"The Spirit of Loughmoe Abbey" by Megan Wynne Plot Gwen is supposed to be home-schooled but her mum's mental health problems mean she isn't receiving any schooling. When it is clear that her mum needs hospital treatment to recover, Gwen is sent to an unusual boarding school where students are helped to communicate with spirits. While there, she is confronted with an unsettling truth about her past. Review I read this book in a day, so that is always a good sign! I really enjoyed the mix of normal and supernatural that happens in the book, and how it weaves together so seamlessly. There is an air of mystery around the staff at the school, in particular the principal, which I would love to be developed. I found Gwen thoroughly annoying at first. She had every trait I dislike in "home-schooled" children - I was home-schooled myself and get annoyed when people equate home-schooling to no-schooling or random trips to educational establishments. Maths is important...
"A Wounded World" by Crit Kincaid
Book Review
☆☆☆☆☆
“A Wounded World” was one of 5 books I got off Amazon. I’d
just got a subscription for Kindle Unlimited and I knew I would want to read
something while on the train north. I scrolled through my Kindle and clicked on
this book at random – entirely unsure what to expect but I wasn’t holding my
breath…
The first chapter gripped my attention in an uncommon way. I
have not read many books where my interest is piqued so near the beginning but
I found that I really did not want to put my kindle down. The Highland scenery
went by…and I was still engrossed in this book.
As far as I’m concerned, a book that can elicit heightened
emotions from me is a sign of good writing. At one point, I looked up from the ‘page’,
needing to find the composure to carry on. My Mum notices, as she does, and
moves forward to place her hand over mine.
“Don’t read it!” She says.
“No, I have to.” I stubbornly look back down to my kindle. “It’s
so wonderful!”
The uplifting nature of the book, and the perceptions of
life after death are utterly astounding for me.
On top of this, the characters were all well-developed –
something I’m keen on. The teenage angst parts reminded me of why I chose to
teach primary, but the author has portrayed secondary school very cleverly
indeed, the comments on bullying almost breaking my heart. Being in Scotland, I
don’t really understand the American system, but I reckon we have our fair
share of these characters on this side of the water too!
As with all books, I try and find something that could be
better…it’s just my nature I suppose! Aside from a couple of typos that are
easily overlooked, I would do nothing to this book to change it.
What a profound insight into the world and human nature! I
would highly recommend it!
Book Blurb (from Goodreads)
A story about living with the wounds that death can leave behind and healing those wounds with love. A boy hides from a world that hurt him, and a girl must learn how and what love is in order to help him realize there is life after death.
"A strange young man, indeed," said Shu, the old gardener who was really a doctor. "He's like that graveyard cat, who hunts mice amongst graves at night and occasionally ventures out into the bright light of the living world. But even then, he stays in the shadows, avoiding contact, forgetting that his natural place is with the living and not with the dead."
"Sí! La vida no debe rondan a los muertos."
The old man looked to his Hispanic friend and nodded. "My friend, Mr. Rosalis..."
"Ramirez!"
"...agrees, 'The living should not haunt the dead.' I fear bringing that boy to this place was a mistake."
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