Description

Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl, and Steve McCarthy, author and illustrator of the award-winning The Wilderness, join forces to turn a familiar myth of Irish folklore into a truly powerful, unforgettable and universal story of love, perseverance and friendship against all odds.

Banshees are supernatural Irish harbingers of doom, but … where do they come from? The answer: they grow in pods on the prickly gorse bush. The sole job of a baby banshee, a “bansheenie” as they are called, is to bond with a human. Once bonded, they know everything about that person. Most importantly … when they will die. Our bansheenie, named Beanie, is no ordinary herald of death. When she sees her person, a little girl called Rose, she decides to change her own – and Rose’s – fate and instead of delivering bad news, Beanie wants to protect Rose and her family. When her banshee’s howl of doom won’t work, she must draw power and strength from the ancient secrets and hidden networks of the natural world around her. She must create a brand new sound, a new way of being in the world that will change … everything.

Publisher Review

Colfer and McCarthy are a dazzling duo in this endlessly entertaining retelling of banshee folklore. McCarthy’s illustrations elevate this story, making it a genuine work of art filled with familiar Irish iconography that readers will adore. * The Irish Examiner * Beanie the Bansheenie takes a dark area of Irish folklore and adapts it into an almost Coraline-esque fantasy that will enthral readers of any age (adults included!). The story, while rooted in Irish folklore, is beaming with quirky originality, forming a dynamic plot. Beautifully illustrated, the spreads are begging to be stared at until you’ve absorbed every tiny detail. * Children’s Books Ireland * Beaming with quirky originality, with plenty of twists, turns and surprises that quickly click into place to form a dynamic plot. Beautifully illustrated, subtle nods allude to both the author and illustrator’s past books, with sprinkles of pop culture references that will have you glued to the page. Beanie the Bansheenietakes a dark area of Irish folklore and adapts into an almost Coraline-esque fantasy that will enthral readers of every age! * RTE Ireland * Artemis Fowl creator Colfer and The Wilderness author/illustrator McCarthy join forces to turn a familiar myth of Irish folklore into a powerful, unforgettable and universal story of love, perseverance and friendship against all odds. * The Bookseller *