Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
22 used & new from £1.48
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Knife That Killed Me (Definitions)
 
 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

The Knife That Killed Me (Definitions) (Paperback)

by Anthony McGowan (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
RRP: £5.99
Price: £4.99 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £1.00 (17%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, July 16? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
19 new from £1.74 3 used from £1.48

Frequently Bought Together

The Knife That Killed Me (Definitions) + The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking) + Ostrich Boys (Definitions)
Price For All Three: £14.27

Show availability and shipping details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking)

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking)

by Patrick Ness
4.4 out of 5 stars (49)  £4.79
Creature of the Night (Definitions)

Creature of the Night (Definitions)

by Kate Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £5.19
Bog Child

Bog Child

by Siobhan Dowd
4.2 out of 5 stars (6)  £5.19
Cosmic

Cosmic

by Frank Cottrell Boyce
4.9 out of 5 stars (13)  £6.44
Ostrich Boys (Definitions)

Ostrich Boys (Definitions)

by Keith Gray
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  £4.49
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Definitions (3 April 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1862306060
  • ISBN-13: 978-1862306066
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 47,461 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #60 in  Books > Children's Books > Fiction > School

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Review
Every writer hates to hear the words "stunning new talent" applied to someone else, but in the case of Anthony McGowan nothing else will do --Meg Rosoff

Review
The story of how Paul, the narrator, is dragged into using a knife by Roth, a bullying teenager he fears and hates, is gripping, but what makes you sit up is that its author, Anthony McGowan, is one of the most talented new writers around

See all Product Description

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Knife That Killed Me (Definitions)
72% buy the item featured on this page:
The Knife That Killed Me (Definitions) 4.8 out of 5 stars (4)
£4.99
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking)
13% buy
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking) 4.4 out of 5 stars (49)
£4.79
Ostrich Boys (Definitions)
5% buy
Ostrich Boys (Definitions) 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£4.49
Creature of the Night (Definitions)
5% buy
Creature of the Night (Definitions) 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£5.19
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, thought-provoking read, 23 Dec 2008
By tybalt-quin (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
When Paul stands up to school bully Roth, Roth encourages him to join his gang, giving him a knife as a sweetener to the deal. At the same time, Paul becomes friendly with the school freaks - geeks, goths and nerds, led by the charismatic Shane - and is attracted to Maddy, a bright girl in the group who seems to like him. Torn between the violent Roth and too-cool Shane, Paul also finds himself sucked into the rivalry between Roth and Goddo, gang leader at a rival school, which eventually erupts in violence and his own death.

Paul's characterisation is excellent and it's easy to see how he ended up in a situation he didn't want to be in. Weak-willed, lost and lonely, he's looking for somewhere to belong and the intimidating Roth's offer of friendship would give him an identity within the school. Shane however offers him a chance to be valued for himself and the confidence that this gives Paul seems to give him some much needed hope.

McGowan teases out the tension - although you think you know how this is going to end, it doesn't detract from Paul's story - and there's a heart-breaking moment mid-way through the book involving Paul's plan for a date with Maddy, which could easily descend into cliche, but for Paul's voice which keeps you rooting for him all the way.

However I wasn't convinced by Shane who's a little too good to be true (contrast with Roth who, while completely vile, is always credible). McGowan tries to offset this by giving Paul a rival for Shane's attention in the sly Kirk, who's constantly trying to do him down but I still didn't quite feel that I knew who Shane was except for how other characters saw him.

Although the ending doesn't pull its punches, it still feels a little rushed and more could have been made of the consequences. There were also times when stylistically it was too reminiscent of the excellent HENRY TUMOUR - partly because I think it's set in the same school, but also because of the way some of Paul's thoughts are set out (not helped by a scene where he talks about having a brain tumour).

That said, this it's a tense, chilling book that makes you think about why teens carry knives and the consequences of doing so without being preachy.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling, riveting novel by teen master, 19 April 2008
The Knife That Killed me has possibly the best first chapter of any book I've ever read. And it takes off from there -- an elegant controlled story about teen angst, outsiders, bullies and knife crime in school that should be read by every secondary school student. The story itself twists like a knife, as we follow the protagonist's slow-motion falling into deep trouble. It's a compelling read, not as wild and eccentric as Hellbent or Henry Tumour, but no worse for that. Highly recommended.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best teen books of the year, 29 April 2008
By A. Craig "Amanda Craig" (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This is so far the only book that my 12 year old son, a relatively reluctant reader, chose to read during the day instead of playing on the computer. The story of how a boy gets suckered into carrying a knife by a gang of bullies, with tragic consequences is brilliantly written, and completely gripping. Highly recommended.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping thriller by the writer of Henry Tumour
This book is an easier read than Anthony McGowan's previous books, Hellbent and Henry Tumour, but it is nevertheless challenging to any teenager's moral code. Read more
Published 12 months ago by lilysmum

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

›Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (76)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (464)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (166)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (87)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates