This is one of the books recognized by USBBY, the US chapter of the international organization for children's books. Kate Thompson is an Irish writer. The story is about JJ Liddy, from a family of Irish musicians, who promises to give his mother the gift of time for her birthday. It appears that in our world, time has been going faster and faster until nobody has time for anything any more.With the help of a local historian, JJ finds a time skin into the world of the Irish sidhe, or fairy folk. Time hasn't moved in their world, but now it is moving, and they are aging. JJ must find where the time is leaking out of his world and into the fairies' world if he wants to save both of them.
In this book, the fairies aren't little critters with wings, but regular people who love to play music. JJ meets Aengus, the Celtic god of love, youth, and beauty, who helps him to discover the secret of the time leak.
Meantime, back in our world, a new policeman has shown up who doesn't seem to know that much about his surroundings. Is he one of the sidhe as well?
Thompson brings all of these threads together into a very satisfying conclusion. I appreciated the fact that I couldn't predict how JJ would solve the time leak, but solve it he does.
Kate Thompson has written a wonderful book about Irish music, believing in magic, and family ties that also teaches us a bit about Irish folklore. There is a glossary in the back that helps you understand the Irish words that she uses. She also includes the music for dozens of Irish folk tunes that serve as chapter headings (or endings). If you are at all interested in Irish music and folklore, you'll appreciate this book.
2005, NY: Greenwillow Books
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