Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

Bog Childis the second book I've read by Siobhan Dowd, and the first one that was published after her death at the young age of 47 of cancer. She published four books in all. Bog Child isn't as lighthearted as The London Eye Mystery but she is a very good writer. This one is set in Northern Ireland in 1981 when Fergus McCann is getting ready for the school exams that will help him get to med school. While he and his uncle are digging peat, Fergus finds the body of a girl buried in the bog. She is from the Iron Age, and Fergus becomes friends with the archaeologist who is examining her and her daughter Cora, who is Fergus' age.

A lot happens to Fergus over the summer. His brother is in prison, apparently because of his connection with the IRA. He joins several other prisoners in a hunger strike that is based on a real story. In the meantime, he is roped into delivering mystery packets across the manned border between northern and southern Ireland, an act that could land him in jail as well. Not only that, but he finds his feelings for Cora getting stronger.

Fergus is a strong character; he comes across as a typical Irish teenager during that time, but also demonstrates a depth of feeling for his dying brother, his worried mother, his Uncle Tally who seems to be drifting through life, for Owain, the young Welsh soldier at the checkpoint, and Cora, who has her own feelings to work out. While I didn't understand enough about the history of Ireland at the time, it does make me want to go and learn more about it.

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson

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