Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest

Quick Look

Winner of the Kelpies Prize 2009. Magnus discovers he is half selkie -- part seal, part human -- and must find new courage to save the ocean's creatures from an evil force.

Description

There has always been something unusual about Magnus Fin, a school misfit. On his eleventh birthday Magnus throws a message in a bottle out to sea, wishing for a best friend and to be more brave -- and he gets a lot more than he bargained for. Magnus discovers that he is half selkie -- part seal, part human -- and his selkie family urgently need his help.

Can Magnus save his new-found family from the evil force threatening all the ocean's creatures? And will he find the friend he has always dreamed of?

The winner of the Kelpies Prize.

Reviews

'This book... fires anyone's imagination and unlocks the mysteries of the sea. Older primary and younger secondary boys will love this book.'
-- The School Library Association, Spring 2010

'...a lovely children's book and [it] is the perfect holiday read -- as my ten year old son and I discovered. He was very taken by it and if you have a child around that age I can recommend it.'
-- Anna Phillips, New View, Spring 2010

'Janis Mackay... has crafted an outstanding first novel for all ages ... Clearly inspired by the Selkie tales and the seascape beyond her window, Janis has deservedly won the Kelpies Prize for this book.'
-- Blethers , Scottish Storytelling Centre and Network

'I genuinely couldn't put it down, it's a really engaging adventure story with an environmental theme … Such an exciting adventure and such lovely writing, always in tune with the natural world.'
-- Craftly Green Poet blog

Author

Janis Mackay was born and grew up in Edinburgh, but moved to London to study journalism. She has an MA in Creative Writing and has held writer-in-residence posts in both Caithness and Sutherland. She currently lives in Edinburgh, where she teaches creative writing and works as a writer and storyteller.

You can also visit the author's own website at http://www.janismackay.com