Nessie and the Living Stone by Lois June Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah
Illustrated by Sara Silvestris Strand
CrossroadsPub -- 2000
ISBN: CD #1--58338-455-3
HTML:1-58338-456-1 -- Ebook
Fantasy

Reviewed by Jo Rogers, MyShelf.com

When Craig and Linda accompanied their parents on a business trip to Loch Ness, they had high hopes of seeing and catching Nessie, the fabled Loch Ness Monster.  But two days before they had to go home, they had yet to catch even a slight glimpse of her.

Craig and his younger sister have been left in he care of Mrs. Carmichael, the owner and manager of the Bed & Breakfast inn where they are staying.  While their parents speak with business customers, Craig is under orders to keep an eye on his little sister.  As they walk along the shore of the Loch, the Coast Guardsman, Roy, comes roaring up in his boat, and yells at them to stay away from the water.  Craig and Linda pay scant attention to his warnings.  He has been arrogant and bossy since they came, and he has told them he wants to catch Nessie, kill her, stuff her and put her in a museum.  The children hope he never sees her.

While they walk along, there is a sudden earthquake, and the ground shifts.  Craig spots a stone in a pool of water, a blue and glowing stone.  He picks it up and puts it in his pocket.  Then he spots a green one in the Loch, and he wonders if he can get it too.  He hears Linda say, "I see Nessie!" just as she has many times in the past twelve days.  But just as he starts to reply as he has done, "No, you don't!" he sees the green, glowing stone move.  Craig and Linda wade into the water to chase the green stone.  But as they do, the giant wave caused by the earthquake washes over them and they are caught in the undertow.  As they are swept along, Craig notices that, as long as he has the blue stone in his pocket, and he has a hold of Linda's hand, they can both breathe underwater.

Nessie and the Living Stone is a beautifully written story for children eight and older.  Complete with colorful illustrations, it is an old fashioned fantasy with a moral, a lesson children need to learn.  In my opinion, it is a must read for your kids!

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