Kit's Wilderness

by David Almond

Book Overview

The Printz Award-winning classic gets a new look. Written in haunting, lyrical prose, Kit's Wilderness examines the bonds of family from one generation to the next, and explores how meaning and beauty... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385326653
• ISBN13: 9780385326650
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

This is a must read!

Kit's Wilderness is my favorite book. Better than harry potter. The description is amazing. At parts, I actually thought that I was Kit. But I always felt that I was in the book. David Almond provides the most wonderful story and description a book could have!

Terrific read for all ages

After reading Skellig to my son, we couldn't wait for Kit's Wilderness. But it was worth the wait. Like Skellig, Kit's Wilderness is dark and mysterious, with the reader left to answer many questions on his own. Almond's books are a great transition from typical kid's literature (e.g. Harry Potter) to a more adult reading experience, in which the reader has to draw his own conclusions about the characters and their actions. But this is also a terrific read for adults. I am anxiously waiting for more from David Almond.

NOT Just for Young Adults..

Like Richard Cormier's books, this "Young Adult" novel is not just for those under 20. Nothing is black and white, everything is poetic, mysterious and slightly cloudy in this original, enticing novel by David Almond.The opening chapters look morbid - Kit is new to the community where his ailing granddad grew up, a mining town in England. He's reluctantly drawn into a group led by the dark and sinister John Askew, the son of the town alcoholic. These kids play a game called "Death" - Askew holds a knife to the one chosen in a spin-the-bottle selection, and takes them into the deep dark mine and leaves them there. The Dead One emerges moments or hours later, claiming to have been truly dead.I got that far and thought this book wasn't for me - surely something evil was going to happen to Kit who was drawn both to Askew and the game.I pushed on, and was greatly rewarded. Kit struggles with his wish to believe that no matter what others may say about someone, there is a goodness within all, waiting to be recognized and invited out. He expresses this through a story within-the-story, that ties in with Askew's disappearance, his own grandfather's preparation for dying (wonderfully handled) and his shadowy visions of many children - one special one named Silky - who died years ago in the mines. Although I saw this somewhere referred to as like Harry Potter, I'd have to say it's not - the audience for this book is looking for more substance than entertainment (and I LOVE Harry Potter books).An excellent read!

Deep darkness, brighter light

This book is so compelling. The dark is so dark. John Askew and his deathgame, his scary family life, and the history of death in the mines will attract many young readers and adult readers alike. The light is so warm. Kit's relationship with his grandfather, his friendship with Allie, the joy Kit finds in his writing, and his compassion and need to help John leave one with such a good feeling. David Almond is a very gifted writer! Read this book! I say Newbery!

A Voyage into the Dark Night

David Almond delivers a sophisticated and eerie ghost story that mixes myth and urban legends into a creepy and utterly engaging novel. What an interesting follow up to his gentle first book, Skellig. Kit's Wilderness shows the development of this great talent and a deep respect for readers of all ages. Kit's intuition and insight into the relationships around him are true and sensory. Can't wait to see what he does next!