Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry

When young Fiona McConville is sent to stay with her grandparents in the Western Isles of Scotland, she and her cousin Rory become involved in a plan to return the family to their abandoned ancestral home, the Ron Mor Island. Discovering the secret of the seals of Ron Mor Skerry, Fiona helps to resolve a family tragedy involving her long-lost baby brother, Jamie, in the process.

Readers may be more familiar with the adaptation of this short novel, and the film made from it: The Secret of Roan Inish, in which the setting is changed from Scotland to Ireland. But although the movie is well done, I think that this original version is the preferable one. Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry (originally published in the UK as Child of the Western show more Isles) is imbued with a powerful sense of place, and of the connections between people and the natural world around them. Those who have done some reading about the gradual abandonment of many of the western islands, off both Scotland and Ireland, will recognize many of the themes here. The writing is positively luminous, and Fry's delicate line drawings are a perfect complement to the story.

As a side note, readers interested in learning more about selkies should pick up a copy of Duncan Williamson's Tales of the Seal People: Scottish Folk Tales. show less

I really enjoyed this book. It really took me back to the Blasket Islands. I don't believe this really took place there, but the descriptions really reminded me of those Irish islands. I remembered the people of Blasket being moved away to the mainland near Dingle as the characters were in this tale. Lovely illustrations. A touching story.

I've no idea of the future, but I can see the past quite well. And the present, if the weather's clear.

Set in Scotland, this short and sweet magical tale for all ages tells the story of a young girl searching for her baby brother who was swept out to sea when the family left the tiny island where they had lived for generations.

The magic is in the form of selkies, which are mythological creatures that are both seal and human, and the life of the baby, then little boy, they both kept and protected.

As I read this story, I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite books—Bridge to Terabithia. Like this book, The Secret of Roan Inish was also made into a movie.

This is a super short young adult book, so character development doesn’t go show more very deep, but you do get a solid taste for life in Scotland’s seaside and island communities. This was an absolutely delightful treat in between two grown-up books! show less

Fiona McConville is a child of the Western Isles, living on the Scottish mainland. City life doesn't suit Fiona and at age ten she is sent back to her beloved isles to live with her grandparents. There she learns more about her mother's strange ways with the seals and seabirds; hears stories of the selkies, mythological creatures that are half seal and half human; and wonders about her baby brother, Jamie, who disappeared long ago but whom fishermen claim to have seen. Fiona is determined to find Jamie and enlists her cousin Rory to help. When her grandparents are suddenly threatened with eviction, Fiona and Rory go into action. "Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry" is a magical story of the power of place and family history, interwoven with show more Scottish folklore, and was the basis for John Sayles's classic 1994 film "The Secret of Roan Inish". show less

I have loved this story since I first saw the movie years ago and have long intended to read the book but something always held me back. I wish now I had not waited so long. It is a tale filled with the magic and folklore of Ireland it begins with a young woman, a selkie, who gives up her seal form to marry and live among the island folk. This story however is really that of young Fiona, just returned from the mainland to live with her grandparents. She has missed her island home, but more than that she has longed to find her younger brother Jamie who was swept out to sea on the day they evacuated Ron Mor.

This a fairytale written for children, written down to pass the old stories on to a new generation. I've always had a soft spot for show more Irish folklore and this story is a perfect example of what I love about it. Magical and filting with the lilting beauty of the Irish, Rosalie Fry, does a fine job of bringing this story to life. For one who has grown up loving fairytles, she has made this story believable, one that I can truthfully see playing out amongst the prior generations who inhabited the emerald isles and the storm swept islands heading out into the Atlantic. show less

Ok, I guess I have to watch the movie. I had no idea that this inspired a movie; I chose it for a 'Scotland' challenge. I imagine there are big changes, because an awful lot of this is about feelings, and memories, and dreams... and it's very short to make into a hundred or whatever minutes.

It is a tale of the paranormal, a sort of a 'fairy' tale but set contemporary to publication (1959). I found it a bit dissonantly unsatisfying that way. But I'm not the target demographic, and when I was a young girl I would have treasured this.

Fry's pictures are delightful, too.

I will continue to read more by her, now that I've found she's got a few on openlibrary (including this).

Btw, something about it reminded me of another book I treasured when show more I was young, that I will have to reread soon: [b:The White Ring|23453045|The White Ring|Enys Tregarthen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556009248l/23453045._SX50_.jpg|43014860]. I'm pretty sure I can recommend that, as well. Not sure where you can find that, but I have a copy tucked safely away in a box in the back closet.... show less

#1031 in our old book database. Not rated.