Welcome to my first buddy-review here at Bart’s Bookshelf, and who better to do it with than the wonderful Kailana from: The Written World!

We’re going to draw a quiet veil over the difficulties we had in finding a book to read and then getting this review together – not least because we both committed an act of almost heresy, in hating the first book we chose…

So. Moving quickly onto the book we eventually settled on, Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond. It turns out, we both had different experiences with the book, I really enjoyed it, while Kailana didn’t enjoy it as much. So for a alternative point-of-view and Kailana’s answers to my questions, go check out her review of the book!

Synopsis

Kit has just moved to Stoneygate with his family, to live with his ageing grandfather who is gradually succumbing to Alzheimer’s Disease. Stoneygate is an insular place, scarred by its mining history – by the danger and death it has brought them. Where the coal mine used to be there is now a wilderness.

Here Kit meets Askew, a surly and threatening figure who masterminds the game called Death, a frightening ritual of hypnotism; and Kit makes friends with Allie, the clever school troublemaker. As Kit struggles to adjust to his new life and the gradual failing of his beloved grandfather, these two friendships pull him towards a terrifying resolution. Haunted by ghosts of the past, Kit must confront death and – ultimately – life.

My Thoughts

Almond, using a gentle voice and tone weaves a wonderfully powerful tale, in this award wining tale. (It won the Printz Award in 2001)

Kit tells us the story of his family who have come back to live in Stoneygate, and the events that take place as are they are settling back in to an area they call home.

I’ll talk about it later with Kailana’s questions, but my dad’s family come from the north east of England where the novel is set, and I just have to say I loved the way Almond wove in the people and some of the folklore of the area, it felt at times like I was visiting during the holidays!

The theme of healing runs strong though Almond’s writing and Kit’s Wilderness is no different, strong friendships are made by the end of the book, that change the three main protagonists lives (in varying degrees) forever.

Skellig, will always take some topping, but this is a very close second!

Rating:  

On to the questions!

Not a problem! The name Bart has been my online moniker forever, so when I started my book blog it was only natural to use it here as well. I wasn’t aware of the book blogosphere at the time, so I hadn’t come across the many wonderful plays on bookish things that many other bloggers for their titles. So I ended up rather pinching the name form a friend’s book site (Kate’s Bookshelf).

As for the name Bart, well you see I once had this hairstyle…

No, I’ve read both Skellig and The Savage (his collaboration with Dave McKean) before, both of which were fantastic. Skellig is probably my favourite of those I’ve read so far, it’s such a good book; and I was excited to find out a little while ago that he is working on a sequel! No idea what it will be about of course, but I’d love the chance to meet Michael and Mina again.

I think it’s just the “warmth” Almond manages to capture in his writing, even when he is covering some quite dark themes.

I think he did a cracking job, of capturing the area. As I said in one of my questions to you, I felt instantly at ‘home” with location and the people. Let me tell you a story about what I mean.

My dad was born and brought up in the same area as is depicted in this novel, but hasn’t lived there since leaving to join the Royal Navy as a teenager, and in the interviewing years has pretty much lost his accent. However, whenever we visit his relatives, the moment he steps out of the car (and without hearing anyone speak) it’s back with a vengeance! It’s that kind of place.

There’s something about the area which makes you feel instantly at home.

It was the same sort of thing, with this book, with just a few words, Almond had me straight back there, with memories of many a childhood holiday. My grandparents lived literally across the road from a ‘pit’ (coal mine) which I can remember as both a working mine and one that was eventually closed during the eighties, so I could effortlessly picture what he was describing.

I thought the relationship between Allie and Kit’s granddad was both lovely and hilarious, and really helped me warm to her, and get past the defensive front she liked to portray, in the end I really ended up liking her character.

Awards and Honours

• Printz Award (2001)
• Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (Silver Award, 9-11 years category, 1999)
• ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2001)

Don’t forget to check out Kailana’s answers to my questions!

• Buy, Kit’s Wilderness from The Book Depository