History and historical fiction

Entrancing and immersive from the moment the cover is cracked, the reader is irresistibly lured into this stunning book. The imagery whispers of a sinister edge to the faerie folk, Dermot Flynn’s use of a ‘spikiness’ in the illustrations of the featured fae matches precisely Síne Quinn’s authentic description of fickle magical creatures who might be friend or foe based on whim, or on their treatment by humans. Each element from the cover to endpapers is indicative of a considered whole, the text and illustrations are equal partners and complement each other perfectly.

Wow what a book! This fantastic hard back book, which is beautifully produced, describes historic accounts of flights, with a level of detail that is hard to surpass. I only wish it was published when I was a child! Packed full of fascinating facts and information, it reads like the ultimate adventure story, yet every fact and detail is based on real events.

Haunted Ireland is a captivating collection of thirty-two terrifying tales, with each story written for a county of Ireland. Inside its pages lie spooky stories of poltergeists, witches and vengeful spirits haunting each of the counties.

The Last Boy is a heartaching poignant story, inspired by the life of George Brewster, the last ever Victorian child chimney sweep. This tale merges historical fiction with magical realism, as it takes the true story of the young George Brewster and merges it with the historical setting of Birr Castle, which is home to the Leviathan, otherwise known as The Great Telescope.

Incredibly powerful, this book masterfully tells the story of the Irish Famine. Without focusing on a single character, or set of characters, the book compiles the succession of events that Irish people endured during the famine. The text is strong, direct and vividly descriptive, capturing the emotional weight of the topic.

Sally’s story, set in early 1900s America, is a very evocative telling of the emigrant experience for so many Irish people and, indeed, has resonances for the many people from other countries who now make their home in Ireland.

If you have ever casually wondered what lighthouse in Ireland is the most Easterly, or why lighthouses are not all painted the same colours and patterns, or even wondered if you could tell what lighthouse you are seeing at night as its beam of light crosses the horizon, you will find out in this wonderful encyclopedia.

This beautiful verse novel follows Fia and her beloved snow deer, Solas, as they set out on an impossible quest, across pre-historic Ireland, to negotiate with the powerful Deer Mother for the return of the sun after years of endless winter. Fia and her deer have been bound together since their birth on the same Solstice thirteen years ago and by a prophecy of sacrifice, which Fia doesn’t fully understand. Now though, with her village close to starvation, Fia and Solas are sent by the village Shaman to make this journey to bring back the sun.

Packed with the adventure that time travel promises, readers experience how one small change can alter the course of history in this historical fiction story bringing readers back to the difficult times of the Great Irish Famine.

Another instalment in the author’s Illustrated History series, this wide-ranging introduction to urban legends will be enjoyed by both young readers and adults. After first explaining what urban legends are and how they spread, the book then covers a wide range of tall tales, beginning in the 6th century with the first report of the Loch Ness monster, and extending all the way to the present day when urban legends are spread via social media and video games.