The Pictish Child

Tartan Magic #2

by Jane Yolen

Peter, Jennifer, and Molly visit a home for retired witches only to be drawn into the struggle of a mysterious Pictish girl, who is fleeing from a massacre of her people, in a second book in the Tartan Magic series. Reprint. 30,000 first printing.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Scotland, Magic

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Jane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel as though this is a great early middle school fantasy story, not quite a chapter book. Clearly told, with interesting places and characters.

[Talie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun play on time with magic throughout.

[Rebekah Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

cat still there, cute sequel

[Sarah Monsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jennifer, her twin brother Peter, and their family go to Scotland to visit their grandparents they know they’re in for sightseeing and adventure, but magic? They never would have guessed at that. Magic, it seems, is wrapped up in the very fabric of the Scottish town they visit, and Jennifer has a way of bringing it out. In each book Jennifer and Peter encounter a different type of magic: an evil wizard who’s been bound within a map, an ancient child wrapped up in the history of an ancient battle, and ghost, a lady in white who’s searching for her lost love. The magic is as exciting as it is scary and can be raised simply by going for a walk or by playing a game of cards. And the talking animals? It’s anyone’s guess as to whether they’re a help or a hindrance.

These books are the absolute best sort of summer reading. Jennifer and Peter are on an adventure with their family, but their parents conveniently disappear for most of the important bits of the story, leaving the twins to solve their problems on their own. They’ve got a magical advisor in Gram, as she’s a witch, and a little sister to care for, which adds to the tension. There’s just the right amount of information about Scotland and its history to pique your interest and loads of new vocabulary to try (with a glossary in case you can’t quite sort it out from context). Best of all, there are three books in the series, so you’re not disappointed by being finished reading when you’re just getting to know the characters.

These books brought to mind the books of Edward Eager and E. Nesbit. They have the same sort of feeling of adventure, and the children have the same responsibility to set things right. They are more playful and less dark and involved than Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series, but something of Jennifer and Peter’s relationship with Gram and their parents brought to my mind Uncle Merry and the characters in Over Sea Under Stone. In fact, Tartan Magic might be a good series to lead up to these others. Though the Scottish words raise the reading level of the text, these middle grade books are short (about 150 pages) and so would be good for reluctant readers or those who might be overwhelmed by a large book. These are great for middle grade summer reading or to add to the stack when the school year starts and 20 minutes of reading a day rules prevail.

[Tracy Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer, her twin brother Peter, and younger sister Molly are visiting their grandparents in Scotland. They have found that Scotland is very unlike their home in America in more ways than one- especially when it comes to magic. When this story opens, Gran takes the children to visit her friends in a rest home ona rainty, dreary day. One of Gran's friend gives Molly a talisman that is unlike anything that the children have ever seen. Then strange things start to happen- a dark mist that seems to follow them appears, and with it, an ancient tattoo covered girl that speaks a language that no one seems to know.

This is #2 in this series. I had read Jane Yolen when I was younger (oddly enough I started with adult books and now I seem to be regressing, LOL) and really enjoyed them, so I was curious to see what this series was about, especially since I love Celtic and Scottish heritage and culture. Upon reading the first, I decided I would read the second, because I idd enjoy the story, even though these are definetly for kids.
I was a little surprised that this next book in the series takes place a day or two after the first book. Tje first book had a lot happen, so I thought this one might take place the next visit the kids have, or at least a week later. So, basically these kids go on crazy magical filled adventures every day they are on vacation! No rest for the wicked, I suppose.
I felt like some of the explanations were a little rushed and could have been fleshed out a hair more. Then again, these books were directed to kids, so I guess its moreso to hold the reader's interest rather than intrigue and adult mind. Otherwise, I think Jane Yolen makes fairly creative stories that are filled with action, humor, and fun. I'll have to think about getting what I think is the final book in this series!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Tartan Magic series. 13 year old twins and their 4 year old sister are visiting their grandparents in Scotland where they've discovered they have magical roots. Together with their grandmother, a talking dog and a talking horse, they must learn who this strange girl is who has come from the past. The character and plot development is minimal, but it's enjoyable nevertheless. Younger readers will get a taste of fantasy reading while also learning a little about Celtic History. A Scottish glossary is also included. 2nd through 4th grades.

From Libary Journal:
"The action-paced plot is nearly as winding as the rain-drenched stone lanes of Gran's ancient village, but the important twists are all resolved in the tale's conclusion. The story has a good dose of humor, often provided by an obnoxious talking dog left over from the siblings' first adventure. The novel stands alone but is more enjoyable when read after Wizard's Map, especially for insights into the characters and an appreciation for the occasional references to events in it."

From VOYA:
"Although this is the second book of the Tartan Magic series, following The Wizard's Map (Harcourt, 1999/VOYA December 1999), it is not necessary to have read the first. Background is given to let the reader know what occurred previously. The story moves quickly, and the characters, including a horse who speaks Pictish, are appealing, although there is little character development. While not the best work of this prolific author, it will provide a fun read for middle school fantasy lovers."

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just days after their run-in with Wizard Michael Scott, Gran takes the Dyer children to the Eventide Home to visit her friends. The three women are fellow “cummers” or white witches. Jennifer senses magic in the air as she feels icy fear “like a cold hand on her back.” At the end of the visit, Mrs. MacGregor gives Molly a talisman found in the graveyard. Maggie MacAlpin tries in vain to get the painted stone from Molly, but Maggie mysteriously falls asleep as she reaches for it. On the way back to Gran’s, Molly tosses the talisman up and loses it in the cemetery. A thick mist rises and flows into the graveyard as Jennifer looks for the stone. She finds it in a small depression that could have easily been a child’s grave. She also finds an oddly dressed girl speaking a foreign language. They soon discover that the girl, Ninia, is a Pict who was called by the talisman. The mist also brings the Pict king’s war councilor, Bridei. When Gran learns about Maggie MacAlpin’s connection to the talisman, she turns to Maggie for a way to send the two travelers home.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pictish Child is book two in Yolen's Tartan Magic series and continues the adventures of the twins Jennifer and Peter and their little sister Molly on their vacation at Gran and Da's house in Scotland. Like the first book in the series it is a slim little novel with a fast pace and a suspenseful storyline. I was pleased to see that the dog and the horse from The Wizard's Map are in this book as well. The horse receives a new name ("Devil" being entirely unsuitable for someone working for the forces of Good) and the dog seems to talk more than anyone else in the book. The book is told mostly from Jennifer's viewpoint, and she is the one who saves the day, although it takes one of the secondary characters to go back and work out the problem in the past. I liked this book very much -- lovely light read.

[Kylin Larsson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up on one of my random jaunts through the library stacks. I don't know a lot about Picts, but I've always been intrigued by their culture. I didn't know this was #2 in a trilogy, otherwise I probably wouldn't have picked this up. The Pict child (she's not Pictish -- she's a Pict!) comes out of a magical mist that has been called from the depths of time using a magical stone. The reader never gets to hear what she has to say, except via a magical talking horse who is somehow in our time but used to be in the Pict girl's original time. Maybe it's because this was a "Juvenile" book instead of "Young Adult," but the plot seemed stuck together with Scotch tape (get it? Scotch tape?) Anyway, think this was an interesting idea and could have worked if expanded into an actual novel instead of the 130ish pages it was.

[Luann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first in the series. As with the first, The Wizard's Map, this is a quick read. I think I would have preferred a lot more depth to this story, though. I could never really see the Pict girl as a real character. And I was a bit disappointed with the villain. I still want to read the third in this series, The Bagpiper's Ghost, though.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am amending my original rating because now that I am an adult, I can see the slight issues with this book.
There are whispers of derogatory language because every time Ninia speaks, it is referred to as jabbering or something of the like. She is speaking another language, which they don't understand, but that doesn't mean what she is saying is less important. I also hate the amount of insulting language the characters sling at each other, and the threats of hitting the animals if they don't comply.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't as good as the first book "The Wizard's Map." It had less action than the first, but still had some action. It was still pretty good, too! My favorite scene was when the dark mist came around and chased Jennifer, Peter, Molly, Gran, and Ninia (the Pictish Child) out of the cemetery. I thought that when Peter drove the car, it was funny! He kept swerving and swinging because it was an older car, and he didn't have his driver's license yet!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #2 of a trilogy of middle grade novels about 13-year-old twins and their 4-year-old sister visiting Scotland. Gran, who has magic, introduces them to friends, who are also witches, and there's a smart-alec talking dog and a talking horse, an evil, misty "dark," a power-hungry villain and magic that manifests itself in interesting ways. Some good Scottish history. A glossary to explain the Scottish words sprinkled throughout. A short, quick read.

[SR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first one. American magic apparently means you can shoot lightning at people with a power cord. How cool is that?

[Carolynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young traveler in time visits Jennifer and Peter, escaping imminent death in her own time, but opening the door to danger for Jennifer and Peter and their little sister Molly.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars really. I was hoping for more suspense and action but it fell a little flat.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Should have read the one before it though:)

[LeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. Past and present interchange. I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the sweet little old witches in a modern world context that might encourage messing around with 'white magic.'