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Reviewed by Jonathan David Masters of BookTrees
The Isle of Mist: A Tale of Scotland
Application format By: Nancy Monaghan
Nancy Monaghan has just had her young adult books picked up by E-Pub2000 and I can understand why. This woman can tell a tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this marvelous adventure of three cousins set in bonnie old Scotland and their courageous efforts to right a centuries old wrong.
Nancy not only entertains as she weaves her yarn but she educates. Without even realizing (because she so masterfully weaves), a young person who reads one of her stories will come away with real facts about the people and cultures of the lands they visit. This story follows that 'Monaghan tradition'. Maggie MacDonald and her mother, after the tragic death of her father, move to Scotland to begin a new life. One day while in her mother's book store Maggie trips over a loose stone and finds hidden beneath it, an old and mysterious journal. What happens next, sends Maggie and her two twelve year old twin cousins, Ian and Grace, on a quest that will test their courage from the world of the living to that 'Other world'.
Perhaps the very best thing about this book is the most extraordinary and creative ending. Probably one of the best I have ever read in a book of this type. At 52 pages it's an easy print off and your kids will love it. Your big kids, too.
Reviewed by Jonathan David Masters OF BookTrees
The Spirit Stone: A Tale of Ireland
By: Nancy Monaghan
I place this small novel in the same class as "The Hardy Boys" and "Nancy Drew Mysteries" (with an Irish flair) we all enjoyed as children. The vocabulary is suitable for the nine to thirteen age group. I found the tale delightful and entertaining. Characters are believable and the story with just the right amount of blarney to be taken seriously as a tale that could only take place against the background of Ireland.
Ms. Monaghan certainly impressed me with her knowledge of Celtic Folklore and the customs and rituals surrounding the Druids. Of course, with a name like Monaghan, I would have been extremely disappointed had I found otherwise.
In this tale an American 14 year old and her two male Irish cousins have a wee bit of a grand adventure, involving her grandmother’s diary, an ancient Druid Priest, magic, life and death close calls, mystery, the apparition of a lovely murdered maiden and the village elder.
It is grand read, indeed, and parents who’ve had a hard time finding material for their kids to read in this off season from school, might just find Nancy Monaghan’s books to be their answer. Certainly "The Spirit Stone" is suitable for kids of all ages.
Reviewed by Joyanne M. Moul of
The Blue Iris Journal
Druid Stone Offers Two Top-Quality Novellas
The Druid Stone is about a girl who goes to Ireland to visit her aunt, uncle and cousins. She and her cousins discover that they have all been seeing an old Druid, who had cursed one of their ancestors a long time ago. Their visions and encounters started when Michael, one of the cousins, took a stone with indecipherable writing on it. They soon discover that they must help their ancestor and rid the world of the Ancient Druid.
This was a well-written story with strong characters and a definite plot. The combination of Irish culture and history really captured my attention. The author has excellent descriptive skills, she helps you paint a very clear picture of both the scenery and the characters.
The conflict between pro- and antagonists was clear enough to be followed easily, but complex enough to keep the reader going. Personally, I thought this was an excellent book. I highly recommend it for someone with an interest in magic, history or Ireland.
The dialogue had a casual tone, which helped add to the book’s attraction. The dialect fit the characters and was in just the right amounts. In some places you could almost hear what the characters were saying.
Overall this was a great book. I couldn’t put it down. The characters and the plot pull you in from the start and keep you interested till the very last word.
The Isle of Mist starts off with a young girl named Maggie grieving over the loss of her father. She and her mother get an invitation to move to Scotland with the deceased’s family. They inherit a home and bookstore. Maggie begins exploring the history of her new home with her cousins. She soon learns about an ancient curse put on her father’s side of the family and a way to end it.
The main characters in the story were well developed and very fitting of their age group. They were interesting and quite believable. The author painted a good picture of them that sticks with you.
The plot was clear and easy to keep track of. The author stuck to it and focused on the important things. The historical aspects were correct from my experience with Scottish folklore.
I liked this book for several reasons. You didn’t have to spend much time trying to figure out the plot, and it wasn’t overdone. I would recommend this book to just about anyone who likes to read. I really enjoy reading this author’s work. The dialect and dialogue were well done and fit the characters, and the overall story was excellent.
Reviewer: Kathleen McGowan, Editor in Chief of Irish News and Entertainment
"Young fans of the J.K Rowling's "Harry Potter" series and R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" books are certain to enjoy these stories."
The Druid Stone: Celtic Mysteries, Nancy Monaghan
Xlibris Publications, Inc., 155 pgs.; February 2000
ISBN: Paperback: 0-7388-1419-9 Hardback: 0-7388-1418-0
With her new book, "The Druid Stone," Nancy Monaghan has created a very worthy volume for young people. The book contains two short stories, both filled with the mythology and magic of the Celtic world. "The Spirit Stone" is the title of the first story, set in Ireland, while the second story, "The Isle of Mist," takes place on the mystical Scottish Isle of Skye.
The success of Monaghan's work comes from her ability to blend the richness of Celtic history with ripping adventure. The stories will hold the attention of young adult readers while providing a generous background of Irish and Scottish history in an entertaining way. Although "The Druid Stone" is a marvelous read for young people of Celtic heritage, these timeless stories are certain to appeal to individuals from all cultures.
Parents will find much to admire in Monaghan's characters - these are real kids with spirit and intelligence. Best of all. they accomplish their goals through team work and cooperation.
Young fans of the J.K Rowling's "Harry Potter" series and R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" books are certain to enjoy these stories. While reading "The Druid Stone," I found myself envisioning it on the small screen - both stories would make excellent television episodes!
Reviewer: Richard Shannon, Austin Celtic Association, Austin, Texas, 30 Mar 2000
A Delightful Book That Will Entertain All....
The Druid Stone: Celtic Mysteries by Nancy Monaghan presents two adventurous mysteries for young readers. Filled with Celtic Druidic lore and ancient legend, the author's exhaustive historical research brings the lush scenery and cultural heritage of Ireland and Scotland alive, painting beautiful images in the readers mind.
In the first story, "The Spirit Stone -- A Tale of Ireland," teenager Kelly Monaghan visits family in County Donegal, Ireland. Kelly has been having a recurring nightmare which turns out to be prophetic. She must free the spirit of one of her ancestors from the curse of an evil Druid in an exciting adventure.
The second story, "The Isle Of Mist -- A Tale of Scotland," tells the tale of Maggie, a teenager whose life is changed by her father's death. Maggie and her mother inherit the family's house and bookstore on the Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland. Maggie finds an old diary which tells the story of a past feud between her mother's ancestors, the MacLeans, and her father's ancestors, the MacDonalds.
The diary tells of a tragic love story of two teens, Robert and Bonny. The MacLean clan had placed a curse on the MacDonalds so that every male child born to the clan dies before living to his thirty-seventh year. Maggie must reenact an ancient ritual to break the curse. Druid Stone: Celtic Mysteries is a delightful book that will entertain one and all. Though meant for adolescent readers, the stories fare well for adults, too, and are excellent for reading aloud to younger children.
Reviewer: P. J. Nunn of
The Charlotte-Austin Review
Editor - The Mystery Morgue &Raven Feathers
Mystery Dept. Head ~ Without A Clue
THE DRUID STONE actually consists of two separate stories: "The Spirit Stone" and "The Isle of Mist."
"The Spirit Stone" begins with young Kelly running from a dark figure in a recurring nightmare. Although the dream troubles the 14-year-old girl, she purposes not to allow it to interfere with the pleasant anticipation of her upcoming visit to Ireland and the ancient hills of Donegal where her ancestors roamed.
Welcomed immediately into the home of her cousins, Kelly learns that same day that the boys have been troubled recently like she has. Only their troubles come from visions during waking hours, not nightmares as Kelly has experienced. A walk through the woods quickly confirms that she, too, can see the hooded, cloaked figure that threatens them all.
Oddly, none of the adults they trust can see the man. A cryptic note, left in her journal by her Nana, gives the cousins needed information - pointing them toward the village Elder if trouble threatens. The three set out to visit Elder O'Donnell and are amazed to learn that he already knows exactly what the problem is.
Long ago, one of Kelly's ancestors was cursed into limbo for eternity and the cousins hold the magic stone that guarantees her release. With the Elder's help, the three make a plan to deliver poor Maeve and set her spirit free. Although the plan is fraught with danger and the cousins experience a few narrow escapes, in the end, justice prevails.
"The Spirit Stone" is an excellent story, but not for those children who are prone to nightmares. For the more adventurous sort, it will be a delightful trip to another land where ordinary children can overcome great obstacles and ultimately, justice prevails.
"The Isle of Mist" tells the tale of Maggie MacDonald, a bright girl living a happy life with her mother in Manhattan. All she really lacks is the presence of her father, Angus MacDonald, who died an untimely death at the hands of a drunk driver six months ago.A voracious reader, much like her mother, Maggie longs to visit the homeland she's never known. Together, the two plan to start a new life, nestled securely on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, the homeland of their ancestors. Upon arrival, Maggie knows it's everything she's dreamed and thoroughly enjoys the companionship of twin cousins her age.
It's not long before their exploration of the island heightens Maggie's curiosity about an ancient curse spoken against the MacDonald Clan. The "accidental" discovery of a hidden journal holds the answer for her. Only the child of a MacLean/MacDonald union has the power to break the curse that causes every MacDonald male to die before reaching the age of 37.
Frightened and excited, the three cousins set out to petition the Sidhe, powerful ancient spirits, to remove the curse.
"The Isle of Mist" is a lovely tale, well suited to children from age 10 and up. They'll delight in the opportunity to explore the island with Maggie and her cousins and experience true satisfaction that doing the "right" thing often brings unexpected rewards.
Reviewer: Onna Seibold, M.Ed., Ft. Worth, Texas:
"The Druid Stone ~ Celtic Mysteries by Nancy Monaghan brilliantly portrays the rich Celtic culture in two fantastic adventures adolescents will enjoy. The two stories represent a unique combination of mysticism, legend and historical research which enables readers to envision beautiful scenery, in accurate descriptions, and the rich cultural past of Ireland and Scotland.
The first story, "The Spirit Stone - A Tale of Ireland" introduces Kelly Monaghan, a vibrant teenager who visits her family in the beautiful Irish County of Donegal. Prior to her visit, she experiences a recurring nightmare, which is a premonition of danger ahead. Kelly finds courage within herself to right an injustice of the past. She must free the spirit of a beautiful woman, one of her ancestors, from the curse of an evil Druid. Kelly gains strength through the love of her grandmother, the wisdom of a 'seanachie,' Hugh O'Donnell, and the friendship of her cousins, Michael and Sean.
The second story, "The Isle of Mist - A Tale of Scotland" is the heroic tale of Maggie, a teenager whose life will be changed forever. Upon her father's death, Maggie and her mother inherit the family's house and bookstore on the beautiful Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland. As Maggie and her mother build a new life in this beautiful country, Maggie finds an old diary which reveals an historic account of a feud between her two ancestors, the MacLeans from her mother's side, and the McDonalds from her father's side of the family. The story reveals the ancient and tragic love story of two teens, Robert and Bonny. The clan of MacLeans placed a curse on the clan MacDonald in which every male child of the clan MacDonald dies before the age of thirty-seven years. There is only one way this curse can be broken and Maggie is the key. Maggie must reenact an ancient ritual to seek justice from the Sidhe, the ancient ones.
The Druid Stone ~ Celtic Mysteries enables imaginations to embrace the researched legends of the past in a rich setting of culture and adventure."
Read the Reviews for The Haunted Cove and The Adoption Legacy
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