LitPick Review
The Wise One by K. T. Anglehart is a fantasy tale about a young girl who yearned to discover the hidden truth about her existence and that of her mother. Mckenna O'Dwyer, a young girl, had a terrible dream on her birthday, and apart from that, she could feel things happening like seeing and feeling things others can't. At first, she thought of telling her dads, Seán and Andre, but she did not want them thinking weirdly of her. One particular day, another young girl, Nissa, came to Mckenna's school to encourage them to sign a form that supports recycling of materials. After the talk, during the lunch break, Nissa was bullied by two pupils, and as Mckenna watched from a distance, she could feel the anger rising in her. She stared at one of the bully's head so hard that a bird went straight into his head. Shocked by what she saw, Mckenna was sure there was something wrong with her. She got home demanding answers from her dads and when none was forthcoming, she got a clue to search Seán's wallet where she found a letter from her birth mother who she didn't know about. With this letter, Mckenna is determined to find out who she really is and why she didn't know about her mother. Do you think she would succeed in this search? But wait, who do you think Mckenna really is?
Opinion:
Set in Ireland, The Wise One entertains us with fantasy that rises from authentic mythology. It also elucidates places that feel magical like the three stone circles where Seán met Mckenna's mom, which was in Avebury, England. Many places in Ireland were explained through the sightseeing Mckenna and Nissa engaged in while in the country. One of the places was the Boyne Valley, where they saw various ancient constructions with some tourists, some of which remains a mystery.
The plot is unpredictable with each chapter ending in cliffhangers which propel us to the next chapter. It is evenly-paced with frequent realistic dialogues that ensue between characters. Seeing that the plot centers on magic and sorcery, I can say that it fits the fantasy genre while still exploring the coming-of-age of the young protagonist.
The characters used in the book were well-developed. The main character, which is a young girl, is a curious and quick-witted one. She is also described as “stubborn” in the book due to her lack of obedience to instructions. Her fathers, Seán and Andre, are two loving dads who make sure they are always there for their daughter. I especially love how Seán traveled to search for Mckenna, their daughter, when he was sure she had gone to search for her mother. It really summarized his heartfelt love for her. There were also other characters like Nissa, who stood out in one way or the other.
