THE WATCHER
Kids Can Press, Toronto, New York, 2000
ISBN 1550748297 Hardcover
ISBN 1550748319 Trade Paperback
Fifteen-year-old Emma has long suspected that something is
not quite as it should be in her life. With her long, pale
face and white hair, she looks nothing like her parents
or frail younger sister. She acts nothing like them either.
While her parents happily pursue their daily routine, Emma
senses danger. She knows she must watch over the family
day and night -- but why, she doesn't know.
Things spin out of control when Emma takes a summer job caring for an eccentric elderly neighbour and is drawn into playing a strange board game She's suddenly plagued by
surreal, frightening dreams that begin to invade her waking hours. Emma is soon hurtled from her quiet farm life into strange worlds of intrigue and terror. As she becomes a
participant in a bizarre game of life and death, the mystery surrounding her is solved ... and her future decided.
Finalist - Independent Publisher Book Awards
Shortlisted, Canadian Library Assoc. Young Adult Canadian Book Award
Chosen - New York Public Library, Books for the Teen Age
Chosen - Our Choice Canadian Children's Book Centre
Nominated - McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award
A FEW EXCERPTS FROM REVIEWS OF THE WATCHER:
REVIEW: ...Emma is a familiar Buffie heroine, a child psychologically at risk, seeking her place in things and finding it through the aid of the fantastical. The sub-themes of
alienation and belonging are underscored by Emma's entrapment in what her mother describes as the "Borderland", that sometimes dangerous space between childhood and
adulthood. Buffie, winner of the Vicky Metcalf Award, depicts the game world in a vivid and almost painterly fashion. She weaves such a sophisticated fantasy that it
isn't entirely clear which characters we should be rooting for. Although this might prove disquieting for some, Emma's powerful need to watch over her family is an
overridingly compelling premise from beginning to end. Quill and Quire
REVIEW: ... Now, in the Watcher, several novels later, Buffie confidently creates an entire world of fantasy. ... It allows Buffie to establish the importance of game playing
as the metaphor that dominates her story: games with often outrageous rules, and players with roles hardly known even to themselves. In some ways, It feels like Lewis Carroll
with the Queen of Hearts in full control. Like Alice, Emma is confused and distressed, but Buffie shows that Emma and even her family never really escape the rabbit hole. From
a world centered on humans in the opening chapter, Buffie skillfully navigates step by step from the solid ground of a world governed by gravity and expected behavior and
understanding, to an existence where Emma can't separate dreams from reality. Taking her fantasy from Norse and Anglo-saxon mythology, Buffie adroitly conjures up this
confusing world going back and forth from worldly adventure and fright to supernatural powers. National Post
REVIEW: A teenager and her little sister discover that they are pieces in a game played across worlds in this suspenseful tale from the Canadian author of The Dark Garden .
Suddenly, Emma is shuttling between her world and another, where two moons hang in the sky and overheard conspirators discuss a Game, and a Child in chilling terms. .... From
ominous beginning to tense climax this is a page turner. Kirkus
REVIEW: Filled with suspense, adventure, and colorful characters, this story will appeal to readers of Franny Billingsley's The Folk Keepe (Atheneum, 1999) and will
entertain fans of the genre. While a familiarity with Celtic myths is not necessary to enjoy the story, those who know the tales will delight in finding fresh interpretations
of characters rarely brought to life in children's literature.- School Library Journal
REVIEW: A terrific story with just enough ties to reality and Faerie to make us suspend disbelief. Children’s Literature 2000
REVIEW: Buffie's way with words ... lend quirky insight into suprahuman existence and keep the reader engaged to the end. NAPRA 2001
REVIEW: Fans of Buffie's earlier work and those readers enticed by the title ... will find this book hard to put down. VOYA 2001
REVIEW: The summer that her parents move to Grandpa MacFey's
farm, 15-year-old Emma finds that nothing will ever be the
same again. Her mother has become the keeper of her dead father's
bees, her father is building a strange sculpture in a nearby field,
and her sister Summer is fading away.
Who are The Watchers? Emma knows that they are not the people she has grown up with
--- or are they? She alone in her family has the strange birthmark, two moons with
an arrow shaft through them. When Tom Krift comes to work for her father, Emma discovers that he also bears the birthmark.
Is her father's sculpture, which he has named Bruide Henge, a portal to another world?
Who are the strange people who have suddenly appeared in the village and who inhabit
Emma's dreams? Emma seeks answers from Tom Krift who claims that he too is a Watcher
and that they must save Summer. Can she trust him, or is he part of the plot to harm
her sister and her family?
Emma's life spins out of control when she takes a job caring for an eccentric
elderly neighbor and becomes involved in the board game Fidchell. Emma proves
herself a worthy opponent. However, does she have the courage to play out the
real game of life and death that will draw in each member of her family as she
tries to understand her role in this frightening new magical world? Once again,
Winnipeg writer and artist Margaret Buffie has taken seeming ordinary people
and thrust them into a bizarre, magical world to create a frightening and
intriguing story.
Reviewed by Audrey Marie Danielson for teenreads.com
READERS' COMMENTS:
I just finished reading your books "The Watcher" and "The Seeker",
which were given to me for Christmas. They were fantastic! Your books have always been
a welcome escape from everyday life for me. I found the characters from your new books
very endearing. Emma is hard not to love, with her "slightly" big mouth and her loyalty
to her Earth (or Eorthe) family. Tom was my favorite character, I think. Such an enigma
at times, and near the end of The Seeker, it is so so hard to know if he's to be trusted!
The reader can find themselves relating completely to what Emma is feeling at the time.
Your books are impossible to put down, because you just have to know what is going
to happen to everyone! Cill was a very loveable character, as was Gyro. I cannot wait
until I read the last book of the trilogy. I always find that after reading books by other
authors for awhile, returning to your writing is like coming home again after being
away for years, to
things that are familiar and safe. I think that teenagers like myself can relate fully
to the things your characters go through, which is what make your writing so welcomed by
my age group. Your books even have a way, at times, of making lost teenagers
feel less alone, making them feel that there is someone who does understand
their troubles. I hope you continue writing for a long time, and look forward
to reading other books by you.
Sarah from Ontario
This summer I went to Canada, where I first read your first two
books of The Watchers Quest . I love the trilogy. Every time I read it I get
the same thrill and excitement of the Adventure. It ranks up there with Harry Potter
and I am a big fan of that. I think that you should make a movie of the books.
It would be amazing!
A reader from Maryland, USA
I have read The Watcher and The Seeker
... I am however distraught that I cannot find any information on
the third book of the trilogy of which I have heard rumored as The Finder. I was wondering
if you could help me ... by letting me know if the third book is indeed coming out and
when it might be. As an avid rewader and inspired young writer I was fortunate to come across
your books about a year ago. I enjoyed them with the deepest pleasure and am hooked
and hanging on a cliff waiting to see what will become of Tom and Emma and all the
beloved characters of whom I truly felt a part of their worlds while reading the books.
A READER "Patiently waiting for the reaturn of the Watcher"
I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your books.
This past year I haven't been able to find any really good fantasy/romance
novels, which are, along with historical fiction/romance, my favorite kind.
When I finally read it, I was immensely impressed.
I have read many fantasy novels by wonderfully talented writers, and yours
are definitely two of them. I spent all of the night reading The Seeker!
Both of the books are simply enthralling and worth the read. I love being
able to identify with Emma at the beginning of The Watcher, even though I
don't talk as much as she, like she did in The Seeker. :) And I love Tom;
I can't wait for him to finally admit his feelings for Emma. They have to
get together, I know they're made for each other! But even without the romance
in the first two books, they make the beginning of a wonderful series ... once
again, congratulations on creating two
(and hopefully a third) marvelous fantasy novels.
Cydney, 15, United States
This is my first time writing an email to someone.
I guess I'm lucky your my first, since you are one of my favorite authors.
Okay, here I go!
I always have my nose in a book, specifically fantasy wise.
It was lucky how I found your books. I was in a store in St.Andrews, N.B.
I was looking at the bookshelves, never mind anything else that caught my eye.
None of the books seemed to be of interest to me, until I caught sight of a novel called
The Seeker. I figured out that there were two others to the trilogy. So, I bought The Watcher.
I was so happy! And all the while I was camping, I couldn't put it down!
That's how good it was.
While everyone was having fun swimming and playing, I sat in a lawn chair, reading for hours.
Emma's such an interesting heroine. Out of all the books I've ever read, she reminds me of
people I know, like me.
And the writing is very good. It was so vivid, almost real.
My family actually had to make me go someplace so I'd leave the book alone.
Sadly, the book came to an end after three days of reading.
I wanted to go back to the store to get the second book ... I got my chance a few weeks later.
I was camping in Shediac ... one day my mother took me into the bookstore.
It was enormous!
I dragged my mom through sections of books. My results of finding your book: zip.
I kept turning around, only to find more books.
I almost screamed.
We finally asked for help. The lady told us they had it.
I told my mom I'd literally attack anyone holding the book.
Eventually, after about roughly 40 minutes, we found it.
I was SO happy!!!
From a fan of yours in New Brunswick,
Jessica
...I have never been that interested in books until I started reading
yours. I thought about many authors (for an author study) I could research, but you were
my first choice. The main reason is because many of my friends, family and teachers suggested
your books. Although I have only read two of your books, they have been everything
people told me and more. I have also recommended your books to others, because
I have enjoyed them so much. The three books I've read of yours are THE WATCHER,
THE WARNINGS and WHO IS FRANCES RAIN? I read "The Watcher" in about three days. I couldn't
put it down until the very last page. Even when I was finished, I kept thinking
about the story and the characters, and what might happen next. I read "The Warnings" in about five
days. While I was reading it, I had trouble remembering my own life, and just thought about
living in the book. I just started reading "Who is Frances Rain?" and I don't want to stop
until I get to the end. My favourite thing about your books are the characters.
They are so real, and yet they still
have a supernatural twist. I can't wait until I get to start another of your books ...
Thank you for writing such wonderful books for me and so many other people to enjoy.
Sam from BC
I'm fifteen years old and have read your novel, THE WATCHER.
I found it the most exhilarating and imaginative book I have ever read.
Sarah, Alberta
Hi! I love your books. You're a greart writer! The way you mix
magical worlds and real worlds together makes them seem so real. I'm addicted to The
Watcher's Quest. Kelly
I just had to write
and tell you that you're my favorite author! I love all your books. But my
favorites would have to be all of "THE WATCHER'S QUEST". They are the
books that I read, and will continue to read, over and over again. I love the
characters. They are just so endearing. I first read the books when i
was 15 years old and now, at 18 they still remain my favorite.
Thank you sooo much for sharing your stories with me and the world. And
inspiring me to write as well.
"Angels Turn Their Backs" was the book
that helped me most, what with my social anxiety. For a long time i wondered
why it was so hard for me to be out in public when there were a lot of
people. Breaking into cold sweats and having to repeat the words "in and out"
to remind myself how to breath while my heart beat fast. Eventually there
were few places that i felt comfortable and safe going to. The library being
one of those places. And thats where i discovered "Angels Turn Their
Backs". It helped me to realize and conquer my problems and fears. It even
inspired me to write a poem with the same name.
Anyway. Thanks again! Hope all is well for you.
Sincerely and with much love,
Kristie N.
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