📖 Overview
Kate Thompson is an Irish author known for writing children's and young adult literature, with particular acclaim for her fantasy novels that draw upon Celtic mythology and Irish folklore. Her work has earned multiple awards including the Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year and the Whitbread Children's Book Award.
Thompson began her career as an actor before turning to writing in the 1990s. Her breakthrough came with The Switchers Trilogy, which follows the adventures of children who can transform into animals at will.
The New Policeman, published in 2005, is considered one of her most significant works, winning three major awards. The novel weaves together contemporary Irish life with traditional folklore and explores themes of time, music, and the relationship between the modern world and ancient traditions.
Beyond children's literature, Thompson has written for adults under the name Katherine Thompson and has authored several non-fiction books about horses. She resides in Kinvara, County Galway, where the landscape and local culture continue to influence her writing.
👀 Reviews
Readers cite Thompson's seamless blend of Irish folklore with modern storytelling and her nuanced handling of environmental themes. Her YA novels, particularly "The New Policeman" and "Creature of the Night," draw praise for avoiding typical fantasy clichés while maintaining authenticity in both magical and real-world elements.
Likes:
- Complex characters that evolve naturally
- Integration of traditional Irish music into narratives
- Realistic dialogue between teens
- Unpredictable plot developments
Dislikes:
- Pacing issues in middle sections of books
- Some readers find the Irish terminology challenging
- Multiple timeline jumps can confuse younger readers
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- The New Policeman: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings)
- Creature of the Night: 3.6/5 (400+ ratings)
- The Last of the High Kings: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Average 4.1/5 across all books
- Higher ratings from UK readers compared to US readers
📚 Books by Kate Thompson
Switchers
A thirteen-year-old girl discovers she can transform into different animals and meets another shape-shifter who reveals a mission to save the world from an impending ice age.
The New Policeman In a small Irish town where time seems to be leaking away, fifteen-year-old JJ Liddy ventures into the mythical world of Tír na nÓg to investigate why there aren't enough hours in the day.
Creature of the Night A troubled fourteen-year-old boy from Dublin faces supernatural encounters when his family relocates to a remote farmhouse with a dark history.
Midnight's Choice A shape-shifting teen must choose between becoming a vampire or remaining human while confronting the darker aspects of power and immortality.
Wild Blood A young girl learns about her family's connection to horses and their mysterious ability to communicate with these animals, leading her to discover her own hidden powers.
The New Policeman In a small Irish town where time seems to be leaking away, fifteen-year-old JJ Liddy ventures into the mythical world of Tír na nÓg to investigate why there aren't enough hours in the day.
Creature of the Night A troubled fourteen-year-old boy from Dublin faces supernatural encounters when his family relocates to a remote farmhouse with a dark history.
Midnight's Choice A shape-shifting teen must choose between becoming a vampire or remaining human while confronting the darker aspects of power and immortality.
Wild Blood A young girl learns about her family's connection to horses and their mysterious ability to communicate with these animals, leading her to discover her own hidden powers.
👥 Similar authors
Susan Cooper
Her Dark is Rising sequence combines Celtic mythology with contemporary British settings in ways that mirror Thompson's blend of modern and mythological Ireland. Cooper similarly weaves ancient folklore into young adult narratives while maintaining historical accuracy and cultural authenticity.
Patricia A. McKillip McKillip's Celtic-inspired fantasy works feature the same intricate connection between music and magic found in Thompson's writing. Her books examine the intersection of mundane and magical worlds while incorporating traditional folk elements.
Mary Tannen Tannen writes about shape-shifting and human-animal connections in her young adult novels, sharing themes with Thompson's Switchers series. Her work explores similar coming-of-age narratives within fantasy frameworks that blend contemporary settings with magical elements.
O.R. Melling Melling sets her fantasy novels in Ireland and draws heavily from Celtic mythology like Thompson. Her Chronicles of Faerie series demonstrates comparable attention to Irish cultural details and folklore while connecting modern teenagers to ancient myths.
Diana Wynne Jones Jones creates fantasy worlds that intersect with everyday life, similar to Thompson's approach in The New Policeman. Her work shares Thompson's focus on young protagonists discovering magical abilities while navigating between ordinary and extraordinary realms.
Patricia A. McKillip McKillip's Celtic-inspired fantasy works feature the same intricate connection between music and magic found in Thompson's writing. Her books examine the intersection of mundane and magical worlds while incorporating traditional folk elements.
Mary Tannen Tannen writes about shape-shifting and human-animal connections in her young adult novels, sharing themes with Thompson's Switchers series. Her work explores similar coming-of-age narratives within fantasy frameworks that blend contemporary settings with magical elements.
O.R. Melling Melling sets her fantasy novels in Ireland and draws heavily from Celtic mythology like Thompson. Her Chronicles of Faerie series demonstrates comparable attention to Irish cultural details and folklore while connecting modern teenagers to ancient myths.
Diana Wynne Jones Jones creates fantasy worlds that intersect with everyday life, similar to Thompson's approach in The New Policeman. Her work shares Thompson's focus on young protagonists discovering magical abilities while navigating between ordinary and extraordinary realms.