The New Policeman, by Kate Thompson, combines classic Irish folklore with modern storytelling to create a unique plot in an unfamiliar land that is nonetheless things that we have, for the most part, seen before.
All J.J. Liddy’s mother wants for her birthday is time. The time seems to be seeping away from the residents of Kinvira, a small town located near the sea of Ireland. J.J. takes upon himself this seemingly impossible task; he tries to do odd jobs for his mother, to give her more minutes in an ever-shortening day, while also trying to fit in homework and music practice for the upcoming family dance. But, just like all the other people, J.J. just doesn’t seem to have enough hours to complete his tasks. That is until a neighbor reveals a secret…
As it seems, time is leaking from Earth into an alternate version of Earth, the classic Irish folklore land or Tir na N’Òg, where time stands still. So now, not only is time passing in the “Land of Eternal Youth, “ but there are less hours in the other world. J.J. must team up with a “Fairy” named Aengus Òg to find the leak between the two worlds and restore time to its original flow. From the plot mentioned above, you might not say there’s much to the story; no obvious antagonist, little knowledge of the worlds; among other things. In fact, the plot is rather light in the basic sense: an Irish Teenager searches for a rip in the fabric of Time to save both worlds. But, you’ll only get a small sense of the big picture if you don’t pay attention to the scenes that are obviously a back story. If you look closely, you’ll see a deeper plot present itself, one that enhances the experience much past the basic events of the story. Thus, this is a challenging read for most young adults, but the journey is very worth it. The book is also very rich in Irish Folklore, making it a must-read for those close to their Irish heritage, or those interested in the unique mythology of Ireland.
by Mark G. p. 2
Rating: *****
All J.J. Liddy’s mother wants for her birthday is time. The time seems to be seeping away from the residents of Kinvira, a small town located near the sea of Ireland. J.J. takes upon himself this seemingly impossible task; he tries to do odd jobs for his mother, to give her more minutes in an ever-shortening day, while also trying to fit in homework and music practice for the upcoming family dance. But, just like all the other people, J.J. just doesn’t seem to have enough hours to complete his tasks. That is until a neighbor reveals a secret…
As it seems, time is leaking from Earth into an alternate version of Earth, the classic Irish folklore land or Tir na N’Òg, where time stands still. So now, not only is time passing in the “Land of Eternal Youth, “ but there are less hours in the other world. J.J. must team up with a “Fairy” named Aengus Òg to find the leak between the two worlds and restore time to its original flow. From the plot mentioned above, you might not say there’s much to the story; no obvious antagonist, little knowledge of the worlds; among other things. In fact, the plot is rather light in the basic sense: an Irish Teenager searches for a rip in the fabric of Time to save both worlds. But, you’ll only get a small sense of the big picture if you don’t pay attention to the scenes that are obviously a back story. If you look closely, you’ll see a deeper plot present itself, one that enhances the experience much past the basic events of the story. Thus, this is a challenging read for most young adults, but the journey is very worth it. The book is also very rich in Irish Folklore, making it a must-read for those close to their Irish heritage, or those interested in the unique mythology of Ireland.
by Mark G. p. 2
Rating: *****
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