Fairy Hill

Marita ... is a natural storyteller

-- Martin Waddell

In all of Conlon-McKenna’s books there is an underlying sense of resilience, of self-reliance and of enterprise in even the poorest of people.

-- CELIA KEENAN * The Big Guide to Irish Children’s Books *

Conlon-McKenna sees herself very much as a storyteller, and the outstanding feature of her work is its strong narrative thrust.

-- VICTOR WATSON * The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English *

I’ve read this and it’s brilliant! It’s Marita at her best ... this cracking new book features a brave girl who fights back against the fairies who are determined to steal her little brother away  

-- Sarah Webb

wonderful ... a page turning adventure full of bravery, fairies & friendship. Highly recommended

-- Halfway Up the Stairs

Set in the west of Ireland with inspiration drawn from Irish folklore and culture, 13-year-old Anna is thrown into the deep end when sent from London to spend time with her father and his new family. But when beguiling and bewildering events occur, Anna has a feeling there might be some truth in the tall tales she’s told about the landscape she finds herself in … Another triumph from one of Ireland’s most beloved authors

-- Irish Examiner

Marita is back … Marita when she’s on song usually hits it out of the park … really strong buzz, really excited for this 

-- Dave O’Callaghan, Here & Back Again pod

Feels like the book every primary school has been waiting for, for the last 30 years

-- Elaina Ryan, CBI, on Here & Back Again pod

A contemporary story of family and love, stepped in ancient myth and folklore

-- Children's Books Ireland in the Irish Examiner

new novel from Marita Conlon-McKenna, one of Ireland’s best-known children’s storytellers. Set in Sligo, it follows 13-year-old Londoner Anna, who has returned to her father’s homestead under the shadow of Ben Bulben for the summer. The journey she takes is metaphorical too, as Anna tries to find a place for herself in her father’s new family. Anna’s family circumstances give Conlon-McKenna a rich social real-world context against which to place the otherworldly aspects of the story, which sings into a long history of Irish legend and lore … Conlon-McKenna’s clever positioning of Anna’s rational fears beside the enchanted fantasy adds a thrilling edge, suggesting that the boundaries between the two worlds are even thinner than legends might have us believe

-- Irish Times

Marita Conlon-McKenna is an Irish award-winning children’s author, and we were thrilled to find Fairy Hill in our Postbag. O’Brien Books are the publisher of this new novel, a fantastic story for it goes without saying that any story featuring the fairy folk so well-known in all our myths and legends, is sure to be a delight. But what makes this one so readable? It is the element of surprise, the narration of a tale that takes us from a home in London’s Notting Hill, to a wedding and then a flight to Dublin in a few short pages, the sense of mystery, wonder and magic is infused in every word, the feeling of needing to read on to discover more

-- Armadillo Magazine

introduce your children to the gripping writing of Marita Conlon-McKenna

-- Sunday Times Ireland

Conlon-McKenna brings together elements that are familiar ingredients in children’s literature; the fractured family, new relationships and friendships, change, the world of faerie and folk lore. They are familiar, indeed, but here skilfully woven together to create a warm-hearted story of family and friendship, of change and acceptance with just the right amount of jeopardy bringing an element of danger and potential loss … Conlon-McKenna’s style is accessible and attractive, allowing for just enough description to create a sense of place, while a good use of dialogue engages the immediate attention. Traditional storytelling beautifully handled

-- Books for Keeps

One of Ireland’s best-loved storytellers for children is back with a story inspired by WB Yeats’ poem The Stolen Child, which brings together modern Ireland and Irish folklore in a captivating way. When Anna is sent from London to stay with her dad and his new family in rural Ireland, she is not happy but slowly her dad’s farm and the woods and animals start to work their magic. Anna’s intelligence and bravery are put to the test when her father ploughs a field said to contain a fairy fort. Strange things begin to happen … A genuinely eerie and captivating story, with a cracking plot

-- Sarah Webb, Irish Independent

atmospheric adventure

-- Inis Magazine

Conlon-McKenna is an expert at crafting page-turners for pre-teens and builds a bewitching tale of mystery and suspense

-- The Echo

I’d give the book a 10 out of 10. It was one of the best books I have read. I would definitely read it again

-- Seán, 6th Class, Urbleshanny NS, Scotstown, Co. Monaghan * Seomra Ranga *

The book is brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would suggest it for children aged 9-12. It is exciting and scary

atmospheric adventure … with the excitement and pace increasing around the final encounter, Anna, a very engaging character, must brave the dangers of the fairy ring

-- Children's Books Ireland’s Annual Reading Guide 2023

the very best in Irish children’s books published in 2023 ... lovers of adventure stories will enjoy Fairy Hill by Marita Conlon-McKenna’

-- RTEJr

A new story from Ireland's most beloved children's storyteller, Fairy Hill is a gentle, easy read and an excellent entry point for new readers

-- Donegal