The Faerie Isle

Starred review from January 15, 2025
A collection of Irish myths and legends, some encouraging, most cautionary. Irish folklore is populated by faeries, or "the good people," as you'd best call them. They include creatures great and small, those of the land and of the sea, those who act as harbingers, and others who frankly just don't like to be bothered. Each well-researched entry includes a page of general description covering the creature's historical origins and traditional behaviors and temperament, as well as lessons to be learned, followed by a brief tale. "The Queen's Shoes" tells of a tiny leprechaun shoemaker who rewards a kindly young shepherd, while "At the Crossroads" centers on a brave young girl's encounter with the Headless Horseman. Quinn's writing has a folksy, intimate tone; readers will feel as though they're huddled by the fireside, listening to a gifted storyteller holding an audience spellbound. Even folklore enthusiasts will find unique depths within each jam-packed entry. Reminiscent of Stephen Gammell's work, Flynn's illustrations are grotesquely gorgeous--like the fae they depict, they are texturally rich, glowing with a unique allure and just a touch unsettling. Her use of color and negative space is haunting, well paired with the creatures depicted. Fantastic in all respects. (glossary)(Folktales. 7-13)

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from January 1, 2025
Grades 4-8 *Starred Review* In the introduction to this striking, thoughtful work, Patricia Fforde, Ireland's Laureate na n�g (Laureate for Youth), gives a light warning to readers: the fairies found in this work won't be the cute type, she cautions, because Irish fairies are "more likely to be shape-shifters, tricksters, or revenge-seeking, lesson-teaching fiends." The entries that follow, which are adorned with beautiful, nature-filled watercolors, showcase a darker "good folk" (the fairies' preferred term for themselves, we're informed) than is often found in books about Irish folklore and fairies and their ilk generally. Entries are in two parts, with the first describing beliefs about the beings--mermaids, giants, wild water horses, changelings, and more--and discussing nuances from different parts of Ireland. The second part of each entry is a related folktale told in accessible and engaging language and sprinkled, like the information in the nonfiction sections, with Irish words. A glossary and a solid list of sources close the work. Overall, this is a big success and will be great in classes that are looking at folktale imagery and motifs that occur across cultures. For independent enjoyment, recommend to readers who like their fairy tales to come with a little darkness.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.