Rereading: THE BOGGART by Susan Cooper

Cover art by Trina Schart Hyman

The Volnick family of Toronto Canada, father Robert, mother Maggie, son Jessup, and daughter Emily, have inherited a small castle in Scotland from Maggie’s distant relative elderly Mr. MacDevon. Tommy Cameron and his parents live in the small store across the loch from the island where the castle sits, and Tommy often helped out Mr. MacDevon, so when the Volnick family arrives to see and spend a few days in their castle, he does the same for them, and becomes friends with Jessup and Emily.

The Boggart has lived in the castle for hundreds of years, as long as it has been there. He’s a spirit who loves to make mischief, play practical jokes, and startle people. He’s invisible to humans, though animals can see him. He and old MacDevon got on well, and Tommy also knows his ways. The Volnicks decide to put the land and castle on the market, but Maggie, who owns an antique shop, ships some of the furniture home to use or sell. That’s how the Boggart ends up in Toronto, inside a roll-top desk from the castle that Emily wants for her room. Before long the Boggart is playing his tricks on the Volnick family, but they don’t understand what’s happening, and he must do larger and wilder things to try to get their attention. This leads to all kinds of trouble.

A fun story, recommended.

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