The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde

Author: Caroline Pignat
Illustrator: Alan Cranny
ISBN: 9781771872874 Categories: Juvenile Fiction, Legends, Myths, Fables Tags: , , , , , , ,
Publication Date: 19 August, 2025
Dimensions: 6 x 8.62"

A thrilling novel of self-discovery that is part adventure, part mystery, and part Celtic myth, set in Dublin in 1913.

Fifteen-year-old Finnegan Wilde steals to survive. Always on the run from gangs and police, Finn is also fleeing her own mysterious past, glimpsed only through nightmares and an unusual Celtic mark on her arm. When, in a chance encounter outside the museum, she scores a journal filled with strange diagrams, maps, and a drawing identical to her mark, Finn hungers for more than the next meal. She wants answers, and more than anything, she wants to find her family.

Eddie Moore, a young apprentice archaeologist, has spent months trying to decipher an ancient manuscript he and his father excavated from a bog. The Moores believe it was written by Tomas, a 9th century monk, and that it holds the clue to finding the legendary Cauldron of Plenty, one of four Treasures of Ireland. But when Eddie’s father is seriously injured by a gang in an attempted robbery, Eddie alone must find the Cauldron.

When their search brings them together, Finn and Eddie realize the mark on her arm and his ancient manuscript are connected. Finn doesn’t trust this awkward scholar from the rich side of town. Eddie is just as suspicious of this wild girl with no home, no past, and no rules. But if they can work together, perhaps — as Tomas hoped — they will make the greatest discovery of all.

Three voices — those of Finnegan, Eddie, and Tomas — intertwine like a Celtic knot that readers will delight in unravelling to the very last page.

About the Author

Irish-Canadian author and educator Caroline Pignat is the recipient of two Governor General’s Awards for Children’s Literature (Greener Grass, 2009; The Gospel Truth, 2015). She explores complex themes through her character driven stories and her work is hailed by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre as “historical fiction at its best!” Pignat immerses her readers in rich and varied historical settings, drawing them close to characters who embody resiliency, empathy, and hope. She lives in Ottawa.

Reviews

Praise for Past Works:

The Gospel Truth
“Caroline Pignat’s The Gospel Truth is the powerful and poignant story of 16-year-old Phoebe, a slave girl in 1858 Virginia. Written in lyrical and elegant free verse, it is an unflinching look at the brutality of slavery and Phoebe’s struggle for freedom and truth. Ultimately, this is a story of hope.”
—Governor General’s Award Jury

“Telling the story from multiple points of view, she provides a nuanced, multifaceted perspective on truth and freedom, and a realistic rendering of that time in history . . . Moving, lyrical and intriguing, this is a story that will captivate readers of all ages.”
—CCBC Amy Mathers Teen Book Award Judges

Greener Grass
“Ride with the powerful lilt of style and you’ll feel the terrible heartbeat of old Famine Ireland herself! Pignat is a winner!”
—Brian Doyle, Author

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt of The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde here: Excerpt_The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde

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