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The Watcher's Quest #1
The Watcher
In this first book of the Watcher's Quest trilogy, 15-year-old Emma has long suspected that something is not quite as it should be in her life. With her long, pale face and white hair, she looks nothing like her parents or frail younger sister. She acts nothing like them, either. While her parents happily pursue their daily routine, Emma senses danger. She knows she must watch over the family day and night -- but why, she doesn't know. Things spin out of control when Emma takes a summer job caring for an eccentric elderly neighbor and is drawn into playing a strange board game. She's suddenly plagued by surreal, frightening dreams that begin to invade her waking hours. Emma is soon hurtled from her quiet farm life into strange worlds of intrigue and terror. As she becomes a participant in a bizarre game of life and death, the mystery surrounding her is solved ? and her future decided.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
6 people are currently reading
221 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 25, 2016
This book was good. It was pretty much about a girl trying to figure things out that were happening. Weird things. She was also trying to figure out who she was and who she wanted to be. She notices how she isn't really like her family and how she always was and is different. She touches this crystal and also in her dreams she pretty much goes to a different world and there is people there and they talk about finding a child and winning a game and it restarting if someone finds the child first. She tries to figure out all this weird things along with watching her sick sister and trying to figure out how to help her. I feel like this book should be more well known or even a movie. I would recommend it to people who like mystery's and such.
November 4, 2023
I have a deep nostalgic love for this series. During a troubled childhood, this series became a safe and cozy home. With characters who felt like old friends whenever I revisited. There’s not been another series quite like it. So very underrated and overlooked. If the first book feels a little slow, I do encourage you to keep going. There are so many interesting and rich worlds for you to explore.
May 24, 2025
Loved reading this book again, I adored it the first time I read it, and I loved getting back in this world again!
*First Read January 1st, 2008*
Oh, I'm glad I went back and read this book, after finding and reading book 2 first! Can't wait to finish out the series!
*First Read January 1st, 2008*
Oh, I'm glad I went back and read this book, after finding and reading book 2 first! Can't wait to finish out the series!
August 11, 2023
Old fave from Elementary school ♥️
July 26, 2017
IT KEPT ME TILL THE END! MYSTERY, ADVENTURE, FANTASY. YOU GOT IT ALL.
October 29, 2014
I picked this one up not so much because I thought this one would be interesting, but because its sequel looked interesting and I wanted to read them in order. Ugh. There was every reason for me to like this book, going by the inside summary, but I was very glad to put it down at the end. The "game" melded poorly with the real world; it was very obvious, at least to me, what was going on as soon as it happened, and I grew irritated at the main character's denseness in that regard. I thought there was too much focus on the politics behind the game rather than making a good plot, so when everything was resolved I thought it was too fast, too easy, and fairly arbitrary. I may yet pick up the sequel, since it was the original reason I read this book, but I hope that bloody game is completely out of the picture. Neutral.
March 10, 2017
I really like this series. I reread this book in 2011 after reading it 5 years ago and although it's for young readers it's still really enjoyable for all ages. This fantasy world is so interesting and I still have to read the final book in the trilogy.
It can be quite confusing following along with some of the plot points because it's one of those books where all the answers pile up at the end, so once you finish it, it may be worth another read-through.
Girls may prefer the book because it's from the perspective of a young girl but the fantasy of this book is not reserved for girls. I don't really have a perspective on what boys like, but I think the supernatural side to this story would fit anyone's tastes.
It can be quite confusing following along with some of the plot points because it's one of those books where all the answers pile up at the end, so once you finish it, it may be worth another read-through.
Girls may prefer the book because it's from the perspective of a young girl but the fantasy of this book is not reserved for girls. I don't really have a perspective on what boys like, but I think the supernatural side to this story would fit anyone's tastes.
February 16, 2008
This is an intriguing YA fantasy novel about a young woman who finds herself caught up in a competition between magical beings. It was interesting enough that I'll probably seek out the sequel, but all in all I felt like there were a lot of good ideas that the writing and plotting didn't quite live up to.
December 30, 2008
I had to give this only 3 stars because it moved so slowly...it took me forever to finish it! But as I got about 3/4 of the way through it...it finally got really good. I'm liking the second book much better! If you like other worldly kind of fiction..I reccomend it.
January 20, 2009
I randomly pulled this book off the shelf in the library. I'd probably give it 3 1/2 stars - it was enjoyable, but not out of the ordinary. I liked it enough that I'll probably read the sequel though!
June 8, 2015
Preteen Jenna LOVED these books. Emma was one of the first characters that KNEW me. I was convinced Emma and I would be best friends; the hurt, confusion, loyalty, and love Emma relays throughout her quest were so palpable to me- they made her real.
January 23, 2008
great book and series
February 5, 2009
Interesting, if confusing, book about a girl who discovers she is not humand and that her purpose in life is to watch/guard her sister and her family from unknown peril.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2009
Fun read, a little to 'magical' but I did like it... I don't like however that some authors feel the need to portray teenagers as 'too dumb to put two and two together'!
January 3, 2010
i read this to see if my kids would like it and i had to reed all 3 in the watcher's quest - just had to see how it would end
June 30, 2010
This book was pretty good. I was just looking for something, anything, to read when I chose it, and it definitely captured my attention. I'd recommend it to a bored person any day. :]
July 9, 2011
Fantasy adventure that begins with a close family secret. Start as any normal day and builds to riveting beautiful magical discoveries.
August 18, 2011
This book is really good! They should make it into a movie.
February 19, 2012
I thought the book was kind of slow, and somewhat confusing, yet in the end.. i like it.... people just have to be patient when reading the book
January 1, 2013
Very slow paced,badly-written book.I only got through 100 pages,and I couldn't push myself to read anymore of it.Very awful.
February 6, 2013
a little weird. I thought the book was slow to start with and I almost stopped reading it but then it started to pick up and I loved it!!
February 22, 2013
A very interesting amazing book
December 12, 2014
Interesting so far. I do like the game / life concept, hoping to pick up more in the 2nd book, as I find it slightly confusing this far.
Still a good read, thou! :)
Still a good read, thou! :)
November 15, 2015
One of my Favourite series!
August 18, 2014
It was a very slow read.
March 15, 2013
It was a very slow read.
April 30, 2017
Not at all how I remember it when I was younger.
But I think I can somewhat blame that on the ebook version? There were typos left and right and the formatting was a disaster: random line breaks, everything strangely indented, sometimes centered. It was awful.
I feel like it was almost abridged?
But I think I can somewhat blame that on the ebook version? There were typos left and right and the formatting was a disaster: random line breaks, everything strangely indented, sometimes centered. It was awful.
I feel like it was almost abridged?
March 3, 2018
Review time:
Book one of the Watcher’s Quest, “The Watcher” by Margaret Buffie.
I came across these books (there are three of them) quite by accident a long time ago at a book sale held at my local library. They are YA books, but could easily be written for an older audience.
Our main character, Emma, has never fit into her family. She feels an intense need to watch over them, and has a fierce, deep seated protectiveness for her younger sister Summer. When her dreams about other worlds and people coming to take her sister turn out to be true, she’ll do everything in her power to protect Summer from harm, even if that means giving in and taking her to another world full of magic.
I love the way this story unfolds and how the plot and world it built. It doesn’t feel forced at all. You’re reading about teenage angst - about a girl changing her name, finding her identity - and suddenly you find yourself in a world of magic and mayhem, of war and games. It’s seamless and hard to put down for even a moment, as if the story will continue with or without you.
Easily five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book one of the Watcher’s Quest, “The Watcher” by Margaret Buffie.
I came across these books (there are three of them) quite by accident a long time ago at a book sale held at my local library. They are YA books, but could easily be written for an older audience.
Our main character, Emma, has never fit into her family. She feels an intense need to watch over them, and has a fierce, deep seated protectiveness for her younger sister Summer. When her dreams about other worlds and people coming to take her sister turn out to be true, she’ll do everything in her power to protect Summer from harm, even if that means giving in and taking her to another world full of magic.
I love the way this story unfolds and how the plot and world it built. It doesn’t feel forced at all. You’re reading about teenage angst - about a girl changing her name, finding her identity - and suddenly you find yourself in a world of magic and mayhem, of war and games. It’s seamless and hard to put down for even a moment, as if the story will continue with or without you.
Easily five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews