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Amazon.co.uk Review
David Almond's first book for children--Skellig--won the 1998 Whitbread Children's Book of the Year and the Carnegie Medal, and was shortlisted for the Guardian Award. His second novel, Kit's Wilderness was published to widespread critical acclaim and it seemed that he had created a pretty tough act to follow. However, follow it he did, and this exceptional writer has produced another original, thought- provoking and awe-inspiring book with Heaven Eyes.
Heaven Eyes tells the story of a group of youngsters embroiled in a system which takes as much care as it can of the lost souls of children who, for whatever reason, cannot be with their parents, but falls short of giving the love and warmth they really need in order to grow and prosper. Erin is one such child, and along with her friends January Carr and Mouse Gullane she decides to run away from her care home, embarking on an adventure which not only pushes their ability to survive to the limits, but also introduces them to the dark and lonely world of Heaven Eyes, a young girl who has grown up in the care of an old man who found her abandoned as a child, hidden away from the world, but constantly seeking some kind of salvation in the form of other human contact.
The tale is at times incredibly bleak, and the despair the children feel in the lonely world they encounter is tangible. But, in true Almond style, there is light amid the darkness, and as the relationships between the children develop, so too does a warmth and understanding that leaves the reader with the certain knowledge that behind every shadow there is hope.
Heaven Eyes is an outstanding novel from an outstanding author, which cleverly balances the passion and delicacy which is fuelled by the impeccably drawn characters, each of them battling with their own will to survive in a world which may never fully understand them, but each of them realising that there is, after all, a reason to live. Be prepared to cry--only the hardest of hearts could fail to be touched by this stunning novel. (Age 11 and over)--Susan Harrison --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'With his magic realism style, he is becoming the Gabriel Garcia Marquez of children's fiction.' (Janni Howker, Times Educational Supplement )
'David Almond understands the joy and fear of being alive better than most - Heaven Eyes is a mysterious gift of a novel.' (The Times )
'Both original and unnerving, this really is a fantastic book.' (The Bookseller )
'Tranfixing - just the novel to usher in the new millennium!' (The Literary Review )
'Almond's eerie tale is an astonishing piece of writing about the way that the living and the dead find comfort in each other . . . A very grown-up, totally compelling book, that, like Almond's brilliant Skellig, is about the lost and found, abandonment and redemption, love and faith - particularly faith in yourself and others.' (Guardian )
Beautifully written, intensely imagined, dark, ferocious yet suffused with hope, the book is a breathtaking experience.
(Carousel )My name is Erin Law. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
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Customer Reviews
As Skellig was set in the air, and Kit's Wilderness underground, David Almond's third novel is set on water. Like the River Tyne, the story ebbs and flows, and like the Tyne it is sometimes clear and sometimes mysteriously dark.
This is brilliant book, hard to categorise, mixing beautiful melancholy with shining hope and highly recommended.
Okay when I said "more mature" that sounded patronising! But I cannot think of a better word. These books are deeper than most adult novels I read. But that does not mean you have to be mature to get something from them. They are written primarily for young adults, but loved by adults too. If you know a better word for that - let me know!
In this story we are intrduced to Erin Law, orphaned and living in care with other such children. They are encouraged to share their feelings about what has happened in "circle times", although Erin refuses too. They are labelled as "damaged" and encouraged to believe that they are victims of circumstance that will leave them unloved by the world.
But from time to time they run away, and on one such adventure, Erin and two friends cross a river on a raft and end up at a wharf in the muddy Black Middens area, where they meet an old man and another orphan - heaven eyes.
David Almonds works are laced with mystery, and some of that mystery remains unresolved. Who is Heaven Eyes? Ultimately the answer to that is less important than what she teaches the children about love and family and their own place in the world.
There is sadness in this book. The author, who lost a parent and a sister at an early age speaks from experience on that score, and the voices of these children are realistic and almost heart breaking at times. But the ultimate story is one of hope.
Not everyone will like this book. David Almond's books are light in enthralling plot, and heavy in characterisation. Some people will give up on the book asking "well what was it about"? Each to their own - and if you like books that are all plot and adventure, then maybe this is not for you. Then again, it is a short work and maybe it is worth a try anyway! If you like deep mystical books with a hint of magic and a large dose of realism, then this one is recommended.
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