Recently read: The New Policeman by Kate Thompson.

What a find! I haven't been so pleased with a new children's story since Harry Potter first came out.

The New Policeman is set in Ireland, and has to do with Irish music, dancing, and legend. At the beginning of every chapter, there is sheet music for a traditional or contemporary tune.

The book is gracefully written and is a great story. There is a boy, a mother, a mystery... Where does all the Time go? It's both old and new at the same time, with contemporary sensibilities and timeless myths intertwined. Basically, the story revolves around JJ Liddy, a boy born into a musical family, whose mother wishes for "more time" for her birthday present, and he sets out to get it for her. On the way, he unravels an old family mystery, and meets people he never knew existed. It's a good read; the only unfortunate thing is that the villain (if there is one) is the Catholic priest.