about the book
Born in the slums on the bank of the River Tyne in northern England, Dominic Hall was raised uphill on a humble newly built estate just above town. Domm, reserved and unsure of himself, grows up here with carefree and self-assured Holly Stroud from across the street. When Dom is five, he meets Vincent McAlinden, who greets him by throwing a stone and hitting Dom in the head. These two friends soon become opposing forces in Dom’s life.
In the shipyards, Dom is trained to take over his father’s job as a shipbuilder. As he grows older, he begins to see that this isn’t what he wants. He wants to be a writer, a goal his family finds too pretentious.
Dom is torn between two identities. He develops a crush on Holly, who grows to be an eccentric art-lover, and she teaches him to walk a tightrope. She encourages his creative side, pointing Dom towards a life of composing words into images and storylines.
But there is another side of Dom. The local bully, Vincent, pulls Dom along an exciting, reckless path as they entertain themselves by doing such things as killing helpless animals for fun.
In a battle to enter manhood, Dom struggles to find himself. Holly vs. Vincent—creativity vs. impulse. Which side will overcome the other? Who will Dom ultimately become?
about the author
Author David Almond, recipient of the prestigious, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, was born in Newcastle upon the River Tine and grew up in Felling, a small mining town in North East England.
David studied English and American Literature at the University of East Anglia and Newcastle Polytechnic, followed by five years of teaching after he graduated. He then moved to a remote artists’ commune in Norfolk to concentrate on writing, before returning to Newcastle to teach Special Needs and edit the literary journal Panurge.
Throughout his career, David has published over twenty-five novels, story collections, picture books, graphic novels, and plays. One collection, Counting Stars, is based on his own childhood. His work has received widespread critical acclaim and international success, and has been translated in over twenty languages.
Sources:
Author website
Author biography: Wikipedia
Author biography: British Council
Also by David Almond:
A Song for Ella Grey. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. 2015.
The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean, Telt by Hisself. Candlewick Press. 2014.
Clay. Delacorte. 2006.
The Fire-Eaters. Delacorte. 2004.
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