ISBN: 978-1-4327-0892-4

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Jeremy McGuire is primarily a playwright who wrote From All Things Evil/Sister.

Jeremy has also been an actor, director and also teacher but his favourite passions are writing and drawing. This book is his first attempt at narrative fiction.

Bobby wakes one morning to find a leprechaun sitting on his bedpost. This is more or less the opening line to a magical tale and one that I’m sure will capture your attention. It certainly did mine and as I read further, I realized I was unable to put this book down.

It is the tale of a young boy who finds himself a new friend - a leprechaun. Yes that’s right, one of those funny little fellas with the three-cornered hats! 

The leprechaun, O’Shaughnessey, comes to him one morning to tell him a tale or two. : O’Shaughnessey later features in the young boy’s life when his little sister falls ill after a trip out to the fun fair. Where there seems to be no hope then comes our magical chap with his hat which later takes the two of them to a world Bobby never knew existed, full of weird creatures and a Ban-Shee he must meet in order to save his little sister.

It tells of how the weeping Ban-Shees try to wash the blood from their clothes but nearly always fail to remove that stubborn red stain. I read somewhere that these stains are said to be of the children they have lost. When you look at it this way, these monsters of the fairy world are not that scary anymore and you actually feel for them. At least that is what Bobby felt when he later faces the weeping Ban-Shee who sings such a sad yet pretty song. Will what she tells him be enough to save his sister? 

This is the perfect tale to read to your children or grandchildren in the evening time though I’m not sure it is wise to read it just before they go to sleep. Some of these characters, though memorable, are pretty scary. Especially The Coachman and the picture that accompanies it.

Illustrations, all done in pen and ink, are pretty nice to look at too for your children. It may even make them want to have a go at drawing too. Also do try and encourage them to read aloud from this book. The words aren’t too long so they should be able to understand and read them.  

A spooky but highly imaginative fiction tale.