Brave Highland Heart
Description
$18.95
ISBN 0-7737-3099-0
DDC jC813'.54
Author
Publisher
Year
Contributor
Alison Mews is co-ordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services at
Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Review
A little girl is happily helping to prepare for the community ceilidh in
her family barn when she learns that she won’t be permitted to stay up
all night like her brothers. Upset and offended, she sulks and is
determined not to attend the party at all, until she hears her father
piping his way down from the hills. Although previously she had covered
her ears when he practised in the barn, now the bagpipes draw her
barefoot onto the grass as “the night air sang with the pipes.” She
hides in the hayloft, listening to the mournful music that laments
leaving beloved glens long ago and that summons the song of the sea on
the voyage to Canada. Her father spies her in the hay, though, and
scoops her out. He then dances with his brave Highland heart and allows
her to stay at the ceilidh until dawn.
Kellerhals-Stewart’s lyrical story of a magical summer night is
complemented by Zimmermann’s evocative drawings. Using rough pencil
sketches with soft color washes, he portrays the day’s shimmery summer
heat and the luminous moonlit night. The emotions of the young girl are
deftly drawn. We see her pre-party busyness shift to an angry pout with
crossed arms and can almost hear her say “humph!” This expression
changes to a wounded look as people arrive, a mesmerized look as she is
drawn to the music, and intense joy at the end. Scottish traditions are
celebrated in this lovely story of a small child who, enchanted by
music, discovers her heritage. Highly recommended.