The Boggart and the Monster [Paperback]

Our son was 7 when we first introduced him to the story; he was bored and disinterested by it. However, when we reintroduced it a year later he loved it and promptly began making plans to visit Scotland to find a boggart of his own. That extra maturity was needed to appreciate the joys of the book and thoughtful humor that is presented.

This is a great story for older children developing an understanding of the subtleties of human nature. Particularly how "villains" are not always as dastardly as they may initially appear and how even heros have struggles and challenges to overcome. It also does a good job of illustrating how a brother and sister can work together to solve a problem.

This book is an exciting read not only because the Boggart is up to his old tricks, but also because the favorite characters of the first book (Jessup, Emily & Tommy) appear again and the character of the Boggart is developed and begins to take shape a definitive shape of his own.

Susan Cooper draws you into the story in a way that makes you believe in magic.

Reading this book you feel like a kindred spirit with the Boggart (not to mention the Monster, the children and Mr. Mac).

The Boggart is back in Scotland, happily living in MacDevon castle, and playing pranks on the new owner. But then Jessup and Emily Volnik return to Scotland, and clue in the castle's relieved owner as to the nature of the family Boggart -- harmless, but loves mischief. But a trip to Loch Ness starts to mess things up -- Jessup and Emily encounter an investigator, working for an eccentric millionaire, who is trying to find the legendary Nessie.

The problem is, the Loch Ness monster is actually a boggart, who sank into depression and sleep after his castle was destroyed. Despite the urgings of the Boggart, Nessie can't change form for very long -- he keeps popping back into his monster form. Now the Boggart and his friends must tackle the best of modern technology, to keep Nessie hidden.

Like most sequels, it's best to read "The Boggart" before tackling "The Boggart and the Monster." But don't expect a stale rehash. Cooper gives her story about boggarts a new twist with the Loch Ness monster. What's more, she manages to weave in the legend of Nessie, without making it feel like a cash-in-on-a-mystery-creature book.

The story goes at a more breakneck pace than the first book, and at times it's easy to lose track of it. But Cooper's writing is vivid and compelling, bringing the lakes, hills and ruined castles of Scotland to life. And she gets into the heads of the boggarts wonderfully -- Nessie's loneliness and depression, and the Boggart's desperation and giddy enjoyment.

Jessup and Emily are nice heroes, not exceptional but well-drawn and likable. The Boggart himself is the scene-stealer -- one minute he'll be cheerleading Nessie, then pulling dog's tails, and making an ROV explorer do an underwater dance. And Nessie is a nice addition, a rather pitiful boggart who has lost his knack for boggartry.

Susan Cooper serves up a solid sequel in "The Boggart and the Monster," returning to the world of Celtic sprites and spirits. Fun and enjoyable.