Reviews

Gr 7-10-The clock is ticking much too quickly for 15-year-old J.J. Liddy, his mother, and the other residents of his Irish village. As time seems to slip away more quickly every day, J.J.'s mother jokingly requests more time as her birthday gift. Born into a family of traditional Irish musicians, the boy is torn between his natural love of music and playing with his family at dances, or agreeing to go with his friend to a club on the night he is supposed to play. The decision is made for him when he encounters a woman who tells him she knows how he can get the additional time for his mother. So begins his journey to T'r na n' O, the Land of Eternal Youth, a land of faeries who are also mysteriously losing time. Kate Thompson's award-winning book (Greenwillow, 2007) delivers a rich fantasy. Slowly unveiled family mysteries and questions about the identity of the new policeman in town will keep listeners enthralled. The parallel between the loss of time and the busy life we all lead will be apparent to most students. Irish actress Marcella Riordan lends an authentic accent to the reading. Although each chapter is followed by a somewhat long interlude of Irish music which may put off some listeners, the strong musical tie to the story is worthwhile.-Jeana Actkinson, Bridgeport High School, TX Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Where does the time go? J.J. Liddy's mother tells him that the only thing she wants for her birthday is more time. J.J. sets out to find her some and discovers that time really is running out for the otherworldly inhabitants of TIr na n'Og. Listen Up: This fanciful tale is an allegory for old and new Ireland; the place where one can sit with a neighbor, enjoy a cup of tea, and maybe hear a tune as one surrenders to the go-go rush of the modern world. Each chapter begins with a musical interlude, Irish folksongs with names like "The Teetotaller" and "A Priest and His Boots." Adult listeners know better the pressures of our age and will cheer all the louder when the musicians and storytellers win the day. More fun than a complete boxed set of Ballykissangel.-Angelina Benedetti, King Cty. Lib. Syst., WA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.