Larris and Me

LARRIS & ME, set in a wild and remote part of rural Ireland, is the story of a pivotal year in Liam Maguire's life when he was 12-13 years old, as told by Liam himself. Liam is having a difficult time at the start. His parent's marriage is strained and his father is away most of the time; to make matters worse, he's being bullied at school. One day he talks a walk 'up the fields' near his home, and encounters a strange but friendly little man named Larris, whom he takes to be a 'leprechaun'. Larris tells colourful stories about the first people to come to that area, in the dim and distant past-how they lived, hunted and fought. As the year goes on, Liam meets Larris often and begins to face up to his problems. Liam searches for the ideal fishing spot, but gets lost and finds himself in danger. The people who love him most will try to rescue him-but who will be able to find him? LARRIS & ME is a lively and uplifting novel that has been very well received by its young readers. Brendan O'Brien is a writer and editor who lives in Co. Cavan, Ireland.