Mucking About

Written by John Chambers

A boy defies his mother's plans for a monastic life, seeking adventure in ancient Ireland's magical forests.

4.0 Goodreads · 4 ratings

192 pages· ~700L

$12.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In ancient Ireland, young Manchán resists his mother's wishes to become a monk. Instead, he craves adventure with his friend Pagan and his pet pig, Muck. As he explores enchanted forests and rides wild rams, Manchán's defiance grows. But can he escape the pull of his mother's determination and the mystical forces around him? Discover a world where magic lingers and a boy's spirit refuses to be tamed.

From the publisher

We are in Ireland and it’s an awfully long time ago. Centuries and centuries. The country is supposed to have gone Christian, but there’s still magic in the air, druids in the forest, fairy music in the distance. Manchán’s mother wants to make a monk of Manchán. Manchán most emphatically does not want to be made a monk of. He’d rather sing songs with his father, or go fishing with his friend, Pagan-of the-Six-Toes, or go charging through the forest with his pet pig, Muck, or go bare-back riding over the bog on the chieftain’s mad ram, Balor. Anything fun or adventurous or magical, and absolutely nothing to do with turnips, penance, prayers, monks, and chanting. Poor Manchán! The more he mucks about having fun, the more his mother is determined to tame him.

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