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The Watcher's Quest #2
The Seeker
* The New York Public Library Books for The Teen Age List
Library Binding
First published November 8, 2011
3 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Buffie
14 books47 followersAward winning author, Margaret Buffie, was born and grew up in the west end of Winnipeg, attended various schools - graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Manitoba. An artist for many years, Margaret decided to write a YA novel and Who Is Frances Rain? was published by Kids Can Press. It quickly became a bestseller after appearing in bookstores in 1987. Since then Margaret has published nine more YA books. She works at her home in Winnipeg during the winter and on the veranda of her cottage in Northwestern Ontario in the summer months. Margaret's books have been published in the United States, Norway, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, China and other countries. Margaret is the recipient of the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for Body of Work (For writing inspirational to Canadian Youth); The Young Adult Canadian Book Award; is a two time winner of the McNally Robinson Book for Young People award and has been shortlisted for many other awards and honours.
Here are a few reviews of my first novel and most recent novel. To see more reviews for my other books go to http://margaretbuffie.com and click on each title.
WHO IS FRANCES RAIN?
REVIEW: Who is Frances Rain? is as distinctly Canadian as the intoxicating lure of silent woods and wind-whipped lakes. The textures of the narrative and the well-rounded characters are just as haunting as the ghosts Lizzie finds on Rain Island. It’s a ghost story with much to reveal to the thoughtful reader about the turbulent emotions at work within families. It’s a novel that makes us grateful for a strong new voice in Canadian literature for young people, a voice we’ll want to hear again soon. QUILL AND QUIRE
REVIEW:Who is Frances Rain? will probably be devoured by its young adult readers in one sitting. It deserves to be; this is an excellent book. TORONTO STAR
REVIEW:Buffie’s story is moody and atmospheric – the lake and the island are pungently, perfectly evoked. Lizzie’s encounters with ghosts are beautifully handled, with just the right balance of eerie and emotional moments. PUBLISHERS WEELY
WINTER SHADOWS
REVIEW:Vicky Metcalf Award-Winner MargaretBuffie returns with a breathtaking novel that is part realism, part time-travel fantasy,
and part coming of age tale. Winter
Shadows focuses on two young women who
live in the same Manitoba home a century and a half apart.....
This communication across time obviouslydraws on the conventions of fantasy, but these elements
arenever forced or implausible, and there is plenty of suspense and energy to sustain the two alternating narratives." QUILL AND QUIRE, DECEMBER 2010:
REVIEW: Buffie is a master of the ghost story, carefully allowing Cass and Beatrice to drift in and out of each other's lives in convincing fashion. The convention of the diary allows Cass to connect the dots and learn more about her ancestors. The dialogue both in past and present is authentic, revealing character and moving the action along. CANADIAN MATERIALS
REVIEW: The alternating narratives are gripping, and the characters are drawn with rich complexity; even the stepmothers are finally humanized. Readers will be pulled in by the searing history of bigotry as well as the universals of family conflict, love, and friendship. Grades 7-10.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOC. BOOKLIST: January 2011
THE DARK GARDEN
REVIEW: a first rate blend of ghost story and problem novel about Thea, 16, struggling to recover from traumatic amnesia after a bike accident. Buffie creates a tightly knit, evocatively written, and lushly (but chastely) romantic thriller. The protagonists - living and dead - are distinctly characterized; a once beautiful, now weed-choked garden is simultaneously setting and symbol of lost happiness. vivid sensory writing makes the fluctuations in Thea’s state of consciousness perfectly convincing. KIRKUS
Here are a few reviews of my first novel and most recent novel. To see more reviews for my other books go to http://margaretbuffie.com and click on each title.
WHO IS FRANCES RAIN?
REVIEW: Who is Frances Rain? is as distinctly Canadian as the intoxicating lure of silent woods and wind-whipped lakes. The textures of the narrative and the well-rounded characters are just as haunting as the ghosts Lizzie finds on Rain Island. It’s a ghost story with much to reveal to the thoughtful reader about the turbulent emotions at work within families. It’s a novel that makes us grateful for a strong new voice in Canadian literature for young people, a voice we’ll want to hear again soon. QUILL AND QUIRE
REVIEW:Who is Frances Rain? will probably be devoured by its young adult readers in one sitting. It deserves to be; this is an excellent book. TORONTO STAR
REVIEW:Buffie’s story is moody and atmospheric – the lake and the island are pungently, perfectly evoked. Lizzie’s encounters with ghosts are beautifully handled, with just the right balance of eerie and emotional moments. PUBLISHERS WEELY
WINTER SHADOWS
REVIEW:Vicky Metcalf Award-Winner MargaretBuffie returns with a breathtaking novel that is part realism, part time-travel fantasy,
and part coming of age tale. Winter
Shadows focuses on two young women who
live in the same Manitoba home a century and a half apart.....
This communication across time obviouslydraws on the conventions of fantasy, but these elements
arenever forced or implausible, and there is plenty of suspense and energy to sustain the two alternating narratives." QUILL AND QUIRE, DECEMBER 2010:
REVIEW: Buffie is a master of the ghost story, carefully allowing Cass and Beatrice to drift in and out of each other's lives in convincing fashion. The convention of the diary allows Cass to connect the dots and learn more about her ancestors. The dialogue both in past and present is authentic, revealing character and moving the action along. CANADIAN MATERIALS
REVIEW: The alternating narratives are gripping, and the characters are drawn with rich complexity; even the stepmothers are finally humanized. Readers will be pulled in by the searing history of bigotry as well as the universals of family conflict, love, and friendship. Grades 7-10.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOC. BOOKLIST: January 2011
THE DARK GARDEN
REVIEW: a first rate blend of ghost story and problem novel about Thea, 16, struggling to recover from traumatic amnesia after a bike accident. Buffie creates a tightly knit, evocatively written, and lushly (but chastely) romantic thriller. The protagonists - living and dead - are distinctly characterized; a once beautiful, now weed-choked garden is simultaneously setting and symbol of lost happiness. vivid sensory writing makes the fluctuations in Thea’s state of consciousness perfectly convincing. KIRKUS
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 6, 2018
Review time:
The Watcher’s Quest, book two: “The Seeker” by Margaret Buffie.
Emma has accepter her life as a Watcher, but cannot accept the supposed necessity of giving up her family, or her emotions to become an unbiased, analytical Watcher. She still visits her mother and newly appointed Queen of an island, sister Summer. Her mother asks for Emma to find her lost daughter. And so Emma goes on a Seeker’s Quest, where she must face dangers and betrayals. She finds her lost sister, but ends up in the middle of a battle between two kingdoms.
This book was a great extension of the story. We get to see Emma grow as a character, we get to experience her victories and failures, we get to revel in her new, unexpected friends, and cry over betrayals by those closest to her. I could not put this book down!
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Watcher’s Quest, book two: “The Seeker” by Margaret Buffie.
Emma has accepter her life as a Watcher, but cannot accept the supposed necessity of giving up her family, or her emotions to become an unbiased, analytical Watcher. She still visits her mother and newly appointed Queen of an island, sister Summer. Her mother asks for Emma to find her lost daughter. And so Emma goes on a Seeker’s Quest, where she must face dangers and betrayals. She finds her lost sister, but ends up in the middle of a battle between two kingdoms.
This book was a great extension of the story. We get to see Emma grow as a character, we get to experience her victories and failures, we get to revel in her new, unexpected friends, and cry over betrayals by those closest to her. I could not put this book down!
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 24, 2025
Loved reading this book again, and reading the series in order, and I can't wait to finish out my reread!
*First Read January 1st, 2008*
Loved reading this book, though I didn't know it was book 2 in the series, so I'll have to go back and read book 1!
*First Read January 1st, 2008*
Loved reading this book, though I didn't know it was book 2 in the series, so I'll have to go back and read book 1!
November 4, 2023
This is where the series truly takes off. A very unique style of fantasy with endearing characters.
January 7, 2014
I started the trilogy off by reading this book. I know you're to never judge a book by it's cover but that is exactly what I did with this one! I found it for .50 cents at a thrift shop.
I cannot wait to read the first and third of this Margaret Buffie series. I enjoyed the writing, and getting to be in the imaginative world Buffie created.
I would love for this book to become a series of movies. although I also feel that it is one of those stories that can only be told through text. There is so much beauty in this story that I don't know if it could justly be performed on screen.
I love the main protagonist and the challenges she faces are ones that I feel can be relatable to real life.
I cannot wait to read the first and third of this Margaret Buffie series. I enjoyed the writing, and getting to be in the imaginative world Buffie created.
I would love for this book to become a series of movies. although I also feel that it is one of those stories that can only be told through text. There is so much beauty in this story that I don't know if it could justly be performed on screen.
I love the main protagonist and the challenges she faces are ones that I feel can be relatable to real life.
January 20, 2012
Better than the first book, The Watcher, with a more gripping plot and many new, interesting characters. A very fun, enjoyable, short read.
Emma is painstakingly objective, but this is also a strength to her as others try to use her for their gain. Still not in complete control or with confidence in her newly realized abilities, she is now faced with a major dilemma: her mother is terribly ill with no known cause or cure. This begins another story of rebellious actions, fighting for what you love, and confused loyalties.
Emma is painstakingly objective, but this is also a strength to her as others try to use her for their gain. Still not in complete control or with confidence in her newly realized abilities, she is now faced with a major dilemma: her mother is terribly ill with no known cause or cure. This begins another story of rebellious actions, fighting for what you love, and confused loyalties.
January 5, 2009
I really did like this book...it wasn't the greatest ever, but a fun read. It's a fantasy...about a girl who finds out she's really not human and is from another world..she also finds out that there are many different worlds and that most of the beings in these worlds are all for playing the "game"...that is the most important thing..anyway, there's one more book.
January 17, 2008
i breezed through this fantastical young adult novel. it was a pleasure to read although a little repetitive of the same old fantasy story line. if you like the genre you will like this book and its first and last book of the trilogy, the watcher and the finder.
August 28, 2009
This was interesting, I just didn't follow a lot of it and i kinda drug on.
October 2, 2009
Not bad... I like the storyline, but it could be worked out much better, and then again the portrayal of Emma as 'too dense'...
January 26, 2010
A very different book. Fantasy. Great story of a journey with lots of action.
February 6, 2013
a slightly weird book but found it good
February 22, 2013
Awesome!!!
December 27, 2013
quick, easy to read.
Read
April 15, 2010ewwwwww
August 18, 2011
They should also make this into a movie. : )
August 16, 2013
The second book in the Watcher series. A great book for fantasy and thriller
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews