The Boggart Fights Back (Boggart #3)

Gr 4-6-Young Jay and Allie Cameron's connection to the ancient Castle Keep runs deeper than just a summer trip to visit their Granda in the Scottish Highland village of Port Appin. MacDevon clan blood runs through their veins, calling them to do anything they can to protect Castle Keep. Of course, they have the Boggart and Nessie (yes, that Nessie), mischievous "Old Things" of Scottish folklore, pledged to their cause. The invader they face, however, is one many readers may recognize: a greedy, hyperbole-loving real estate developer named Mr. Trout who seeks to turn the pristine Scottish treasure of Castle Keep into the garish Trout Castle Resort, complete with a large golf course. The development threatens to wreak environmental devastation, destroy theálocal quality of life (including building a wall around Granda's store), and even turnáthe Loch Ness Monster into a cash cow. Cooper's well-crafted prose and pacing will engage readers, who will thrill to the cast of "Old Things" they meet, including the bacon-loving Caointeach, the rhyming Blue Men of Minch, and the decidedly less-than-friendly Nuckelavee: a half-man, half-horse skinless sea monster with quite a bad attitude. With its thinly disguised villain, though, even young readers may feel a little disappointed at how easily the story achieves its almost-pat happy ending. VERDICT Solid middle grade fiction, especially for fans of Scottish folklore and previous "Boggart" books. Ripped-from-the headlines plot elements may engage some readers, though others might find the parallels less enjoyable.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Arriving more than 20 years after Cooper's The Boggart and The Boggart and the Monster, this magical misadventure finds a new generation of children meeting the "formless and ancient" sea creature Boggart and his cousin Nessie. Allie and Jay have traveled to Scotland from Canada to visit their "Granda," Angus Cameron. They soon discover that a rather Trumpian business mogul, William Trout, plans to buy up land and local landmark Keep Castle (where the children's ancestors once lived) in order to build an enormous resort, which would endanger nearby animals. After learning about the blustery American businessman's scheme, the recently awakened Boggart and Nessie join forces with the humans to scare Trout away, but their mischievous tricks and transformations are no match for the tycoon's ambitions, requiring them to solicit the help of other ancient creatures. Once again, Cooper cleverly combines European folklore with modern storytelling as she satirizes materialism and contemporary politics. Through her colorful characters, she salutes traditionalism and environmentalism and takes a sharp jab at greed. Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2017 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.