Summary

The Carnival at Bray is a young adult novel by Jessie Ann Foley. The main character is sixteen year-old American Maggie Lynch who moves with her mother, younger sister, and new stepfather to Bray, Ireland. From the very start of the novel, the groundwork is laid for Maggie’s coming of age.

Part 1, Chapter 1 – At the beginning of the novel, it is September, 1993. Maggie's mother, Laura Lynch, has married Colm Byrne, a man five years younger. The family has moved to Bray, Ireland, from Chicago, Illinois, so that Colm can help his brother run the family's construction business. Sixteen year-old Maggie and her little sister Ronnie attend the carnival at Bray on the Irish coastline while their mother and new stepfather enjoy their honeymoon.

It begins to rain at the carnival, and Maggie takes shelter under the Ferris wheel. When...