The Storm Keeper's Island (Storm Keeper's Island #1)
by Catherine Doyle (Author)
An evocative tale of ancient magic, bravery, and family bonds.
Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too.
Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.
"Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle." - School Library Connection
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Gr 4-7--The moment 11-year-old Fionn Boyle and his sister Tara set foot on Arranmore Island, he senses something unusual: every part of this island off the coast of Dublin calls to him as if it has been waiting for him to return. Fionn soon discovers there's a dark force buried deep on Arranmore that has also been lying in wait. It may be his destiny to confront this evil as the next Storm Keeper, the Island's magical protector. Though Fionn is riddled with self-doubt, his character is a fresh, contemporary take on the "underdog finding his special purpose" trope. His snarky sparring with Tara and her snobby crush on Bartley reveals wit and strength Fionn doesn't recognize in himself and his courage convincingly grows over the course of the novel. Guiding him toward his future is the siblings' adventurous grandfather Malachy, Arranmore's current Storm Keeper. His wisdom and patient advice underscore the novel's themes of remembrance, history, and family. Inspired by her grandparents' life on the real Arranmore Island, Doyle infuses every aspect of the novel with the richness of Irish folklore and culture: readers will be captivated by descriptions of the Island's beauty and magical history. The perilous climax doesn't resolve all plot threads, but enough questions are answered to provide an emotionally satisfying conclusion while teasing the battle ahead for the lovable crew. VERDICT A first purchase, modern yet timeless fantasy with plenty of heart and a Celtic twist.--Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Doyle's writing glows, with the pitch-perfect barbs the young people sling at each other, the atmospheric weather events, her masterfully delineated characters — including the island itself — and a page-turning plot. Heart-wrenching and heart-stopping, this is one gorgeous novel." - New York Times Book Review
"Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle." —School Library Connection, starred review
"The engaging construction of magical time travel and Doyle's beautifully descriptive prose will enchant those looking for an atmospheric magical adventure." —BCCB
"Doyle's vivid imagery and colorful language engages the senses as she weaves together an atmospheric setting . . . a beautiful blend of Irish legend and self-discovery." - Shelf Awareness
"Magical in every way." —Eoin Colfer, New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series
"Imaginative and exhilarating." —Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
"Catherine Doyle is one to watch." —Lauren Wolk, Newbery Honor author of Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea
Catherine Doyle grew up beside the Atlantic Ocean in the west of Ireland. Her love of reading began with great Irish myths and legends, and fostered in her an ambition to one day write her own. The Storm Keeper's Island is her debut middle-grade novel and was inspired by her real-life ancestral home of Arranmore Island (where her grandparents grew up), and the adventures of her many sea-faring ancestors. After living in Dublin City for two years, Catherine is now based in Galway but spends a lot of her time in the US and London.
www.catherinedoylebooks.com/
@doyle_cat
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV030050 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Europe
Grandfathers
Supernatural
Paranormal fiction
Islands
Ireland
