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Summary: This Author Scores Again
Review: 'The Moorchild' is an extremely well-written book, with an interesting plot- like many of this author's books. ('Mara, Daughter of the Nile' is my favorite book of all time.) The characters are vivid, and the backround of the story is great. I reccommend this book to anyone who wants to read something that can pull you into the story...
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Summary: Heartwarming
Review: A book that shows life from another point of veiw. When an innocent half-elf and half-human is kicked out of her world, and given to the humans, she never really fits in anywhere. The story shows that, often people can be more horrible than that which they deem evil.
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Summary: Fabulous!
Review: An interesting novel with beliefs from the old days about changelings and faeries. I found it quite intriguing and I feel that it makes a good read. Young Moql'nkkn is a faery who cannot become invisible. As this causes a danger to the Folk's mound, the Folk switch her with Saaski, a human babe. The human babe is made into a slave by the Folk, and Moql is stuck in a human home that she hates. Yet Moql soon forgets that there was ever anything but her new human home. She forgets she is Moql, and becomes Saaski. As Saaski grows up, she is different from the other children in the villiage. She loves to go out into the moor, to play her grand da's pipes, and she looks odd compared to anyone else in the villiage. Saaski is widely believed to be a changeling and is picked upon. Saaski loves her parents, but is unhappy. Soon, the villiagers come on bad luck and are sure that Saaski, the "evil changeling," is at the heart of it. Saaski doesn't know where to turn or what to do, and she must suddenly face danger and experience that could well kill her if she is not careful. Will Saaski ever belong and be safe?
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Summary: I hated it!
Review: As I began this book, I was utterly confused. I was not sure of the child's location, or what was going on. After five pages I was so confused I just stopped reading. I read the entire book, and found that it was utterly boring. I do not recommend this book.
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Summary: We daren't go a-hunting for fear of little men
Review: Books about fairies, Old Ones, ferishers, etc. are as common as the day is long. There seems to be an insatiable need on the part of children to read about the mythical creatures that live within and yet not within our midst. Changelings are some of the oldest of these creatures and have been used to excellent use in a wide variety of literature. As you may know, a changeling is an object or creature exchanged for an unchristened baby. The changeling may at first look just like the baby it has replaced, but over time definite differences will come out. Most stories about changelings concentrate on the effort to locate the exchanged child. In the case of Eloise McGraw's, "The Moorchild", the author has cleverly written a tale of what it means to be different from everyone around you.
Old Bess knows something has gone wrong with the baby Saaski. Where once the child was docile and contained, now it cries and screams continually day and night. Old Bess suspects, rightly, that her grandchild has been exchanged for a changeling, an idea her daughter and son-in-law won't even consider. For her own part, Saaski is livid. A fairy, yes, she has been ousted from her home and fellows for the crime of not being able to do simple fairy tricks. It turns out that she is half human, and belongs neither in the fairy world nor in the human. As the baby Saaski grows up, she forgets her former life in the mystical Mound and thinks of herself as fully human, if a little odd. Certainly the village distrusts her, a feeling that becomes far more malignant and violent as time goes on. On her own, Saaski only feels truly free when she can wander the Moors, piping a tune on her grandfather's bagpipes. As time goes by, however, Saaski must rediscover who she is and solve the mystery of the child she replaced.
On the surface, the tale is a straightforward look at how difference breeds unnecessary hatred. Delving a little deeper into the text, this is a story about biracial children and the prejudices they face in society. In her dedication McGraw writes, "To all children who have ever felt different", giving her readers the chance to identify with this strange but beautiful creature. I was amazed at how well the author researched the classic fairy stories too. Saaski is afraid of salt, iron, rowan wood, St. John's Wart flowers, and other items as well. The fairies steal mostly food items and are lacking in such human emotions as love and hate. As a changeling, Saaski is similar to the boy Troy in Michael Chabon's recent fairy tale, "Summerland". She bears little resemblance to dangerous or evil changelings found in tales like Maurice Sendak's, "Outside Over There", (the melting baby changeling is particularly frightening) or the creature in John Crowley's, "Little Big" that crawls to the fireplace and starts eating the hot coals there like popcorn. The book is careful to admit that in some cases, changelings are enchanted sticks of wood or inanimate objects. Saaski's case is special because she is a halfling of sorts with a fairy mother and a human pa.
There are a lot of great fairy stories out there that don't give a whoopty-doo about the laws governing the Fair Folk and their kin. In a way, it's a great relief to read an accomplished writer like Eloise McGraw and her "Moorchild" book. The plot is enchanting, the characters lively and well written, and the story a fabulous metaphor for those people that must create their own worlds when the one around them becomes too intolerant. A delightful addition to any public or private library.
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Summary: Underlying Theme
Review: First--his book is FABULOUS! Now, I don't know if the author meant for an underlying theme, but I found one to be quite clear. It portrays--in exageration--the alienation felt by youths in many situations as they search to discover themselves. Wondering if they are different, feeling alone, and wanting to just be like everyone else. This book also has a wonderful plot, and almost a fairytale feel. It is almost like the ugly duckling, but the ending can be the same or different depending on your perception. I say, judge for yourself after reading the book. You can take it seriously--as I have--and draw many meanings. If you choose to just read it, however, I believe you will find the experience equally enjoyable.
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Summary: Saaski was never quite like the other village children.
Review: Her eye color changed constantly. Her fingers were too long. She had an unnatural ability for climbing. And she could never stray from the moor, where she loved to play wild tunes on her bagpipes, songs which no human had ever heard before. Old Bess suspected from the beginning that Saaski was a changeling, a Fairy switched at birth with a human child, but wisely kept quite about it. Soon, though, the villagers began to notice too. Eventually, prejudice set in, and anything that went wrong was blamed on Saaski. They tanunted her, calling her witch, boggart, and even the children called her freaky-odd. The only person who believed that she was not one of the Folk--the mythical people who dwell in the Mound, unseen by humans--was Tam, her friend, who herded goats on the moor. But one day, Saaski saw one of the Folk, and conversed with it. Soon, the memories began to fall into place, and she finally understood who she was, and what she had to do.
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Summary: Read this...NOW!
Review: I decided to read this book my little sister brought home (justout of curiosity). I didn't think it would be any good, so I didn'tplan on reading it long. I'm glad I was curious! This book is very interesting and makes you think. I thought I would be bored because it is a children's book. Boy was I wrong! And it's nice and easy to visualize. I suggest you read this book.Here's hoping for a movie!
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Summary: Definitely worth buying
Review: I first read the Moorchild when I was only nine and I was inexplicably drawn to Saaski, the little girl who was so different and so shunned. But don't pity her- she knows the places that hurt the most when pinched the hardest and isn't afraid to use this knowledge. She isn't beautiful, as some of the covers suggest, just rather unique looking. The story, with it's beautiful web of the real world and the fay's world of glamourie, is a must-read. Like all classics, it just gets better with time and I enjoy just as much now if not more as I did when I first read about the changeling. If you've ever felt alone, teased, or just different, this book is for you. And lets face it; who hasn't ever felt that way?
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Summary: BEST BOOK!
Review: I loved this book! After getting through the very beginning of the book, which is a little slow and confusing, the rest of the book is great. The plot picked up and became very exciting. The book is one big mystery and made me so curious I wanted to keep reading. The plot is full of supense. During the last part of the book I was on the edge of my seat. I love the characters because they are very different and unique. The author does a great job making fantasy seem real. After reading this book I wondered if faries and elves really exist. Read this book if you like fantasy!
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