Product Description

Is blood thicker than water?

It rains nearly every day, until the rivers burst their banks:
The first thing the slumbering Sheehogue knew was the deafening boom that tumbled them from their grassy bowers. This was followed by a flood of water and mud over the meadow that swept the Sheehogue rapidly along in nature’s unexpected waterslide. They saw homes of mortals tumbling into the creek. “Save their children!” the Old Ones ordered.

Andy Flynn is one of those saved, but his mother and stepfather both die in the flood. Suddenly the only world Andy has ever known is gone and he is alone. Aunt Mona, whom he has never met, takes him to live with her in Halifax, on the opposite side of the country. During the trip, Aunt Mona reveals to him that his father is still alive – and living in Halifax. As soon as they reach their destination, Andy escapes to find his father. Although Vincent Flynn may not be the perfect father, Andy wants to stay with him rather than live with his harsh aunt. After all, Vincent is fun, and he has promised Andy he’ll find a real job so they can move to a nicer place than the seedy Mayo Rooms. But even with a bit of help from the Little People, Andy’s father can’t seem to keep his word.

Filled with humor and mischief, James Heneghan’s latest novel tells the poignant story of a young boy’s search for a true home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2865839 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Amazon.com Review
It's a good thing that 11-year-old Andy Flynn has the Sheehogue, or Fairy people, looking out for him, or he'd be up a creek--literally! When Mosquito Creek floods suddenly after weeks of unrelenting rain, Andy, his family, and their entire house get swept away into the raging river. Due to a group of watchful Sheehogue who push him to safety, Andy survives. His mother and stepfather are not so lucky. Depressed and defeated, Andy is forced to leave Vancouver and move in with his grim-faced Aunt Mona in Halifax. There, he makes the happy discovery that his real father lives nearby. Heartened, Andy runs away from Mona to live with his dad. At first, Vincent Flynn seems thrilled. But he just can't seem to remember to buy enough food to feed a growing boy, and his gambling and drinking have police and thugs alike knocking on his door all hours of the day and night. The Sheehogue watch worriedly over Andy, nervous that the life they saved is in danger again. But Aunt Mona hasn't given up on Andy yet--and the Sheehogue may have a few more tricks up their emerald sleeves...

Irish-born Canadian author James Heneghan gambles on a mix of lighthearted Irish folklore and a rather somber story of a lost and lonely boy. But imaginative plotting and well-constructed characters makes this gamble pay off. Reminiscent of Floodland and Witch Hill, both by Marcus Sedgwick, Flood is another satisfying, magically real read for middle-grade students. (Ages 10 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert

From Publishers Weekly
In an uneasy mix of burlesque and grief, Heneghan's (Wish Me Luck) ambitious but underdone novel opens in rainy Vancouver, Canada, as the Sheehogue, or Faeries, "practice sundry small mischiefs" at the mall. A few paragraphs later, they witness a terrible mudslide in which houses are destroyed and people killed. Among the dead are 11-year-old Andy Flynn's mother and stepfather; unknown to Andy, he has been saved by the Sheehogue, who then follow him when dour Aunt Mona brings him to her home in Halifax. Almost immediately Andy learns that his father did not die a war hero, as he has grown up believing, but is living in Halifax according to Aunt Mona, Vincent Flynn is a "waster and a thief," a "gambler and a drunk." Andy runs away as soon as they reach Halifax and quickly locates Vinny in a squalid rooming house. Sparing no bit of familiar caricature, Vinny's speech is thick with blarney, and he thoroughly charms Andy. As the Sheehogue play tricks (and watch over Andy), the boy slowly discovers that Aunt Mona has been right: Vinny leads a sordid life of petty crime and empty promises, and Andy, like his mother before him, cannot look to him for a future. The pranks of the Sheehogue, the exaggerated brogue and the buffoonlike thugs and lawmen in the background create a strong comic atmosphere; unfortunately, the author fails to clearly link the comedy to the pain surrounding both Vinny and Andy. The effect is more quirky than memorable. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grades 4-8--Eleven-year-old Andy Flynn is saved by the Little People from the flood that kills his mother and stepfather in Vancouver. His mother's sister takes him to her home in Halifax, confiding to him on the way that the father he grew up believing to be dead is alive and also lives in the same town. Andy runs away to find him and moves into his seedy boardinghouse room. Vinny Flynn sells illegal cigarettes, and is a neglectful if affectionate parent, largely leaving Andy to take care of his own needs. After an accident forces the child to return to his aunt's home, he comes to accept his mother's death, his father's neglect, and his aunt's love. Andy is followed by but unaware of a group of the Little People who play tricks and try to protect him, only leaving him when he accepts his new life. The third-person narration sticks closely to Andy's perspective but provides enough detail to bring other characters to life, especially Vinny and Aunt Mona. Interludes at the end of each chapter feature the Little People's bantering conversations, and Andy's father's Irish tales add a touch of fantasy and humor to this realistic and serious book. While not a tearjerker like Ann M. Martin's With You and Without You (Holiday, 1986; o.p.) or a journey of acceptance like Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons (HarperCollins, 1994), it is a worthy and warmly written book about coming to terms with a parent's death.
Beth L. Meister, Queens Borough Public Library, Flushing, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Waiting Lies
Everyday is a new day for most kids rig ht. Well not for little Andy or Andrew. His days were the same. Waiting, seeing, and caring about his dad and others.
As a big disaster hits the town were Andy and his family lives, his life is turn upside down. He now has to go live with is Aunt Mona, who he defiantly dislikes. When news come to Andy that his dad isn't dead he's alive, he just might have a chance to start again. As for most teenagers you can about guess what he's going to do. Run away. But life isn't all that simple for Andy and his father. See Vinny, his father, doesn't have that much money. He lives in an old run down apartment with cockroaches and mice. As Andy and Vinny are living together, Andy finds out he is a trouble maker. Andy soon find outs and wants all these new things to get there life better. Well as any normal parent they say they do, but they don't. This time Vinny doesn't even try. A few months later Aunt Mona showed at the door because something terrible happened. Soon adventures began all over again for Andy.
Things that I liked and think you would like would probably be that the story relate to so many people out there. If you think you can actually put us in Andy place. Adventures, sadness, and happiness and mystery is all in one big twist.
What I didn't like was how the same thing kind of occurred over a small period of time. Also how you can predict what was going to happen. I mean you new what was going to happen but in the book there would be a twist to the event.
Overall I think just about every person would like it because it can spark an interest no matter what type of book person you are. Please read this book. It can tug your strings somewhere in your body.