The Secret of Glendunny

January 31, 2022
In this ghostly tale involving interdependent animal species residing around notoriously haunted pond Glendunny, Lasky (Faceless) focuses on a colony of beavers that settled in Scotland, having fled England to avoid the “two-legs,” or humans, who prize them for their pelts. When beaver kit Dunwattle is startled awake by a cued-white two-leg’s ghost, he flees into uncharted waters all the way to England, where he’s seen and photographed by a human, breaking a rule known as vysculf that is punishable by expulsion or death. Dunwattle consults his beaver best friend, Locksley, and trusted swan Elsinore, a royal counselor, who swear to keep his secret. Complicating things are two beavers—one disgruntled and power-hungry, another obsessed with the British monarchy—a bloodthirsty lynx, and two desperate ghosts of humans who died in a massacre a millennium ago and wish to reach heaven. The taut third-person narrative alternates between pond residents, culminating in a gruesome, puzzlingly abrupt ending, but themes of belonging and friendship are well conveyed throughout, as are the complexities of this industrious world of creatures. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group.

Starred review from January 15, 2022
Dunwattle, a young beaver kit, has inadvertently broken the most sacred rule in Glendunny. During the reign of Henry VIII, all beavers left England to escape being hunted to extinction. They established a thriving civilization in Glendunny, a vast, secret pond hidden in a deep forest in Scotland. To keep Glendunny safe, beavers must never allow themselves to be seen by a two-leg. One morning in the present day, Dunwattle sees the ghostly bones of a two-leg's skeleton. Terrified, he swims all the way to England, where a living human two-leg sees him and takes a photo. Heading home, he's determined to keep his terrible secret. There follows an intricately plotted, wonderfully realized adventure involving all the creatures of the pond and, yes, two-legs, alive and dead, each with strong, distinct personalities and backstories as Dunwattle, along with friends Locksley and Yrynn, helps human ghost siblings Lorna and Fergus find their way to heaven. There is evil, betrayal, cruelty, loss, compassion, kindness, a touch of humor, and heart-stopping adventure. The swan Elsinore is intelligent, pragmatic, and a deeply moral force who keeps watch and intervenes when needed. The carefully constructed fantasy world holds perfectly true, always within the parameters set forth by the author. The invented language has a Scottish flavor, with subtle differences among the species. Further dimension is added by the detailed and beautifully expressed descriptions of place, action, and characters. Draws readers deeply into a mystical world and leaves them wishing for more. (map) (Animal fantasy. 8-12)

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Starred review from February 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* After being relentlessly hunted, beavers haven't been spotted in Scotland for 500 years. But the beavers aren't gone; they've simply gone into hiding, forming a secret enclave and an advanced society. There is only one rule that all beavers must follow: never be seen by a human. All progresses as it should until young Dunwattle, terrified by a ghostly apparition in his lodge, flees in panic and pops up in front of a bewildered professor. Dunwattle reveals the transgression to his best beaver friend and a wise swan, but another beaver outcast, Yrynn, having also seen the apparition, insists that the ghostly human girl needs their help, and they all must work together to untangle the mystery and protect their secret world. It's a marvelous adventure, and Lasky's gorgeous text has a proper, old-fashioned tone that lends gravity to the fantastical plot. There is an astonishingly detailed mythology, language, and history to the beaver world, and larger, relevant themes of immigration and racism are organically worked in. The tale doesn't shy away from occasional death and gore, but there are plenty of delightful details to keep it from getting too heavy. An abrupt ending may bewilder young readers, but the series promises to carry on in future installments. An enchanting introduction to a wonderful, new natural world.

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