Finn Finnegan

by Darby Karchut (Author)

Finn Finnegan
Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amand?n, a breed of goblin-like creatures. Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amand?n, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of fighting Irish.
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School Library Journal

Gr 5-8--Thirteen-year-old Finn MacCullen moves from his uncle's crowded home to live and train with Celtic warrior Gideon Lir. Both stubborn and determined, Gideon and Finn are descendants of the Tuatha de Danaan, an ancient race of fey warriors secretly charged with protecting humanity from the Amandan, deadly goblinlike creatures living alongside humans in modern suburbs. With attacks against fey warriors increasing, Gideon and Finn must race to find a lost weapon, an ancient spear that alone carries the potential to destroy the Amandan. Featuring only one minor female character, the novel will appeal most to boys who love action stories. Patient readers will enjoy multiple training and battle sequences and will chuckle frequently when Finn's hot temper gets the best of him. Pacing is slow at times, and point of view fluctuates between Finn and Gideon, as well as from first to third person. Some Irish folklore and (arguably overdone) dialect will make the story an excellent addition to St. Patrick's Day booktalks and displays. Overall, a great choice for adventure-loving readers who prefer their battle scenes with a hefty dose of ancient weaponry, ground-fighting skills, and just a touch of magic.--Leigh Collazo, Ed Willkie Middle School, Fort Worth, TX

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Finn Finnegan brings classic adventure into a modern day setting for a great read. The Celtic lore in the story is fascinating and gives it an extra richness. This will appeal to all those readers (myself included) who love the idea of a hidden and dangerous world within our own sometimes too ordinary world. — Dee Garretson, author of Wildfire Run and Wolf Storm
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781937053321
Lexile Measure
900
Guided Reading Level
S
Publisher
Spencer Hill Middle Grade
Publication date
March 12, 2013
Series
Adventures of Finn MacCullen
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
Library of Congress categories
-
Independent Publisher Book Awards
Silver Medal Winner 2014 - 2014

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