With fascination, Davie and his friend Geordie watch the arrival of a new boy, Stephen Rose, in their town. He seems to have come from nowhere, and when he arrives to live with his distant aunt, the local Crazy Mary, no one envies his new home. But perhaps he’s the answer to Davie and Geordie’s prayers – a secret weapon in their war against monstrous Mouldy and his gang.
Intrigued, Davie and Geordie befriend Stephen. But they are heading innocently down a path that brings with it a monster of an entirely unexpected nature. Their encounter with the mysterious Stephen is as incredible as it is menacing, and as the true story of Stephen’s past slowly emerges, Davie’s life is changed for ever…
A stunning novel from the author of the modern children’s classic Skellig – winner of the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children’s Book Award. David Almond is also winner of the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen award.
Intrigued, Davie and Geordie befriend Stephen. But they are heading innocently down a path that brings with it a monster of an entirely unexpected nature. Their encounter with the mysterious Stephen is as incredible as it is menacing, and as the true story of Stephen’s past slowly emerges, Davie’s life is changed for ever…
A stunning novel from the author of the modern children’s classic Skellig – winner of the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children’s Book Award. David Almond is also winner of the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen award.
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Reviews
An effective, engaging story.
Dark and thought-provoking.
Hypnotic storytelling.
This is the best that children's fiction has to offer. Brilliant.
... lilting prose and a seamless blending of primitive magic with discerning realism. ... elegiac lyricism of a lament for lost innocence but punctuated by moments of sharply observed humour, this adroit and perceptive novel has both immediate appeal and long-lasting resonance.
Funny, mysterious, moving, frightening and so deftly constructed as to be fiercely compelling. This is extraordinary story telling.
'...this story is totally accessible...an involving and thought provoking read.'
He weaves a story web, spiderlike, that holds the reader spellbound while he spins new thought-threads on universal themes
His most mysterious and spellbinding work yet.
This adroit and perceptive novel has both immediate appeal and long-lasting resonance.
The climax of this strange miraculous, beautiful book will make it a classroom classic.
... a work of art out of the simplest words ...
... funny, mysterious, moving, frightening, and so deftly constructed as to be fiercely compelling. ... not beneath the attention of adult readers.
Both exhilarating and horrifying.
'Focusing on good and evil, love and desire and the supernatural, Clay transcends the limitations of some writing for children.'
An astonishing journey. I believe that Almond's books should be compulsory reading in all secondary schools.
A stunning read.
'... another gripping read from one of the master storytellers.'