The Boggart Fights Back
bySusan Cooper(Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars

One generation after the events in the first two books of the series, the Boggart and Nessie are back, this time for adventures with Tommy and Emily’s children, Allie and Jay. The land around Castle Keep has been sold to a ruthless developer, who wants to turn the Loch into a marina with a fancy hotel and golf resort. The Boggart won’t allow his castle to be torn down, and he starts to mess with the construction work. Can they scare off the developers before it’s too late?

This book is so enchanting and imaginative! I love the way that the modern world collides with the ancient legends. It’s really interesting that a large part of the story is told from the Boggart’s and Nessie’s perspectives, and they meet other ancient creatures and spirits and enlist their help to protect their home.

I didn’t like that the kids are breaking the rules a few times. It’s for a good cause, but the ends don’t justify the means, so I was disappointed in the moral message there. They illegally take down ribbon markers on trees that are going to be cut down. They sneak out of the house at night without permission. They spy and take pictures of private documents belonging to the developers. I don’t see why they had to break the law in order to protect the castle. The story could have done a better job of keeping the good guys good, instead of leaving them with compromised consciences. Allie even says that she feels guilty for lying to tourists to gain their sympathy and manipulate them into signing a petition to save the castle. Why couldn’t she have gotten the signatures without lying?

Overall, this book is not as good as the others in the series, but I still enjoyed it, and it was fun seeing the Boggart connect with another generation of the MacDevon clan.

This book has been screened on the Screen It First website for some mild profanity and dark content. https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-boggart-fights-back-618921