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Review
" 'so marvellously told that it seems a shame to to label it as only for children... Almond is exceptional in his ability to make happiness real, at the same time as suggesting its fragility.' - Justine Picardie, The Telegraph. 'David Almond is a fine writer, one of the very finest we have. He is simply incapable of writing a bad sentence. In THE FIRE-EATERS, his sense of place is unerring.... It is for me David Almond's best book - masterful in every aspect. There is the intensity of family life, wonderfully observed and delicately drawn... fear pervades this book, fears we all know, but there is hope too. And we need that. How we need that.' - Michael Morpurgo, Financial Times Magazine. 'Once in a while a book comes along that takes over your head and your heart. The Fire-Eaters is such a book... lyrical and atmospheric and establishes a strong sense of place.... lets you, for a while, live with, and know, this sensitively drawn community.' - Wendy Cooling, The Bookseller. 'Gripping, beautifully and brilliantly written. Everyone is raving about this unforgettable book.' - The Sunday Times. 'captivates children and their parents alike.' - The Guardian. '... will enrich your soul and fire your imagination.' - The Daily Telegraph"
Product Description
Another lyrical and gripping read from the multi-award winner, David Almond. With fascination, Davie and his best friend Geordie watch the arrival of a new boy, Stephen Rose, in their town. His history is a mystery, he seems to have come from nowhere, and when he arrives to live with his distant aunt, the local 'loony', 'Crazy Mary', no one envies him 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 by him, gradually Davie and Geordie befriend Stephen. But they are heading innocently down a dangerous 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 shocking story of Stephen's past slowly emerges, Davie's life is changed forever.
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First Sentence
He arrived in Felling on a bright and icy February morning. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
He arrived in Felling on a bright and icy February morning. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Clay is at times an unsettling book, scary even. It's the story of Davie, Georgie and the new boy in town, Stephen Rose. Where is Stephen from, what's his past and why is he so confident that he can help Davie and Georgie deal with the monstrous Martin Mould and his gang? Slowly, the truth behind Stephen's past starts to emerge. Davie finds himself drawn to Stephen's strange world of Clay figures. Overall Brilliant!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I first started to read this book it reminded me of the things they used to make us read at school - kind of old fashioned, and definately a boys' book, I thought, but very quickly I was drawn in by the plot and the characters until I couldn't put it down. The use of language is fairly simple, and yet the story is very profound, and pretty creepy and scary too. I found I could identify well with the main character Davie, who is sweet and good hearted, and I was totally creeped out by the sinister Stephen and his crazy mind-control powers, not to mention his gift for making things out of clay. I recomended it to my twelve year old son, who read it and enjoyed it and has asked me to buy him more books by the author.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"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
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
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Clay
I couldn't get into this book at all. A sad teen comes to town and two altar boys are asked to befriend him. The sad boy, Stephen Rose, sees something he likes in Davie. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ady
Wow
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. Read more
Published on 30 July 2008 by SJSmith
All the Buttons pressed
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... Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2008 by Prime
Beautiful and Real
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. Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2008 by A Reader
Strange
Having read 'Skellig' and other novels by David Almond, I was certainly excited by the prospect of another. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2007 by Martin Aitchy
Weird, gripping stuff
I read this for the Carnegie shadowing and found it to be excellent. This book can be interpreted in lots of different ways, and I think that it is people's interpretations of this... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2006 by A reader
The author of "Skellig" has outdone himself here...
An awesome read, in short. The author of "Skellig", one of the most recognisable Young Adult books in print, David Almond, has written this book, "Clay", with arguably even more... Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2006 by J. Stubbs
Couldn't put it down...
I haven't read anything else by Almond and only bought this because of my own interestin clay...I found it took me a bit of guessing to get what I assume is the Newcastle accent he... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2006 by robipots
Carnegie Shadowing
i am sorry to say i had to read this book for a carnegie shadowing group (for which it was inappropiatly entered for). Read more
Published on 21 July 2006 by Alex
Clay
A modern day Frankenstien or Paradise Lost, this is by far the best book by him I have read. I really enjoyed it.
Published on 6 Jun 2006 by Charlotte Longman
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