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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This book really was one of the first I read about fairies/faeries and changelings and Irish historical fiction sort of genre. A great read for the age!
This book didn’t grab me. It’s a little slow and while the ending is good, it’s a bit abrupt compared to the pace of the rest of the book. It’s a good message without being heavy handed but at times a little boring.
One of my all-time favorite stories about the Folk and one girl's struggle to fit in with two very different worlds.
3 - 3.5 stars
An enjoyable tale that comes from the perspective of the young fairy who replaces a human child in a small village by the moors. We often get stories of changlings from the human child's perspective in fairyland or from the perspective of the parents who must deal with the fairy, but rarely do we see it from the fairy's perspective. Saaski is a strange girl who means no harm to anyone, but gets blamed for bad luck and taunted for being "freaky-weird." Half human and half fairy, she belongs in neither world but seeks some kind of acceptance... and a friend. It's a good story and is probably the only book for younger readers (although it's enjoyable for adults as well) that presents dialect in a way that gives flavor but is still understandable.
An enjoyable tale that comes from the perspective of the young fairy who replaces a human child in a small village by the moors. We often get stories of changlings from the human child's perspective in fairyland or from the perspective of the parents who must deal with the fairy, but rarely do we see it from the fairy's perspective. Saaski is a strange girl who means no harm to anyone, but gets blamed for bad luck and taunted for being "freaky-weird." Half human and half fairy, she belongs in neither world but seeks some kind of acceptance... and a friend. It's a good story and is probably the only book for younger readers (although it's enjoyable for adults as well) that presents dialect in a way that gives flavor but is still understandable.
I really enjoyed The Moorchild, I have read a few of McGraw's other books and have always enjoyed them, so I shouldn't have been surprised. Although a fantasy story, McGraw tells it in a way that feels almost real with a mixture of folklore.
The book wasn't the fastest paced but I was never bored and I didn't want to put it down. The characters are loveable, the plot is interesting, and there were some nice messages. The story also doesn't feel dated. It is never said when the book is taking place, it is up to the reader's imagination
I wish that more people knew of Eloise Jarvis McGraw. She really was a great children's author who wrote a ton of fun books.
The book wasn't the fastest paced but I was never bored and I didn't want to put it down. The characters are loveable, the plot is interesting, and there were some nice messages. The story also doesn't feel dated. It is never said when the book is taking place, it is up to the reader's imagination
I wish that more people knew of Eloise Jarvis McGraw. She really was a great children's author who wrote a ton of fun books.
I don't know how many times I've read this through the years. Some books reach in and hit just right time and again.
Great idea. Telling the story of a changeling child from her perspective is very unusual, sad and lonely. The execution is a little wonky, none of the characters except for Moql and Bess are fully realized. The plot speeds and drags and the mob of villagers thing is overdone.
The language and myth alone make this a magically woven story to cherish! The way of confronting and challenging the very sad albeit human trait of fearing and shunning those who are different cinches it. This book is timeless, and should be on everyone's shelf!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to about 90% of this audiobook in one sitting. I was so mesmerized by the setting and story that I didn't realize time passing. It was like I blinked and suddenly it had been 6 hours. Almost as if I got a taste of the magic, and how time passes differently in the mound.
I remember hearing stories of changelings while I was growing up (and real life examples of Cuckoos birds laying their eggs in other birds nests) and I was always terrified of the idea. There was never any sympathy or concern for the fairy child, growing up in a world so different from their own. This book's take on the changeling myth is so different, and invites readers to see themselves in Saaski (if they've felt ostracized) or to contemplate times they have been quick to exclude people they didn't understand.
The myths, superstitions, and magic woven through this novel are so enchanting. I wish I hadn't rushed through it so I could have lived in that world for longer.
I remember hearing stories of changelings while I was growing up (and real life examples of Cuckoos birds laying their eggs in other birds nests) and I was always terrified of the idea. There was never any sympathy or concern for the fairy child, growing up in a world so different from their own. This book's take on the changeling myth is so different, and invites readers to see themselves in Saaski (if they've felt ostracized) or to contemplate times they have been quick to exclude people they didn't understand.
The myths, superstitions, and magic woven through this novel are so enchanting. I wish I hadn't rushed through it so I could have lived in that world for longer.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse