Back to Blackbrick

With Cosmo’s mother off in Australia, he’s living with his grandparents, and although that might sound depressing—all “ticking clocks and hot chocolate and radio quizzes”—Cosmo is enjoying himself. However, his grandfather’s memory is worsening (for one thing, he keeps forgetting that Cosmo’s brother is dead), and there’s talk of sending him to a nursing home and having Cosmo live with his uncle. Then Cosmo’s grandfather hands him the key to Blackbrick Abbey; when Cosmo opens the gate, he meets the abbey’s stable boy—none other than his grandfather, at age 16. Though Cosmo is thrilled to meet him, the past is more complicated than he expects. Older readers will see some of the plot twists coming, but debut author Fitzgerald adeptly conveys Cosmo’s love for his grandfather and his fury at the way arrangements are being made all around him; Cosmo’s distinctively Irish speech is another strong point. Watching Cosmo learn what can and can’t be fixed makes for a strong story that’s less about time travel than about love and memory. Ages 10–14. Agent: Clare Conville, Conville & Walsh. (Sept.)