The Pilgrimage

Maggie #3

by Joan Lingard

Maggie takes to the hills.

She may not be the world's greatest cyclist, but Maggie is determined to cycle through the Highlands with James, tracing the roots of her great-great-grandmother. Just the two of them - what could be more romantic?

Maggie's growing friendship, however, with two Canadian boys they meet along the way, does nothing for the romance.

Has Maggie the patience to handle love when life offers so many more adventures?

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Joan Lingard was born in Edinburgh, in the Old Town, but grew up in Belfast where she lived until she was 18. She attended Strandtown Primary and then got a scholarship into Bloomfied Collegiate. She has three daughters and five grandchildren, and now lives in Edinburgh with her Canadian husband.

Lingard has written novels for both adults and children. She is probably most famous for the teenage-aimed Kevin and Sadie series, which have sold over one million copies and have been reprinted many times since.

Her first novel Liam's Daughter was an adult-orientated novel published in 1963. Her first children's novel was The Twelfth Day of July (the first of the five Kevin and Sadie books) in 1970.

Lingard received the prestigious West German award the "Buxtehuder Bulle" in 1986 for Across the Barricades. Tug of War has also received great success: shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal 1989, The Federation of Children's Book Group Award 1989, runner up in the Lancashire Children's Book Club of the year 1990 and shortlisted for the Sheffield Book Award. In 1998, her book Tom and the Tree House won the Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Award. Her most recent novel, What to Do About Holly was released in August 2009.

Lingard was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to children's literature.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in a series of 4 books about Maggie by Joan Lingard. In this one Maggie and James set off on a two week hostelling holiday in the Highlands of Scotland to visit the area where Maggie's ancestors lived. A lot happens during this fortnight including James ending up in hospital and the two of them falling out a lot. They're joined by 2 Canadian lads for much of the time which doesnt please James who begins to show a jealous streak. It leads to him proposing which Maggie agrees to think about. After speaking to a few people she trusts she finally makes her decision ... Overall not a bad story. A quick read of just a few hours. Written over 40 years ago but stands up well. Maybe a bit bland compared to the novels of today but there again it is meant for the teenage market and that's the way they were written back in the day.

[Leesi · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was, in my current state and situation, a great reflection upon relationship difficulties like I myself had experienced them.

you have james- an intelligent guy, done with school, ready to go to uni. throughout what Maggie says, he is a guy any girl would want. And he was ready to marry Maggie and settle down.

and then there's maggie. indecicive like hell, cheating too. When you read about her for too long and like the idea of james and james' attitude, you do start to feel for James being "put on hold" in der relationship.

I can recommend this book to people, who have not themselves experienced the issues James and Maggie had because it reminds one of a pain in the ass that it is when one partner wants to settle and love the other, while the other partner thinks freedom is greater than true love and dont see that true love brings freedom itself.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

great.