Quick Look
A gripping fantasy adventure set on the Isle of Lewis and based on the Lewis chessmen.
Description
When Corrie's family returns to Uig Bay on the Isle of Lewis for yet another miserable summer holiday, he has no idea of the incredible adventure that lies ahead. He finds a strange figurine on a windswept beach, which looks very like the ancient chess pieces found there centuries ago ...but this one has a magician's staff.
Corrie makes friends with local girl, Kat, who tells him the island's legends -- of a terrible sea serpent who summoned up never-ending winter, and of a powerful magician who finally banished him. When Corrie hears a voice in the night and the strange little figure starts to glow, he finds himself drawn into an incredible battle between good and evil.
Douglas Bruton's brilliant first novel tells a fictional story behind the famed Lewis chessmen, which date from the 12th century and were found in Uig Bay in the 1830s. This gripping fantasy adventure will have both boys and girls on the edge of their seats.
Reviews
'The Chess Piece Magician builds into an epic adventure'
-- Jay Deykin, Families Magazine, November 2009
'It is an extremely enjoyable read with both a mal and female protagonist, giving it appeal to boy and girl readers alike'
-- Andrea Rayner, The School Librarian, Winter 2009
Author
Douglas Bruton is an English teacher who lives just outside Edinburgh. He read English and Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, before studying at Edinburgh College of Art. He has been writing ever since and has won several prizes for short stories. His first children's novel, The Chess Piece Magician, was the runner-up in the Kelpies Prize 2008.
Links
Download or print a free Teacher's Guide for this book:
Chess Piece Magician Teacher's Guide (PDF, 52KB)
The Chess Piece Magician was shortlisted for Floris Books' Kelpies Prize for new Scottish writing for children. Find out more about the Kelpies Prize and send your manuscript: next year, it could be your book being published!
Don't miss the Discover Kelpies website for children with exclusive author interviews, fun stuff and latest gossip on your favourite Scottish stories.
