Notes from a Spinning Planet--Ireland [Paperback]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Notes from a Spinning Planet | Publication Date: November 7, 2006

It’s pretty humiliating to admit, but I’ve never flown in a plane before today. So wouldn’t you think that I’d be feeling pretty jazzed right now? Instead I keep grabbing onto these armrests as I ask myself why on earth I ever agreed to come on this frightening trip.…

Affectionately teased as a “country bumpkin,” nineteen year-old Maddie has never been one to explore new territory. Her first trip outside of the country with her Aunt Sid and Sid’s godson, Ryan, promises an exhilarating adventure. Northern Ireland is more captivating than she even imagined–and Ryan is offering plenty of intrigue himself.

As Aunt Sid researches peace camps, Maddie and Ryan explore Ireland’s rich landscape. During the journey, Maddie begins to discover more about what she wants from life, while developing a deeper friendship with her irresistible traveling companion.

When Maddie and Ryan dig for the truth about the IRA car bomb that killed Ryan’s father years ago, questions about the past accumulate. Unable to let go of growing suspicions in this mysterious country, Maddie finds herself on a dangerous journey, a journey that will lead her to the greatest discovery of all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over one hundred books for adults, children, and teens, including Finding Alice, Crystal Lies, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. The mother of two grown sons, Carlson lives in a “cabin in the woods” near the Cascade Mountains in central Oregon with her husband and a chocolate lab retriever. She is a full-time writer and an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1ST edition (November 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400071445
• ISBN-13: 978-1400071449
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,052,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melody Carlson has written around 200 books for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her books range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including the Rita and Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fine coming of age story, November 10, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes from a Spinning Planet--Ireland (Paperback)

Madison Chase spent her first nineteen years of life on a farm so she is naïve about the world. Thus when her Aunt Sid, a reporter investigating Catholic-Protestant peace camps, invites her to tour Ireland with her, she accepts with trepidation that her lack of sophistication will show especially to her worship exciting relative.

On the trek, the godson of her aunt Ryan McIntire accompanies them. Melody is attracted to him from the start especially romanticizing his family's deep involvement with the IRA. However, as Madison places her aunt and Ryan on a pedestal, she begins to see cracks in their armor though her adulation could prove dangerous for one and all when she follows in Sid's footsteps by investigating what happened four years ago when a bomb killed Ryan's dad because someone wants the truth to remain buried.

Fans will believe that they are accompanying Aunt Sid on her trek through Ireland as Melody Carson paints a vivid background that has the senses activated. The story targets a young adult audience, but all readers will appreciate this coming of age story as the young heroine begins to see the flaws in her aunt and Ryan, but humanizing them makes her love for them so much more. The intrigue involving the death of Ryan's dad augments a novel from a spinning planet - Ireland.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Farm girl travels the world, February 5, 2009

By 

Novel Teen (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Notes from a Spinning Planet--Ireland (Paperback)

Review by Jill Williamson

Farm girl Maddie Chase has never gone anywhere. That's why she jumps at the chance to travel to Ireland with her aunt Sid and Aunt Sid's godson, Ryan. Aunt Sid worked at the peace camps in Ireland back when she was in college and is working on an article about where some of those kids she counseled years ago are today. Ryan's mother--Aunt Sid's best friend--recently passed away. Ryan's father was from Ireland and he's hoping to piece together some clues to his past. Maddie helps her new friend look into the IRA car bomb that killed his dad.

This was a fun book. I liked the idea of traveling to a new place only to find out how truly small our world is. Maddie and Ryan find his distant relatives, and Maddie stumbles onto a secret about Aunt Sid's past. The mystery of it was exciting, the history and current issues with the IRA was fascinating, and the characters were fun. Maddie also comes to discover that sometimes Christians judge people without even realizing that's what they're doing. I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Erin go Bragh, August 12, 2007

By 

Deborah "Books, Movies and Chinese Food" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Notes from a Spinning Planet--Ireland (Paperback)

Nineteen year old Maddie is traveling to Ireland with her Aunt Sid and Ryan, her aunt's godson. Her aunt is researching the peace camps affected by the Irish conflict with the Protestants and the Catholics. Meanwhile Maddie and Ryan explore the Irish countryside and discover the beautiful country while learning about the people and the culture. While there Ryan discovers his Irish roots and the story about his father and mother. Maddie and him then discover the truth about the IRA bomb that killed his father and what really happened to the man Sid loved.

I have always wanted to visit Ireland. I really want to see the green hills and listen to bagpipes and see the sheep. In fact I've already made plans to go to Ireland for my honeymoon one day. Heh. Reading this book was like taking the trip from my armchair. I learned lots about the culture and the people from reading. Little tidbits like stores not having bottled water or biking tours made the book more authentic like a guidebook. I learned quite a bit from reading this book about the IRA. I always used to get them confused with the IRS. This book made me understand more about what the conflict is going on in that country and how religion is a big factor in the fighting. It was sad to read about all those affected by the fighting. I also appreciated how the situation with drinking was portrayed. I understand how Maddie felt about seeing Ryan and her aunt drinking and being uncomfortable. But I also liked it how Maddie had to struggle with trying to explain why just having one drink is wrong. No one ever forced her to drink a beer, she did it on her own and then found out she didn't like it. I could have told Maddie that Guinness is horrible tasting, exactly how she described it! Drinking is not promoted in this book at all, it just gives a view that maybe as Christians we should find out why we say no to something before condemning others. I really enjoyed reading this book. It definitely makes me want to go to Ireland now more than ever. Teens will really enjoy reading this series.