Amanda Greenleaf: The Complete Adventures

by Ed Kavanagh, Janice Udell (Illustrator)

A one-volume edition of the popular Amanda Greenleaf children’s stories, including Amanda Greenleaf Visits a Distant Star, The Spell of the Water Witch, The Boy Magician and, published here for the first time, the concluding story The Journey Home. These lyrical fantasies deal with themes of friendship, the beauty of Nature and the necessity of following your heart. With a colourful cast that includes a magic dragonfly, a wise-cracking trout, merpeople, fairies and magicians, Amanda Greenleaf: The Complete Adventures is sure to captivate and delight.

Shortlisted for the 2006 Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards -- Bruneau Family Children's Literature Award.

243 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2004

About the author

Ed Kavanagh grew up in Kilbride, Newfoundland and Labrador, and now lives in St. John's. He received an Honours B.A. in English and a B.Ed. from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a B.A. in Music from Carleton University, and an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of New Brunswick. He has worked as a writer, actor, musician, theatre director, university lecturer, and editor. His stories, essays, dramatic scripts, and poetry have earned 14 awards in the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Competition. Ed has taught creative writing through the extension services of both Memorial University and the University of New Brunswick. He is a past president of the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In addition to the Amanda Greenleaf series of children's books, Ed has also published The Cat's Meow: The 'Longside Players Selected Plays 1984-1989 (co-author and editor), and released a cassette tape of his children's songs: Alison Gross and Other Wickedly Wonderful Songs. In 2001, Killick Press published his first adult novel, The Confessions of Nipper Mooney, which won the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award for Fiction, was a finalist for the Winterset Award, and was also nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. His most recent releases are the CD Weaving the Wind: Music from Newfoundland Performed on Celtic Harp and Amanda Greenleaf: The Complete Adventures. This new book includes the three previously published Amanda Greenleaf stories, plus the never-before published fourth and final installment The Journey Home.

Reviews

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really enjoyable. I believe I have found a book I can recommend to parents, to kids, to grandparents and to babysitters. They would enjoy this book, like people of all ages would.

[Jerry Cranford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The combination of action and intriguing characters in a novel with a distinctly moral cast is reminiscent of L’Engle, or perhaps even Le Guin, though for a younger set; and that is high praise." -- Canadian Children’s Literature

"...upredictable and sometimes hilarious adventures . . . Aimed at a young audience, Kavanagh’s pacifist message is effortlessly relayed with a dollop of magic . . . appropriately illustrated by Janice Udell’s sensitive pencil drawings." -- Books in Canada

"Unifying these classics in a revised volume and adding a final story to bring the series to a satisfactory close make this work of art nothing short of a masterpiece." -- 2006 Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards jury

"It is the magic and wonder of Kavanagh's stories and the touching, often lyrical nature of his writing that will keep [children] enthralled; hopefully, for generations to come." -- The Independent

"Amanda Greenleaf: The Complete Adventures would make a terrific addition to any collection of fantasy books for young readers. The stories are entertaining and the characters enchanting." -- Suite101.com

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very good. I read it with my son and he really enjoyed it.