Lowlands

Fiction. When James Ward, a high- school freshman living in Queens, meets Cornelia Parsons he gains entry into a very old, very secretive, and to him very attractive world. Cornelia and her enigmatic guardian Miss Widdershins belong to a confederation of travelers, perpetual exiles who left Ireland and Scotland centuries ago and who now recognize no law but their own. They are facing a crisis brought on by a malignant deserter. And now Cornelia expects her new friend James to take a hand. Fans of John Crowley's Little, Big will be fans of this subtle, mysterious novel about two teens coming of age in a too-modern age.

The story is highly engaging, with a varied array of nostalgic touches from different countries and periods... The various players are quietly but richly delineated, and their conversations ring true; James and Cornelia's relationship is particularly strong. Indeed, the plot often takes a back seat to character development and exploration of the travelers' secret world. This is a welcome choice, however, as Gallagher often handles it deftly.--Kirkus Reviews