Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry

by Rosalie K. Fry

Book Overview

This is film/TV tie-in with The Secret of Roan Inish. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681371669
• ISBN13: 9781681371665
• Release Date: October 2017
• Publisher: New York Review of Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.7" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

i love this story

i was so happy to find this book. i have looked and looked for the story that went with the movie. this is a lovely story about loss, growth, love, hope and belief in the impossible. plus it has selkies which... are just the coolest mythical creature. i didn't think the story would be better then the movie (which i love) but it is!

Enchanting

This is the book that the movie, The Secret of Roan Inish, is based upon. The movie tie-in book contains the text of the original book, which was called The Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry, and pictures from the movie. The movie follows the plot of the original book fairly well, although the location was changed to Ireland and some of the names were altered to reflect the change in location. This book, like the original, takes place in Scotland, and notations under the pictures call the characters by their original names. Ten-year-old Fiona has been living in a big city ever since her family left the island of Ron Mor about four years earlier to seek new jobs and new opportunities. However, Fiona's health has been poor, and her doctor has advised her to return to the seaside for the healthier atmosphere. The book begins with her journey to stay with her grandparents who still live close to Ron Mor. Fiona's homecoming is tinged with both sadness and hope, as she reflects on the mysterious disappearance of her baby brother the day that her family left the island. Although her brother apparently floated out to sea in his cradle after being left unattended on the beach, Fiona has the feeling that he is still alive somewhere close to the island. She learns that her cousin Rory also believes the local rumors that the boy is still on Ron Mor in the company of the seals that populate the area around the island. Moreover, Rory and other family members share Fiona's longing to return to their old home and their family's traditional way of life as fishermen. Fiona's determination to find her younger brother and bring him and the rest of their family home to the island is touching and emphasizes the importance of family ties. There is also an element of fantasy because of the story that Fiona's grandfather tells about the family's heritage, which helps explain their special connection to the sea and seals around the island. The story is gentle and upbeat, which makes a nice change from a lot of modern children's books. I recommend it for elementary school children, although beginning readers may struggle a bit with the dialogue, which contains some odd expressions and spellings to reflect the Scottish accents of the speakers. I think that the story is just plain magic.

Great coming of age story. The power of youth enthusiasm.

Fry's style is quite readable, diverse, descriptive and active. Her words make the story - although simple - alive and empowering. Fiona is an inspiration for the youth of today - who often lack direction (due to adult irresponsibility).