Book Review: Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon, by Sally M. Keehn

"There ain't nothing like grit. Grit gives you the wherewithall to keep on doing what you're doing, even though it's hard, and it seems impossible and you feel like giving up."

Summary:
It's October 2, 1872. Magpie Gabbard has just turned thirteen years old. And she is bound and determined to leave her home atop Gabbard Mountain, find her brother Milo, and give him back the foot he sorely needs, so he can get to High Jerusalem.

Magpie's quest is not without its difficulties: Big Mama is bound and determined not to see another of her underage children go off-mountain, never to return. There's also those pernicious Sizemores down in Squabble Town to think about, and the dreaded Cob Hollow Goblins to avoid. And then there's the fact that Milo is living inside a hollowed-out sycamore somewhere in faraway Pergatory, Kentucky. Plus, Milo's got a deadline: he has to get to High Jerusalem by October 16th.

Help comes to Magpie from some most unusual sources: the moon, Granny Goforth and her prophesying kettle, a talking head floating in a well, and a boar called Wild Bill, to name just a few. But, is all this enough to help Magpie find Milo? And can she get to him in time?

For Teachers and Librarians:
Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon has a little bit of everything. In the genre department, it's part American tall tale, part fairy tale, with a wee bit of time travel thrown in. It is a great companion to a unit on the Appalachian regions of the United States, shining a bit of light on mannerisms, speech patterns, and a peek in general into the ways of 19th century Appalachian life. Or, use it as a springboard for a side study of the famous Hatfield and McCoy feud, or other famous family feuds. Break out a lesson on the interesting vocabulary words used in the book, both real (such as pernicious) and made-up (such as cussedness). Perhaps you'd like to delve into a mini unit on Eastern Kentucky, or Tennessee, or both. There's even a bit of an overseas connection in this story (the Gabbards originally came to the US from England), which leads nicely into having your students research their roots. How did their own families find their way to America? There are so many ways to branch out with this book. Which will you choose to share with your students?

For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:
Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon is, when it comes right down to it, a story about the bonds of family. And the Gabbard family, like most, is not without its warts: misunderstandings amongst family members, a long-running feud with the Sizemore family down-mountain, and a love for each other that's so strong...it sometimes tends to smother. But Magpie and her family find a way to work through it all and come out stronger by the end. It's a story that will have you looking a bit askance at the disembodied talking head, chuckling at sibling pranks gone awry, and nodding in a wee bit of understanding at Big Mama's drastic yet done-out-of-fierce-love measures to secure safety for her children. It will have your kids enthralled with Magpie's attempts to ride a wild boar, and nodding in understanding at Magpie's conflicting feelings about her brother Randall, and impressed with her determination to do what's right for her family - even though she's fairly certain they'll balk. Don't be surprised if your kids start peppering you with family history questions and suddenly itch to check out the branches of the ol' family tree.

For the Kids:
Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon has magical birthday sparkles, a time-traveling wild boar, and a talking head that floats in a well. It has a prophesying kettle, a girl full of cussedness, and the moon herself - come to Earth. There's a family feud that goes back ages, wily Goblins ready to snatch the unwitting away, honey that'll whiten your teeth, and Green Water from a pond that'll cure whatever ails ya if ya drink it. It also has a sister who'll do whatever it takes to get her brother to where he needs to go - even when it involves those pernicious Sizemores - because she loves him that much. (Yes, really. And I bet you'd do the same, if push came to shove.) Don't believe me? Go find the book. Read it. You'll see.

Wrapping Up:
Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon is full of the most surprising things. Supernatural things, and down-to-earth things, and heartstring-tugging things. And ain't that a story worth reading?

Title: Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon
Author: Sally M. Keehn
Jacket Art: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Pages: 208
Reading Level: Grades 5-8
Publisher and Date: Philomel Books, March 1, 2007
Edition: Library copy, 1st Edition, hardcover
Language: English
Published In: United States
Price: $16.99
ISBN-10: 0-399-2434-0-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-399-24340-0 

Author Spotlight: Sally M. Keehn

Photo Credit: Sally M. Keehn official site*

Sally M. Keehn grew up the only girl among three "loud and boisterous" brothers, one of whom is her twin. Due to her father's Naval officer status, by the time she was eleven years old, Mrs. Keehn had lived in England, California, Rhode Island, Virginia and Maryland. When her father retired from the service, the family moved to her grandfather's farm near Annapolis, MD.

She earned her B.A. in English from Hood College in 1969, then went to work for the American Red Cross in their S.R.A.O. program (Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas) in South Korea, working with the American troops stationed there, as well as doing volunteer work in the Korean community.

Following this, Mrs. Keehn made the decision to become a Young Adult Librarian, and prepared by attending Drexel School Of Library Science from 1971-72. It was during this time that she met David Keehn, whom she married in 1972. She then served as Young Adult Librarian (1972-75) and part-time reference librarian (1975-79) in Severna Park, Maryland. 

In 1979, her husband's work as an attorney brought them to Pennsylvania, where she found work as a part-time and volunteer reference librarian at Parkland Community Library (1980-91). She also was a part-time tour guide for the Lehigh County Historical Society (1985-86).

Mrs. Keehn began her freelance writing career in 1981. By 1982, her first book, Hexcursions: Daytripping in and Around Pennsylvania's Dutch Country (co-written with her husband) was published. It was while researching for Hexcursions that she came across part of a story that inspired her first book for young people: I Am Regina (1991). From there, she has gone on to publish five other titles for young readers, the most recent being Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon (2007). Mrs. Keehn says that her novels are often "...inspired by a historical event or story. However, as the main character develops, the story changes and the plot evolves."

Born on August 11, 1947, in London, England (where her father was stationed at the time), Sally M. Keehn now lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters.

Sources:
More About Sally - author official site*
More About Sally: The Work - author official site*
Follow-Up Interview with Author Sally Keehn, by Debbi Michiko Florence
Keehn, Sally M. (Miller) - bio prepared by Erin Russell, Fall 2005
Sally M. Keehn - Answers.com
Sally M. Keehn - Scholastic.com
About Sally M. Keehn - Penguingroup.com 

*As of September 1, 2012, Ms Keehn's website appears to be offline or is otherwise unavailable, so these starred links no longer work. If this changes, I'll update here again.