Clay

I expected an average YA book here but I should've remembered the wonderful spookiness 'Skellig' gave me because this book chilled me to the bones in places. An amazing book that easily crosses over from the children to adult's market. I must go on and eventually read some more by David Almond as he is a fantastic writer.

I've read 'Skellig' as a teacher several times and also for personal pleasure and I can see plenty of opportunities for 'Clay' to be used in the classroom. It would open up a range of discussion about religion, death and conflict. Perfect for an English, RE, PHSE or Citizenship lesson plus others! But enough about school stuff, what was the book like? In one word AMAZING. I had started it the night before but only read about 30 pages or so and found it mediocre, I wasn't sure how it would progress. When I picked it up last night I couldn't put it down and read the remainder in one sitting.

I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen, by the time I was approaching the ending what I expected to happen didn't and I was continually amazed. It surprisingly became quite a page turner. Davie is a wonderful character but wait until you meet Stephen Rose. I can't work out who is depicted on the front cover out of these two characters. The other characters for me are just a sideline, it is the relationship between Davie and Stephen that is purely magical, frightening and fascinating to watch/read.

The plot is well-constructed and like I said, apart from the opening, it is captivating. It is set in the north East - Felling to be precise, so there are occasional bits of dialect but not much. The only irritating aspect was the use of 'bliddy hell', I didn't feel this sounded right. If you have read 'Skellig' then I'd say this is aimed at a slightly older audience because of the themes. Great chapter lengths - 5 or 6 pages in a hardback on average. Superb cliff-hangers, all in all you should race through the novel because of the way it is written.

All the Buttons pressed (0/0 people found this helpful)

Cant believe how unsettling i found this book. Best book ive read in years. I know its marketed as a kids book, but im 42 and it managed to press all the buttons more than any other book ive read in the last few years. Its so successful because it manages to say things simply, quickly, but profoundly. If only most adult fiction could do that.......

Beautiful and Real (0/0 people found this helpful)

I loved this book. I've just finished reading it as a teacher who is sharing it with a group of 12year olds. They're loving it too. Main themes; life/death and reality/fantasy and the interplay between these. I thought it was gorgeously written and had elements of Steinbeck woven into the descriptions of nature that David Almond writes so well. It is a frightening book in some ways but also one which deals with the reality of childhood in ways which some writers are afraid to approach. I loved the understated beginnings and complications of first love surrounding both davie and stephen's individual stories. Wonderful. Wish I'd written it!

Strange (1/1 people found this helpful)

Having read 'Skellig' and other novels by David Almond, I was certainly excited by the prospect of another. However, I found 'Clay' to be very strange, unpredictable (some, though, would say this was a good thing) and very different to what he has written before.

Where before his novels have succeeded in enrapturing me, I found 'Clay' a little dull, and a little too strange to really feel drawn into. I found it difficult to associate with many of the characters, although Davie was quite a strong one.

I do feel the need to congratulate the author for writing this bold novel, and I am sure many people will really enjoy it. It's just a matter of taste!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too (2/2 people found this helpful)

"I am here master, command me."

Thirteen-year-old Davie and his best friend, Geordie, have a wild time when Stephen Rose moves into Crazy Mary's house; she's the craziest woman they know. When the church paster informs Davie that he is expected to be friends with this new, weird kid, he is in shock.

When Stephen shows Davie how they both have powers to make things come to life, Davie's life starts falling apart. He and Geordie are not friends anymore, he's stealing from his church, the girl he loves thinks he's crazy, and he and Stephen Rose are making a life-size monster--and it makes absolutely no sense at all.

When this brilliant idea of bringing something to life turns into a total meltdown and starts to kill someone, Davie has no choice but the obvious. What will he do, or what can he do?

This is a great book that I think explores the unknown imagination. It is a well-written story that has exciting detail in each chapter.

Reviewed by: Holly

David Almond

Reader Reviews:

Wow (3/3 people found this helpful)

All the Buttons pressed (0/0 people found this helpful)

Beautiful and Real (0/0 people found this helpful)

Strange (1/1 people found this helpful)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too (2/2 people found this helpful)

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