Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry

Gr 3–5—Ten-year-old Fiona's family left the Western Isles four years ago, but now she is returning to them. At her grandparents' home on one of the larger islands, she hears the legends of the selkies, from whom she is said to be descended, and she also hears rumors of her baby brother Jamie, who was lost when her family left the isles. As Fiona explores her island home, she learns that the selkie myths and the stories about her lost brother are intertwined, centering on the now-uninhabited Ron Mor islet and the nearby skerry where the seals sun themselves. If she can return to the cottage on Ron Mor where her family once lived, Fiona hopes that she will see her brother again, and it seems that the seals are mysteriously supporting her efforts. Originally published in 1957, this book was the basis for the film The Secret of Roan Inish. Nostalgic adults are sure to welcome this title's return to publication, though young readers may find that the text has an old-fashioned feel, enhanced by the pen-and-ink illustrations throughout. There's plenty of charm: helpful seals, an abandoned cottage, travels by boat among islands, and a tantalizing hint of magic. Fans of E. Nesbit, L.M. Boston, and Edward Eager are the perfect audience for this pleasantly quaint tale.