THE SPIRIT OF LOUGHMOE ABBEY

The Spirit of Loughmoe Abbey

What if the dead could help the living?

Troubled Gwen doesn’t fit in at boarding school but everything changes when she encounters a mysterious ghost who reveals a family secret.

Home schooled all her life, Gwen is packed off to boarding school when her mother goes into hospital.

Gwen believes the key to making her mother better is to be a success at school. Trouble is Gwen doesn’t fit in. She is bottom of the class, useless at games and doesn’t get along with her classmates, but in 1980s Ireland, nobody has heard of neurodivergence - especially in girls!

Gwen wishes she could make friends but doesn’t know what a ‘real’ friend is. To make matters worse she is haunted by a mysterious spirit who wants to help Gwen and her mother. Can Gwen trust the spirit? And can the two of them make Gwen’s mum better?

An extraordinary ghost story about a family mystery and finding ‘real’ friendship.

Hear a reading from the book:

Image

Buy a signed copy !

Select below to buy a copy of "The Spirit of Loughmoe Abbey" directly from Megan.

You can request a signed copy, or ask for a dedication if buying for a present!

Reviews

CHILDREN'S BOOKS IRELAND

"Set in Dublin in 1986, Gwen is bright, imaginative and has been homeschooled by her mother for as long as she can remember. This changes dramatically when her mother becomes too ill to care for her and Gwen is sent to Loughmoe Abbey, a mysterious boarding school in the countryside.

From the outset, Gwen struggles to fit in, but soon she discovers that the school has a secret that changes everything. Loughmoe Abbey is no ordinary school; it is alive with mysteries, almost as if one could slip from this world to the next and back again. As Gwen navigates this new place, we are introduced to a series of imaginative characters, both staff and students. Early teenage friendships (and rivals) are a tricky path to navigate, and it is Gwen’s difficulties with fitting in with her fellow students that are most engaging. As she uncovers heartbreaking truths about her family and her past, Gwen must find the courage to face her fears, make new friends and help her parents to heal.

This is a story about grief, family, and finding your voice. The school setting is beautifully described, and the writing brings the landscape and atmosphere to life. Gwen’s bond with her dog Bella adds a gentleness and humour, while her friendship with quietly brilliant Hanuni is a highlight of the story. Themes of mental health, loss, and resilience are handled with care, and the supernatural elements are woven gently throughout.

A moving, magical story with hope at its heart."

https://childrensbooksireland.ie/our-recommendations/spirit-loughmoe-abbey

BOOKWORM FOR KIDS

Not all ghost stories are only about spooks and scares, and this one embraces its paranormal with heart.
 
Gwen has been homeschooled her entire life, but things have changed. Her mother has grown more and more unstable mentally and needs help. To offer some room, her father insists on sending her to boarding school but promises to bring her back home in several months if she doesn't like it and her mother is doing better. Unhappy, Gwen heads off to school and has more than a little trouble adjusting. Nothing goes right, and it only grows worse when she meets a ghost. But it might be the best thing that ever happened to her.
 
I picked this one up expecting a ghost story, which it is, obviously, but not as much as I thought it'd be. Instead, it's also so much more. 
 
The plot centers around Gwen, who is neurodivergent in a time where that wasn't recognized yet. This creates all sorts of problems as she's tossed, for the first time, into boarding school, where she has to deal with other people on a day-to-day basis. Even share a room. The first 25% of the book lets the reader get to know her, her situation, and her struggles as well as understand the dynamics she has with her mother. And it's these relationships with her mother and others, which truly sit at the foundation of this read. Readers get a good understanding of the school life as well, as she spends quite a bit of time, at first, dealing with the other students and the teachers. So, there's quite a bit of depth and character arc with the ghost offering a layer of haunting excitement, and a lead toward hope and guidance in an original way. 
 
There's a lot of care put into this read, but pacing and tension aren't forgotten. As the tale moves along, Gwen lands in one problem after the other and struggles to understand what's going on. The interaction with the other students offers uncertainty, especially with a bully or two, and the ghost slides in an exciting dose of mystery and tension later on. This will keep readers, especially those who enjoy a little middle school drama and boarding school difficulties, wondering how Gwen will steer everything. 
 
On the message end, there's a lot of food for thought. Gwen has to learn about her own special way of handling things and how that melds with society...which is a harsh lesson after being so extremely sheltered. This also made her a little difficult to connect with, since she was very defensive and difficult for awhile. Then, there's the issues surrounding a parent, who's dealing with mental health issues, and this was handled very nicely. The problems with forming in friendships and letting down the walls to allow others in rounded off the goodness in a lovely way. 
https://www.bookwormforkids.com/2025/09/the-spirit-of-loughmoe-abbey-by-megan.html

KIRKUS REVIEWS

Twelve-year-old Dubliner Gwen has no idea of the changes awaiting her when she reluctantly agrees to attend a boarding school situated on ancient monastic ruins.

The year is 1986. Gwen’s mother has grown increasingly emotionally unstable while homeschooling her only child, so Gwen’s dad sends her to Loughmoe Abbey. School proves a tough adjustment; lonely, teased because of her weight, and struggling scholastically, Gwen rebuffs the overtures of kindly Hanuni and instead attempts to befriend another dormmate, the chilly Jess, with little success. By midterm break, her sole friend is the cook, who encourages Gwen to tell the principal, Ms. Friedman, about the strange things she’s been noticing: swirling leaves (on a day with no wind), rustling reeds, and a mysterious voice. Ms. Friedman calmly informs Gwen that a spirit is attempting to reach out and sets up an appointment for further communication. As Gwen engages with a spirit named Molly, the initially leisurely pace picks up considerably, and the supernatural elements gain in intensity. Though Gwen’s awkward, occasionally selfish behavior may put off some readers, the eerie atmosphere and intriguing plot will engage them, propelling the story toward happy endings on many fronts. Gwen’s bond with Molly results in an ultimately satisfying arc as she grows in confidence. Gwen and Jess present white; Hanuni is Black and Kenyan.

A spine-tingling tale of a youngster coming into her own. (Paranormal. 8-11)

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/megan-wynne/the-spirit-of-loughmoe-abbey/