Customer Reviews

Scottish Seas

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is an exciting read for both children and adults. The author clearly defines the characters and easily moves the reader to the center of each adventure. I encourage you to read it to your children...or someone else's children. The story is positive, thought provoking, and good clean fun. I look forward to the next book by Mr. Jones.

I first read this book aloud to my boys when they were six and four years old. The story stuck with them and they asked me to read it to them again four years later.

The reluctant hero is Mac, the youngest in a family of brave Scottish covenanters. Mac fears the sea but grows in courage as it is tested throughout the book. Ultimately, he faces off against pirating thieves (rievers) whose first contact with his family was an attempt to steal his sister's pony.

Interwoven with the adventure is a warm picture of family life with recitation of the Westminster Catechism, psalm singing and Bible reading. Some of the memorable portrayals include: the father wrestling with his sons, Mac nurturing and then releasing his pet puffin that he rescues after a storm, Mac's sister Agnes declining one offer of courtship and selecting another man for her father to pursue for her, a pastor who is in a deep depression. In one hilarious episode. Mac's Grandfather refuses the modern medical treatment of bloodsucking slugs.

Most adventure stories with young protagonists involve orphaned children or at least absentee parents. I can remember thinking wistfully in elementary school that I could never have any of those grand exploits as the child of an intact marriage. For a change, Mr. Wilson presents an exciting story unfolding in the midst of a loving, strong family unit.

I highly recommend this as an enjoyable read-aloud. As an added bonus, you'll gain some understanding into the struggles of Scotsmen under English oppression in the 16th century (at least if you're not already familiar with this period, which which I was not).

We also have read Huegenot Garden written by Douglas Jones and recommend this as well, although Scottish Seas is faster paced.

My 4th grader who loves reading didn't think the characters were very well developed and although glad she read it, wouldn't recommend it highly.

When my 9 year old daughter seemed confused and disinterested in this book, I decided to read it myself. My intent was to be able to help her get a better idea of what the author was getting at so that she could profit from the book as she continued reading it. Unfortunately, what I found was poorly written and confusing, at best. Even worse, the author has sadly misrepresented the Scottish Covenanters by imbuing them with our modern day reverence for nonchalance, rather than the depth of character which those who would face death to stand for their beliefs (as many did) would have most certainly had.

Among other things, we have silly horseplay around the truths of the catechism, references to an "overly zealous" relative as "soulless", and, in short, a sentimentalized look at our forebears fashioned in a one dimensional view of "our own image".

Of course, the characters occasionally "recall" the battles and history they are heir to and have been a part of, and we are treated to insertions of actual history. This is sparse, though, and in light of the complete disconnect between who we see them as now and what they have supposedly been, it just doesn't make sense. One has to ask how such frivolous people could have ever thought anything was worth fighting for, let alone dying.

Don't waste your time or your children's time on this book. I know my daughter won't be finishing it.