Book description
Col McCann is used to being in trouble. It is always the McCann family
the police turn to when there is trouble - mainly because of his elder
brother Mungo of course, who is generally at the centre of it. But Col
adores Mungo, who always seems to be in control. He is the big man of
the family since their father was killed. But one day Col discovers what
it is like to be seen in a completely different light. Having bunked off
school one cold winter's day, he goes to his favourite place, the loch.
There he sees a younger boy teetering dangerously on the ice, testing
it. When he falls in, Col realises there is noone else to save this boy
apart from him. So he dives into the icy water, half drowns himself but
saves the boy. He wakes up in hospital to local acclaim. He is a hero!
Nothing like this has happened before to a McCann! Col can't resist
going back to the loch, and there meets Klaus. Klaus, a refugee, with it
appears a genuine fear of Mungo, leads Col to a devastating truth about
his brother. Col's loyalty to his family and his need to do what is
right are put head to head in direct conflict. 'Young adult fiction is
going from strength to strength, led by authors like Catherine MacPhail'
The Bookseller Anything by Cathy MacPhail is unputdownable -- Julia
Donaldson Guardian
Cathy MacPhail won the Kathleen Fidler Award with her first novel,
Run Zan Run, the Scottish Arts Council Award with her second
novel Fighting Back, and a Royal Mail award for Roxy's
Baby. Cathy MacPhail's work is enormously popular with young
teenagers, her trademarks being a mix of humour, with pacy and topical
storylines. Cathy lives in Greenock, Scotland.
