- Paperback: 93 pages
- Publisher: Hodder Children's Books (14 Mar 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340854316
- ISBN-13: 978-0340854310
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
1,086,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #58 in Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > A > Almond, David
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'What a terrific writer David Almond is. The new play deals with a serious subject ... with a deep and moving understanding of a child's grief, but with the lightest possible touch. Almond's writing is full of everyday poetry.' (TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT )
'One of the season's highlights. Bewitching.' (THE OBSERVER )
'This is a marvellously subversive play.' (THE GUARDIAN )
'Touching, beautifully focused.' (THE STAGE )
'One of the season's highlights. Bewitching.' (THE OBSERVER )
'This is a marvellously subversive play.' (THE GUARDIAN )
'Touching, beautifully focused.' (THE STAGE )
THE GUARDIAN
This is a marvellously subversive play.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I stumbled across this play when browsing through ‘teenage fiction', and having enjoyed 'Skellig' and 'Kit’s Wilderness' I decided to give it a whirl. It is wonderful! It tells the story of Elaine Grew, described in the blurb as ‘a brave and troubled young soul’. Her dad has died and Elaine finds it hard to cope. They always spent lots of time together on his allotment, crawling through the grass like snakes and working spells on spiders. Elaine’s dad also showed her how to grow fairies, but during his lifetime their spells were never successful. Now he’s gone though, Elaine is certain she can grow herself a playmate – and one day her magic starts to work.
The exploration of this young girl’s grief is incredibly moving, but sensitively dealt with by Almond. We see her relationship with her mother deteriorating but then witness how they both work to rebuild their trust in each other.
There are some wonderful moments when a ‘chorus of voices’ discuss Elaine’s behaviour. They range from gossips (‘She’s crackers of course’) to professionals (‘Elaine has not yet achieved a score in our current method of assessment’) and although the voices are not given identities, it is clear from their comments who they are, and why they are interested in this young girl.
There is also a very insightful ‘Afterword’ by Almond himself, which offers a valuable peek into the thought process of a playwright. He discusses the differences in writing a play, compared to a novel. He also offers reflections on his own childhood, and how they are incorporated into this play.
I would recommend this to almost anyone who is, or has been, a teenager. My teenage days are well and truly over, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's quick to read, but filled with laughter, anger, tears and fantasy. Well worth a look.
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