christie's mother is completely oblivious. The ghost story aspect lacks tension and "chill" power; the reincarnation lessons lack subtlety and style. Peg Kehret's Sisters, Long Ago (Pocket Bks., 1992) is a better reincarnation novel. For ghost stories, turn to David Wiseman's Jeremy Visick (Houghton, 1990) or Robert Westall's Stones of Muncaster Cathedral (Farrar, 1993).?Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4^-7. Although Christie is just 13, she has always felt like a second mother to her five-year-old brother, Mikey. With their father recently dead, they accompany their mother on a business trip to Scotland. On arriving at Castle Lauder, Mikey begins to behave strangely, prompting Christie to wonder about events that happened there more than 50 years ago. As she explores the countryside with her brother, she becomes increasingly convinced that he is the reincarnation of a man wrongly hanged for murder long ago. Readers who appreciate an eerie story will enjoy watching the young people play detective in this novel, which is steeped in Scottish lore, and because Cavanagh treats the scary subject in a way that won't terrify, the book may appeal to younger readers. Susan DeRonne
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
