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New Policeman #1
The New Policeman
Who knows where the time goes?
There never seems to be enough time in Kinvara, or anywhere else in Ireland for that matter. When J.J.'s mother says time's what she really wants for her birthday, J.J. decides to find her some. He's set himself up for an impossible task . . . until a neighbor reveals a secret. There's a place where time stands still--at least, it's supposed to. J.J. can make the journey there, but he'll have to vanish from his own life to do so. Can J.J. find the leak between the two worlds? Will a shocking rumor about his family's past come back to haunt him? And what does it all have to do with the village's new policeman . . . ?
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
60 people are currently reading
2380 people want to read
About the author
Kate Thompson
61 books150 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.
While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.
She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.
Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.
While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.
She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.
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March 17, 2017This book changed my life.
When I was about nine or ten, my grandma bought this book, having seen a review of it in The Times when it first came out. I'm not sure what she thought would interest me - probably the music, since I've been brought up in a musical family - but it certainly worked.
I was amazed at the entire world Kate Thompson had taken from mythology - an interpretation of the sidhe that I'd never seen before. I loved how she mixed Tir n'a nÓg with the modern day world, how her human characters ere funny and realistic as well as her fairies, and I loved how JJ's family weren't an over sentimental Irish family - JJ got teased at school for dancing, he got teased for playing music. It sounded real.
Her descriptions of music were so inspiring that I actually started playing traditional music myself not long afterwards, and a few years later I took up Irish dance. Now I write books about fairies. I cannot stress enough how much this book has meant to me. I forced some of my friends to read the book and they found the short chapters irritating, or weren't interested in the mythology, but I absolutely loved it. To me, this book is flawless.
I'm nearly seventeen now and this book still holds a place on my 'favourites' shelf.
Highly, highly recommended to anyone with even a passing interest in the fairies, or mythology, or music, or just good books with good characters. Although I never fell in love with the rest of the series in quite the same way, they are still good books in their own right.
---
I'm 21 now, currently writing a second year dissertation on magic in medieval Irish literature for a degree in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. This evening, I'm going to a St Patrick's Day session with people from the Cambridge University Ceilidh Band. Kate Thompson is to blame for all of these things.
This was a long overdue reread.
When I was about nine or ten, my grandma bought this book, having seen a review of it in The Times when it first came out. I'm not sure what she thought would interest me - probably the music, since I've been brought up in a musical family - but it certainly worked.
I was amazed at the entire world Kate Thompson had taken from mythology - an interpretation of the sidhe that I'd never seen before. I loved how she mixed Tir n'a nÓg with the modern day world, how her human characters ere funny and realistic as well as her fairies, and I loved how JJ's family weren't an over sentimental Irish family - JJ got teased at school for dancing, he got teased for playing music. It sounded real.
Her descriptions of music were so inspiring that I actually started playing traditional music myself not long afterwards, and a few years later I took up Irish dance. Now I write books about fairies. I cannot stress enough how much this book has meant to me. I forced some of my friends to read the book and they found the short chapters irritating, or weren't interested in the mythology, but I absolutely loved it. To me, this book is flawless.
I'm nearly seventeen now and this book still holds a place on my 'favourites' shelf.
Highly, highly recommended to anyone with even a passing interest in the fairies, or mythology, or music, or just good books with good characters. Although I never fell in love with the rest of the series in quite the same way, they are still good books in their own right.
---
I'm 21 now, currently writing a second year dissertation on magic in medieval Irish literature for a degree in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. This evening, I'm going to a St Patrick's Day session with people from the Cambridge University Ceilidh Band. Kate Thompson is to blame for all of these things.
This was a long overdue reread.
March 2, 2018
J.J. Liddy, the main character of Kate Thompson’s novel The New Policeman, has a problem: there never seems to be enough time in the day. In fact, there seems to be decidedly less time. With barely enough hours in the day for school and his music, J.J. has no time left over to contemplate the shocking revelation that his grandfather may have been a murderer. To make matters worse, this time problem seems to affect everyone in Kinvara.
When J.J.’s mother reveals that she wants more time for her birthday, J.J. decides to go and find some. A task, at first, that seems like an impossible undertaking for a fifteen-year-old. That is until a neighbor shows J.J. an unlikely place to look for everyone’s lost time.
Even though he doesn’t believe in fairies, J.J. finds himself in Tir na n’Og, the land of eternal youth, and the home of Irish fairies. So begins J.J.’s search of Tir na n’Og to figure out where the time has gone and, more importantly, how to get it back. Along the way J.J. meets a variety of memorable characters including Aengus Og (a personal favorite after finishing the novel).
The narration shifts throughout the book alternating between J.J. in his search for the county’s lost time and the wanderings of the new policeman in Kinvara, Garda Larry O’Dwyer. Like J.J. (and most of Kinvara it seems), the new policeman has a love for music. The new policeman is also almost certain he used to have a good reason for becoming a policeman—if only he could remember what it was.
Thompson expertly entwines these two seemingly disconnected narratives throughout the novel. The common thread between them remains the music that literally runs through the novel. Chapter breaks are denoted by sheet music for traditional Irish songs whose titles relate to the story in addition to the strong affinity all of the characters have for music. By the end of the novel, Thompson ties together both stories creating a sensational end to a truly enjoyable book.
At the same time, The New Policeman is irresistibly Irish, as if you can hear an Irish accent in the narration (or hear a jig or two in the background). The book’s “Irish-ness” is enhanced by Thompson’s integration of Irish mythology and folklore; a glossary in the back explains the pronunciation and origin of especially Irish words like ceili (a dance) or craic (fun).
Thompson’s novel has already received a variety of critical acclaim on the other side of the Atlantic. In addition it is the winner of the Whitbread Children’s Book Award and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Even better, though, is the fact that this book is a great choice for readers of any age. Thompson takes her time arriving at the crux of the plot, but the richness or her writing more than makes up for that. A good book is one that can transport the reader to the place within its pages: The New Policeman does that and more.
Originally published in Great Britain in 2005, this is the first year that The New Policeman was published in the United States. All this reviewer can say to that is it’s better late than never.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
When J.J.’s mother reveals that she wants more time for her birthday, J.J. decides to go and find some. A task, at first, that seems like an impossible undertaking for a fifteen-year-old. That is until a neighbor shows J.J. an unlikely place to look for everyone’s lost time.
Even though he doesn’t believe in fairies, J.J. finds himself in Tir na n’Og, the land of eternal youth, and the home of Irish fairies. So begins J.J.’s search of Tir na n’Og to figure out where the time has gone and, more importantly, how to get it back. Along the way J.J. meets a variety of memorable characters including Aengus Og (a personal favorite after finishing the novel).
The narration shifts throughout the book alternating between J.J. in his search for the county’s lost time and the wanderings of the new policeman in Kinvara, Garda Larry O’Dwyer. Like J.J. (and most of Kinvara it seems), the new policeman has a love for music. The new policeman is also almost certain he used to have a good reason for becoming a policeman—if only he could remember what it was.
Thompson expertly entwines these two seemingly disconnected narratives throughout the novel. The common thread between them remains the music that literally runs through the novel. Chapter breaks are denoted by sheet music for traditional Irish songs whose titles relate to the story in addition to the strong affinity all of the characters have for music. By the end of the novel, Thompson ties together both stories creating a sensational end to a truly enjoyable book.
At the same time, The New Policeman is irresistibly Irish, as if you can hear an Irish accent in the narration (or hear a jig or two in the background). The book’s “Irish-ness” is enhanced by Thompson’s integration of Irish mythology and folklore; a glossary in the back explains the pronunciation and origin of especially Irish words like ceili (a dance) or craic (fun).
Thompson’s novel has already received a variety of critical acclaim on the other side of the Atlantic. In addition it is the winner of the Whitbread Children’s Book Award and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Even better, though, is the fact that this book is a great choice for readers of any age. Thompson takes her time arriving at the crux of the plot, but the richness or her writing more than makes up for that. A good book is one that can transport the reader to the place within its pages: The New Policeman does that and more.
Originally published in Great Britain in 2005, this is the first year that The New Policeman was published in the United States. All this reviewer can say to that is it’s better late than never.
You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print
September 6, 2007
There never quite seems to be enough time to do everything. That’s always been a problem, but it’s been getting worse lately. Everything always feels rushed, and there is no time just to wander along slowly and relax. When J.J.’s mother idly wishes for more time for her birthday, J.J. decides to find her some. But how can he find her time when he barely has enough time of his own to do the basics, like schoolwork—let alone to find out if the local rumors about his grandfather being a murderer are true?
But then J.J. discovers a place where time stands still—at least it used to. Time is leaking from our world into Tir na n’Og, the land of the fairies, and while we have too little of it, they are beginning to have too much. And only J.J. can make the journey to find out what’s causing the leak—but to do so, he’ll have to step out of his own life.
And while J.J. quests in Tir na n’Og, the new policemen begins to show up in his hometown.
I guessed where some of the plot twists were going, but I didn’t catch the big one until right before it happened. And there were some twists I never saw coming at all. Completely delightful.
This book is joyful and full of music and wonder and goodness. It fills me up with happiness. Read it. Read it now.
I borrowed my copy from a friend, but this book is going on the very short list of books that I am going to buy, because I have to own them so I can read them over and over and over again.
But then J.J. discovers a place where time stands still—at least it used to. Time is leaking from our world into Tir na n’Og, the land of the fairies, and while we have too little of it, they are beginning to have too much. And only J.J. can make the journey to find out what’s causing the leak—but to do so, he’ll have to step out of his own life.
And while J.J. quests in Tir na n’Og, the new policemen begins to show up in his hometown.
I guessed where some of the plot twists were going, but I didn’t catch the big one until right before it happened. And there were some twists I never saw coming at all. Completely delightful.
This book is joyful and full of music and wonder and goodness. It fills me up with happiness. Read it. Read it now.
I borrowed my copy from a friend, but this book is going on the very short list of books that I am going to buy, because I have to own them so I can read them over and over and over again.
March 23, 2008
I am remarkably underwhelmed by this one. Due to the super short chapters and one-page musical compositions in between them, I found myself turning pages what felt like every 2 seconds, which got annoying. Also, it takes nearly half the book for the pace to pick up and for you to discover just what the heck the story is about to begin with. The last half is better than the first, so if you stick with it you'll be rewarded with a decent story and resolution, but overall I'm not sure I'd recommend this one very highly.
February 28, 2023
J.J. is worried. Nothing is getting done. Time seems to be slipping away.
And then he learns that time is slipping away. Literally. Time is leaking away.
J.J. finds out how to slip into another Ireland, the Ireland of the fairies and other folk creatures. The beings in this other Ireland are concerned, too, and this is not normal for them; this other Ireland is a place where time stands still, but now there is a leak and time is coming into this happy place, and it is not so happy.
I loved all the gentle humor in this story, especially the idea that all the music in the world has really slipped in from this other fairy world. And I liked how each chapter ended with a song. I would love to be able to hear the music as I read along. Perhaps the audio does that.
One of the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
And then he learns that time is slipping away. Literally. Time is leaking away.
J.J. finds out how to slip into another Ireland, the Ireland of the fairies and other folk creatures. The beings in this other Ireland are concerned, too, and this is not normal for them; this other Ireland is a place where time stands still, but now there is a leak and time is coming into this happy place, and it is not so happy.
I loved all the gentle humor in this story, especially the idea that all the music in the world has really slipped in from this other fairy world. And I liked how each chapter ended with a song. I would love to be able to hear the music as I read along. Perhaps the audio does that.
One of the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.
June 7, 2020
J.J. Liddy, a young musician and dancer living in the small Irish village of Kinvara, finds that time is becoming scarcer and scarcer in this immensely entertaining work of children's fantasy. When his mother, who is also a musician, asks for more time for her birthday, J.J. sets out to find it, discovering that quite a bit of his world's time has been slipping into the fairy realm of Tír na nÓg, doing damage to both places. As J.J. travels into Tír na nÓg in search of lost time, meeting many unforgettable characters along the way, the new policeman in Kinvara, Garda Larry O’Dwyer, also seeks after something, although he can't quite recall what it is...
As someone who loves both Irish mythology and Irish 'trad' (traditional folk music), I found Kate Thompson's The New Policeman absolutely marvelous, enjoying it from beginning to end. Journey stories of this sort, in which children encounter the figures of fairy and folklore, are well established in the world of Irish children's literature - Patricia Lynch's 1934 The Turf-Cutter's Donkey and Pat O'Shea's 1985 The Hounds of the Mórrígan are two notable examples - but Thompson manages to do something a little bit different with her tale, in which both human and fairy-folk are on the move. The incorporation of music - I counted at least twenty-three different named tunes and songs, while reading - was also lovely, and made me wish for an accompanying CD! Recommended to anyone who enjoys myth-tinged fantasy fiction, or who has a weakness for Irish music.
As someone who loves both Irish mythology and Irish 'trad' (traditional folk music), I found Kate Thompson's The New Policeman absolutely marvelous, enjoying it from beginning to end. Journey stories of this sort, in which children encounter the figures of fairy and folklore, are well established in the world of Irish children's literature - Patricia Lynch's 1934 The Turf-Cutter's Donkey and Pat O'Shea's 1985 The Hounds of the Mórrígan are two notable examples - but Thompson manages to do something a little bit different with her tale, in which both human and fairy-folk are on the move. The incorporation of music - I counted at least twenty-three different named tunes and songs, while reading - was also lovely, and made me wish for an accompanying CD! Recommended to anyone who enjoys myth-tinged fantasy fiction, or who has a weakness for Irish music.
April 6, 2012
What would you do if you could add more hours to your day? Time is a scarce commodity in the County Galway town of Kinvara, Ireland. Fifteen-year-old J.J. Liddy, a musician from a long line of musicians, wants to help his mother have her only birthday wish: to find more time. As a musician and farmer, Liddy and his family are already connected to the magic that is old Ireland, where fairy rings are kept intact, and musicians are considered antithetical to the Catholic Church. So when J.J. sets off into the old country to find time, he lands himself in the Land of Eternal Youth. Interestingly enough, the new policeman in town, Larry O’Dwyer, seems to know a thing or two about this eternal youth idea as well. This book is full of magic, whimsy, and delight. Fans of A Wrinkle in Time would surely appreciate it.
November 1, 2012
The residents of Kinvara, a small town in Ireland, feel as though time is slipping away from them: nobody has enough time, and it just seems to be getting worse. When J.J.’s mother asks for more time for her birthday, J.J. sets out to find it for her and finds himself caught up in a world of fantastical creatures out of Irish mythology. This has an interesting set-up, but it takes forever to get going, and never caught my interest that much. (I will admit that this is partly a grouch on my part – the chapters are all very short, and each is prefaced with a page of Irish folk music, so because I read fast, the page-turn rate drove me nuts. Possibly it isn't fair to blame the book for this, but it did inhibit my enjoyment.)
January 10, 2008
A book about time and where it is going. This book has very short chapters that open with the musical score for traditional Irish music. It's a shame that the book didn't come with a CD of the songs! The Irish setting, with the main character playing the fiddle since the age of five is captivating as is the setting of Tir na Nog, the land of eternal youth. Time is being trapped into Tir na Nog, and the fairies there are starting to age. Also time is being lost in our world and life gets more and more frantic. The short chapters would encourage a reluctant reader to keep going and the pacing is very quick. I read it in one night!
May 3, 2015
Possibly the quickest 400-page book I've read. A fast, light read with enough depth to leave me guessing - I'd figured that A was B (or was C B?) but not that A was B was C. Not so fussed on the cliched Corrupt Catholic Priest, even if it was excused with "JJ went to mass every Sunday; he had a lot of respect for priests, just not this one;" but kudos to Thompson for having the guts to bring the Church/Magic debate into a kids' book (even if the Church lost this time). A very good read.
March 10, 2014
Wonderfully written, great atmosphere, but... somehow it _just_ missed the mark. The language is fabulous - you have the sense that you are listening to an Irish storyteller - but maybe that's the problem. You are listening to someone telling a story in the pub, and it's just a great yarn, but doesn't have the depth of a serious novel. Do you think? I just felt that I wanted more.
October 5, 2016
REQUIRED TEXT, FAIRY TALE, ALA NOTABLE BOOK
This is such a fun book. A tale of running out of time and missing socks. It is set in Ireland and is full of music and faerie people. A fun read for any age. I need to get my violin out and learn the music that is publishe between each section.
This is such a fun book. A tale of running out of time and missing socks. It is set in Ireland and is full of music and faerie people. A fun read for any age. I need to get my violin out and learn the music that is publishe between each section.
January 21, 2011
Fun combination of magic, music, Irish legends and the idea that there is never enough time!
May 5, 2019
چقققققققققققققققققققققققققدر حیف که این کتاب این همه کم خونده شده!
چققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققدر حیف که این کتاب فقط یک چاپ داشته و من هرچقدر می گردم که یک نسخه ی دیگه ازش بخرم پیدا نمی کنم!
چقققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققدر حیف که امتیاز کتاب این قدر کمه!!
کتاب درباره ی اهمیت زمانه. دنیایی که روزها و ساعت ها خیلی سریع توش می گذرن و در کنارش، دنیایی که زمان جریان نداره!! ...
کتاب بسیار هیجان انگیز، ماجراجویانه، آموزنده، هنرمندانه و پر از کلی ویژگی خوب دیگه ست...
چققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققدر حیف که این کتاب فقط یک چاپ داشته و من هرچقدر می گردم که یک نسخه ی دیگه ازش بخرم پیدا نمی کنم!
چقققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققققدر حیف که امتیاز کتاب این قدر کمه!!
کتاب درباره ی اهمیت زمانه. دنیایی که روزها و ساعت ها خیلی سریع توش می گذرن و در کنارش، دنیایی که زمان جریان نداره!! ...
کتاب بسیار هیجان انگیز، ماجراجویانه، آموزنده، هنرمندانه و پر از کلی ویژگی خوب دیگه ست...
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February 3, 20182/3/18 FREE for Kindle.
December 7, 2016
REQUIRED BOOK
Rating: *****
"The New Policeman" by Kate Thompson is a fantasy novel that takes place in present-day Ireland about a boy named JJ Liddy, a musician whose family, although well-renowned in their community for their musical prowess, had some controversy in the past when a priest by the name of Father Doherty disappears after taking his great-grandfather's flute. While interesting in itself, what makes JJ's story even more interesting is that there is a phenomenon where time just keeps disappearing - something even children acknowledge. To find a solution for this problem for his mother's birthday, JJ soon discovers a parallel world in one of the ancient underground dwellings in his town called Tir na n'Og - a place where time is supposed to not exist. There, with a citizen from the world named Aengus, they will discover why time is seeming to go faster in his world while also discovering why this time is apparently leaking into Tir na n'Og.
After reading this book, I couldn't help but love it. While it is a 430-page book, not only is the plot engaging enough to keep the reader interested throughout the story, but it is also a surprisingly quick read (with me averaging about 150 pages within a 30-minute period). On top of that, Thompson does a great job at connecting all of the plot points together to make it make sense to the reader, and, concerning the mysterious new policeman, manages to provide us with a good reveal at the end of the story so we can make sense of the title and the chapters which were entirely focused on him. In addition to this, it provides the reader with a great analogy about the effects of Western culture on traditional Irish lore: with Tir na n'Og being a place where traditional Irish culture has thrived, we not only see how pivotal music was to Irish culture (and why the author decided to make JJ, a musician, a musician), but we also see how the Catholic impact of Ireland repressed much of that culture to this day. In the end, it is a well-told story of the importance of one's culture told in a fashion that is both creative and fun for readers of all ages.
Rating: *****
"The New Policeman" by Kate Thompson is a fantasy novel that takes place in present-day Ireland about a boy named JJ Liddy, a musician whose family, although well-renowned in their community for their musical prowess, had some controversy in the past when a priest by the name of Father Doherty disappears after taking his great-grandfather's flute. While interesting in itself, what makes JJ's story even more interesting is that there is a phenomenon where time just keeps disappearing - something even children acknowledge. To find a solution for this problem for his mother's birthday, JJ soon discovers a parallel world in one of the ancient underground dwellings in his town called Tir na n'Og - a place where time is supposed to not exist. There, with a citizen from the world named Aengus, they will discover why time is seeming to go faster in his world while also discovering why this time is apparently leaking into Tir na n'Og.
After reading this book, I couldn't help but love it. While it is a 430-page book, not only is the plot engaging enough to keep the reader interested throughout the story, but it is also a surprisingly quick read (with me averaging about 150 pages within a 30-minute period). On top of that, Thompson does a great job at connecting all of the plot points together to make it make sense to the reader, and, concerning the mysterious new policeman, manages to provide us with a good reveal at the end of the story so we can make sense of the title and the chapters which were entirely focused on him. In addition to this, it provides the reader with a great analogy about the effects of Western culture on traditional Irish lore: with Tir na n'Og being a place where traditional Irish culture has thrived, we not only see how pivotal music was to Irish culture (and why the author decided to make JJ, a musician, a musician), but we also see how the Catholic impact of Ireland repressed much of that culture to this day. In the end, it is a well-told story of the importance of one's culture told in a fashion that is both creative and fun for readers of all ages.
August 22, 2018
Years ago, while I was in the bath one day, one of my sons came running into the bathroom and waved The New Policeman at me. "This is brilliant," he said, "You should read this!" And so I did. I only got out of the bath when the water got too cold, and then I finished the book in bed. And then everyone else in the house read it too.
Since then, our copy has been loaned to (well, forced upon, if I'm honest) a number of people - especially music teachers, because that musical theme is lovely, and so very clever. We don't know any experts on time theories, but if we did, I'm sure we'd have made them read it too. Everybody has loved it. At one stage, we thought our book had gone forever, because it hadn't come back from the trumpet teacher - but then, after about four years, the trumpet teacher's mum, who teaches PE in my kids' school, gave it back. It had made it through her (rather musical) family too.
This is one of those kids' books that is a rewarding read for adults too. Very few children/young-adult books are in my favourites-ever pile (apart from this, there's really only some of the Potters and The Book Thief). This is remarkable. You should read it. If you're local, I might even let you borrow my copy.
Since then, our copy has been loaned to (well, forced upon, if I'm honest) a number of people - especially music teachers, because that musical theme is lovely, and so very clever. We don't know any experts on time theories, but if we did, I'm sure we'd have made them read it too. Everybody has loved it. At one stage, we thought our book had gone forever, because it hadn't come back from the trumpet teacher - but then, after about four years, the trumpet teacher's mum, who teaches PE in my kids' school, gave it back. It had made it through her (rather musical) family too.
This is one of those kids' books that is a rewarding read for adults too. Very few children/young-adult books are in my favourites-ever pile (apart from this, there's really only some of the Potters and The Book Thief). This is remarkable. You should read it. If you're local, I might even let you borrow my copy.
April 3, 2011
They often say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of this book, don’t judge it by its title. While the book sounds downright boring at first, the reader will quickly find that the title has little to do with this brilliantly imaginative story. Irish boy JJ Liddy and his family are naturally gifted music players with a hidden secret that JJ struggles with. Along with this struggle, the town is always in a rush, wishing for more time. On his quest for the missing time he discovers the truth about his past and ultimately himself. While the title seems unfitting at first, when the book comes to a close, the mysterious pieces of the story all fall into place, making the title clearer. While the author could have used a different title more fitting to the book, the elusive title adds intrigue to the book. Additionally, the story itself is captivating and the plot immediately pulls you in. Overall, this clever novel combines elements of Irish folklore and history into a story that people of all ages are able to enjoy.
December 5, 2007
(YA) Thompson, Kate
The New Policeman. (F) Time seems to be spinning away faster and faster. J.J. Liddy promises his mother he will get her the birthday gift she truly wants—more time. J.J. is a gifted musician from a family with a music tradition. His grandfather was famous for his flute and fiddle music and, it was whispered, for killing a priest. On the land his family owns is an ancient fort with a souterrain or underground room. J.J discover that the souterrain contains the passage into the Land of the Fairies. Here J.J. finds that time from his world is leaking into the land of eternal youth causing havoc in both worlds. In J.J. worlds a new policeman in town doesn’t seem to quite fit in. Set in Ireland the story includes a collection of Irish folk music and touches upon Irish legends. For middle school and up. CLP
The New Policeman. (F) Time seems to be spinning away faster and faster. J.J. Liddy promises his mother he will get her the birthday gift she truly wants—more time. J.J. is a gifted musician from a family with a music tradition. His grandfather was famous for his flute and fiddle music and, it was whispered, for killing a priest. On the land his family owns is an ancient fort with a souterrain or underground room. J.J discover that the souterrain contains the passage into the Land of the Fairies. Here J.J. finds that time from his world is leaking into the land of eternal youth causing havoc in both worlds. In J.J. worlds a new policeman in town doesn’t seem to quite fit in. Set in Ireland the story includes a collection of Irish folk music and touches upon Irish legends. For middle school and up. CLP
October 29, 2007
I didn't enjoy this very much. For one thing, the "chapters" were, on average, a page and a half long. The disjointedness this caused made for uncomfortable reading. Secondly, is anyone else getting the feeling that authors and script writers are becoming lazy and rewriting old stories with a new take or remaking old films far too much? I get the impression that this author thought, "Tir na nOg, now that is a great idea. How can I twist this superstition into an [yet another] idea for a book?" I'm sad to see that this won a Children's Book Award.
October 24, 2011
A taste of Irish folklore in the modern world.
July 14, 2011
Read this a few yrs. ago and really enjoyed it; plot was especially strong and original, and I certainly sympathize with the characters' feelings of never having enough time.
June 5, 2017
Nice paranormal story of a young Irish fiddle-player who tries to find out how time is leaking out of the world.
December 11, 2018
I think I acquired this book because I believed it was about time travel, but that’s not an entirely correct way to describe the book. What The New Policeman is, more than anything, is a deep love story for traditional Irish music. And that? That is my jam.
I’m not a musician, but I was a competitive Irish step-dancer for just shy of a decade. Even now, over a decade since I last danced, Irish (Gaelic, for the sake of being inclusive of Scotland) music still pulls at me. It’s impossible for me to stay still when I listen to it, and this book spoke so eloquently to that deep-seeded part of my soul.
I’m not a musician, but I was a competitive Irish step-dancer for just shy of a decade. Even now, over a decade since I last danced, Irish (Gaelic, for the sake of being inclusive of Scotland) music still pulls at me. It’s impossible for me to stay still when I listen to it, and this book spoke so eloquently to that deep-seeded part of my soul.
December 31, 2020
I think this book could easily be a J book but it was probably classified as YA because the main character is 15 but it seems accessible (and enjoyable) by younger and older ages. I loved the history and myths woven in and wished I could play the tunes at the beginning of each chapter. As I do with many books, I loved the conflict between organized religion and myth. I just wanted more.
December 16, 2021
Anfangs fand ich die Geschichte etwas träge. Im Grunde passiert auch im ganzen Buch nicht viel, am Ende schließt sich jedoch der Kreis. Schlussendlich ist es eine sehr schöne Story mit irischem Hintergrund und etwas Fantasy ☺️👍 leicht zu lesen und für Musiker sogar noch mit kleinen irischen Liedern gespickt.
June 4, 2024
The New Policeman Reveiw by Lauren Redmond
Title- The new Policeman
Author- Kate Thompson
Publisher- Red Fox
Date- 2006
Genre- YA Fantasy, Irish fiction,
Rating- 4/5 stars
Time has run out in the Irish village of Kinvara. So much so, JJ Liddy has no time for his schoolwork, Irish music, ceilis and the sudden revelation that his great grandfather murdered the village priest. His mother wishes for time for her birthday which seems like an impossible task for JJ until eccentric German neighbour Anne Korff finally makes it a very real and surprising possibility. Anne Korff has uncovered a portal leading to the ancient land of Tir Na Og, where JJ goes in search of time and along the way he meets memorable characters like Aengus Og, Drowsy Maggie and Tom Devaney with his distinctly ovine bodhran.
Kate Thompson isn’t from Ireland, but nobody would know that by ever reading the New Policeman. She’s also an accomplished fiddler which is reflected in the book the New Policeman and on top of that has also won numerous awards for her work. Needless to say, such a successful author has written a book that completely enthralled me from start to finish and had me invested every step of the way. Time and the treatment of Irish myths and Legends are essential in its rich plot, in which JJ Liddy is left solely responsible for gifting his mother the gift of time for her birthday. Tir Na Og itself is a place where time stands still, no hunger, illness and death are present but time has been gradually leaking from our world into that of the fairies causing an imbalance, and before long JJ must find the source of the leak and help save both his realms and that of the fairies. Unbeknownst to him the time leak is also being investigated in the real world of Kinvara by the titular new policeman. On top of this, JJ must also seek to uncover the dark secrets of his family’s pasts and the disturbing fact that his great-grandfather murdered the local priest.
What I did love about this somewhat epic feel of blending myth and legend with the real may also be the psychical copy of the book- namely the trad music sheets that separate each new chapter. These are a very nice and unique touch.
Each character also felt very real and natural to me, particularly JJ who has real motives for going on the quest in the first place and once in Tir Na Og, there are several instances of genuine bravery and a certain natural likeability to him- he’s also seen dealing with real concerns and has believable problems- such as JJ worrying that he’ll be teased at school if he takes up Irish dancing and being Irish myself this is a very real possibility. The same natural likeability was conveyed in other characters like Aengus Og, the titular ‘New Policeman’ and even the minor ones like Drowsy Maggie and Anne Korff.
The story contains the unique blend and meanderings of Irish mythology throughout but also with sci-fi like time leaks and the additions of real-life Irish social history such as the dominance of religion and the mentioning of ‘mother and baby homes.’ gave the book a more grown up, serious tone which I felt was appropriate for the story.
What I didn’t like about the book was not in any way to do with plot, theme or character but in the presentation of the book itself. Chapters are far too short and seem under developed- some are only a page long and leave the reader searching for more and wishing each scene was more fleshed out and developed. I didn’t like this as it made some parts feel rushed, some titles of chapters are nothing to do with what will happen in the chapter which has the effect of building up the reader for something different but usually the chapter name has very little to do with the chapter itself which I found confusing. The title of the book, ‘The New Policeman’ did not fit the story at all and though there is a new policeman evident in the book he isn’t the main character, the title of the book simply wasn’t fitting at all to me, but then this is just a nitpick to me.
There wasn’t very much I didn’t like in this book, apart from Thompson’s strange naming decisions, namely the title of the book itself and chapter names and lengths, but these problems seem to only relate to the names and format of the book itself. Everything else within the book such as plot and characters made it one very enjoyable book. There are also several really good and unexpected twists that delighted and surprised me that admittedly I did not see coming- namely that regarding the identity of the new policeman, and the exact cause of the time leak. Both stories in the fairy realm and the real world kept me gripped and interested from start to end. I never saw any of the plot twists coming and once they did they genuinely surprised me and I could see than how they all made sense which is just the right amount of subtle surprise needed in a book. I would recommend the book to a mature audience from 13- 15 but since I read it and completely enjoyed it, anybody can readily read it without feeling that they’re reading a simple fairy story. The New Policeman is anything but a simple fairy story.
Title- The new Policeman
Author- Kate Thompson
Publisher- Red Fox
Date- 2006
Genre- YA Fantasy, Irish fiction,
Rating- 4/5 stars
Time has run out in the Irish village of Kinvara. So much so, JJ Liddy has no time for his schoolwork, Irish music, ceilis and the sudden revelation that his great grandfather murdered the village priest. His mother wishes for time for her birthday which seems like an impossible task for JJ until eccentric German neighbour Anne Korff finally makes it a very real and surprising possibility. Anne Korff has uncovered a portal leading to the ancient land of Tir Na Og, where JJ goes in search of time and along the way he meets memorable characters like Aengus Og, Drowsy Maggie and Tom Devaney with his distinctly ovine bodhran.
Kate Thompson isn’t from Ireland, but nobody would know that by ever reading the New Policeman. She’s also an accomplished fiddler which is reflected in the book the New Policeman and on top of that has also won numerous awards for her work. Needless to say, such a successful author has written a book that completely enthralled me from start to finish and had me invested every step of the way. Time and the treatment of Irish myths and Legends are essential in its rich plot, in which JJ Liddy is left solely responsible for gifting his mother the gift of time for her birthday. Tir Na Og itself is a place where time stands still, no hunger, illness and death are present but time has been gradually leaking from our world into that of the fairies causing an imbalance, and before long JJ must find the source of the leak and help save both his realms and that of the fairies. Unbeknownst to him the time leak is also being investigated in the real world of Kinvara by the titular new policeman. On top of this, JJ must also seek to uncover the dark secrets of his family’s pasts and the disturbing fact that his great-grandfather murdered the local priest.
What I did love about this somewhat epic feel of blending myth and legend with the real may also be the psychical copy of the book- namely the trad music sheets that separate each new chapter. These are a very nice and unique touch.
Each character also felt very real and natural to me, particularly JJ who has real motives for going on the quest in the first place and once in Tir Na Og, there are several instances of genuine bravery and a certain natural likeability to him- he’s also seen dealing with real concerns and has believable problems- such as JJ worrying that he’ll be teased at school if he takes up Irish dancing and being Irish myself this is a very real possibility. The same natural likeability was conveyed in other characters like Aengus Og, the titular ‘New Policeman’ and even the minor ones like Drowsy Maggie and Anne Korff.
The story contains the unique blend and meanderings of Irish mythology throughout but also with sci-fi like time leaks and the additions of real-life Irish social history such as the dominance of religion and the mentioning of ‘mother and baby homes.’ gave the book a more grown up, serious tone which I felt was appropriate for the story.
What I didn’t like about the book was not in any way to do with plot, theme or character but in the presentation of the book itself. Chapters are far too short and seem under developed- some are only a page long and leave the reader searching for more and wishing each scene was more fleshed out and developed. I didn’t like this as it made some parts feel rushed, some titles of chapters are nothing to do with what will happen in the chapter which has the effect of building up the reader for something different but usually the chapter name has very little to do with the chapter itself which I found confusing. The title of the book, ‘The New Policeman’ did not fit the story at all and though there is a new policeman evident in the book he isn’t the main character, the title of the book simply wasn’t fitting at all to me, but then this is just a nitpick to me.
There wasn’t very much I didn’t like in this book, apart from Thompson’s strange naming decisions, namely the title of the book itself and chapter names and lengths, but these problems seem to only relate to the names and format of the book itself. Everything else within the book such as plot and characters made it one very enjoyable book. There are also several really good and unexpected twists that delighted and surprised me that admittedly I did not see coming- namely that regarding the identity of the new policeman, and the exact cause of the time leak. Both stories in the fairy realm and the real world kept me gripped and interested from start to end. I never saw any of the plot twists coming and once they did they genuinely surprised me and I could see than how they all made sense which is just the right amount of subtle surprise needed in a book. I would recommend the book to a mature audience from 13- 15 but since I read it and completely enjoyed it, anybody can readily read it without feeling that they’re reading a simple fairy story. The New Policeman is anything but a simple fairy story.
April 24, 2018
Easy reading lovely tale now believe in faries
December 7, 2016
J.J. Bryne is a teenager that loves music, dancing, and hanging out with his friends. He is both the average teenager, but also an Irishman with a rich history and culture behind his mother’s family, the Liddys. Their small town in Ireland is known for céilis in which the entire village would gather together and play and dance to songs performed by fiddles and flutes. One normal week of school, J.J. gets invited to go into the city and rave with his friends. However, he stops at his aunt’s house along the way to do her a favor. There, she informs him about the other word, known as Tír na nÓg, and shows him how to travel there. Tír na nÓg is a magical world with faerie people and tons of music. However, there is only one issue; time is leaking into their world, known for being the world of eternal youth. J.J. helps to end the leak of time into Tír na nÓg by closing a tear, which he does by destroying a man who wanted to continue letting time leak in. After staying in Tír na nÓg for a month and helping save it and restoring the lack of time, J.J. returns to the normal world, much to his parent’s relief. One last surprised about Tír na nÓg is revealed to him at last, as the new policeman that has come to his village, is actually both a faerie and his grandfather.
This book is a great read for younger readers that love fantasy, but don’t want to get absorbed too much in a full fantasy world. The alternate world is similar to Ireland, and having a setting on Earth may make it more personable with some readers. I think that this book would be better suited for younger audiences, as older people might find it a bit immature or just too slow for them. The book isn’t too faced paced, and this actually proves to be better for younger audiences, but I could feel myself not liking the book too much, but could see myself loving it a few years ago. I would recommend this book to readers aged 9-13, and especially those who love fantasy, but not limited to that specifics.
The New Policeman was overall just fine to me. It was not a horrible book by any means, but it wasn’t great either. I liked some parts of it, but others just felt slow and hard to get through. Also, I felt a little too old for this book. Additionally, the book focused a lot on Irish culture and traditional music, neither of which I care for, so it was a bit hard to get into at sometimes. The book also was a bit rushed towards the end and was even predictable then. However, it would be unfair to write the book off without any praise, as I did feel like it had its strong points, and through its rushed plot at the end and drawn-out beginning, it did turn out to be a decent story, as long as you had the patience for the book. Overall, 2.5/5 stars.
This book is a great read for younger readers that love fantasy, but don’t want to get absorbed too much in a full fantasy world. The alternate world is similar to Ireland, and having a setting on Earth may make it more personable with some readers. I think that this book would be better suited for younger audiences, as older people might find it a bit immature or just too slow for them. The book isn’t too faced paced, and this actually proves to be better for younger audiences, but I could feel myself not liking the book too much, but could see myself loving it a few years ago. I would recommend this book to readers aged 9-13, and especially those who love fantasy, but not limited to that specifics.
The New Policeman was overall just fine to me. It was not a horrible book by any means, but it wasn’t great either. I liked some parts of it, but others just felt slow and hard to get through. Also, I felt a little too old for this book. Additionally, the book focused a lot on Irish culture and traditional music, neither of which I care for, so it was a bit hard to get into at sometimes. The book also was a bit rushed towards the end and was even predictable then. However, it would be unfair to write the book off without any praise, as I did feel like it had its strong points, and through its rushed plot at the end and drawn-out beginning, it did turn out to be a decent story, as long as you had the patience for the book. Overall, 2.5/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2012
REQUIRED
The New Policeman is a window into the Irish culture, while dealing the with universal issue of time. In Kinvara, there never seems to be enough time. J.J.'s mother tells her son that she wants time for her birthday. J.J. dedicates himself to an impossible task- to find more time. Then, a neighbor reveals a portal to another world and the secret of where time is going. Thompson has set up a world in conjunction with our own where time stands still. At least time is supposed to stand still, but a leak has corrupted the balance and this world gains time while J.J.'s world loses time. In this strange world where time does not matter, J.J. struggles to keep focused in finding the leak as his mother grows anxious with worry over his disappearance. Through J.J.'s journey he is reminded of his heritage and the stories that haunt his family's history. Eventually, he finds the answer to both the leak and the mysterious accusations laid against J.J.'s grandfather. The man who J.J.'s grandfather was suspected of murdering, really disappeared into the alternative world and created a leak to kill all the fairies. J.J. tricks the man into thinking all the fairies are dead, so he tries to return to J.J.'s world and disintegrates. J.J. successfully fixes the time leak and restores balance to both worlds. I really enjoyed this piece of low science fiction. I thought it was a clever combination of our world and fantasy that really engaged my imagination. Although I would recommend this novel in audio book form so that you can understand the musical elements Thompson involves in the novel. Thompson appeals to a wide audience- making fantasy accessible to those who do not read high fantasy (such as Lord of the Rings). I would recommend this book to a young adult, late middle school or early high school, audience that likes to stretch their imagination. I would also use this novel to gage if you like fantasy or not.
The New Policeman is a window into the Irish culture, while dealing the with universal issue of time. In Kinvara, there never seems to be enough time. J.J.'s mother tells her son that she wants time for her birthday. J.J. dedicates himself to an impossible task- to find more time. Then, a neighbor reveals a portal to another world and the secret of where time is going. Thompson has set up a world in conjunction with our own where time stands still. At least time is supposed to stand still, but a leak has corrupted the balance and this world gains time while J.J.'s world loses time. In this strange world where time does not matter, J.J. struggles to keep focused in finding the leak as his mother grows anxious with worry over his disappearance. Through J.J.'s journey he is reminded of his heritage and the stories that haunt his family's history. Eventually, he finds the answer to both the leak and the mysterious accusations laid against J.J.'s grandfather. The man who J.J.'s grandfather was suspected of murdering, really disappeared into the alternative world and created a leak to kill all the fairies. J.J. tricks the man into thinking all the fairies are dead, so he tries to return to J.J.'s world and disintegrates. J.J. successfully fixes the time leak and restores balance to both worlds. I really enjoyed this piece of low science fiction. I thought it was a clever combination of our world and fantasy that really engaged my imagination. Although I would recommend this novel in audio book form so that you can understand the musical elements Thompson involves in the novel. Thompson appeals to a wide audience- making fantasy accessible to those who do not read high fantasy (such as Lord of the Rings). I would recommend this book to a young adult, late middle school or early high school, audience that likes to stretch their imagination. I would also use this novel to gage if you like fantasy or not.
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