Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Tammi (2010), Hardcover
Description
Led to an abandoned baby by a raven, fourteen-year-old Liam seems fated to meet two foster children who have experienced the world's violence in very different ways as he struggles to understand war, family problems, and friends who grow apart.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sirfurboy
David Almond is one of the most distinctive writers of junior fiction in the UK and probably the world right now. His books are at once accessible and yet profound. They stir emotion, ask questions, introduce mysteries - and sometimes resolve them.
An over-riding theme is often conflict of one kind
But it is more than just conflict. Liam, the son of an artist mother and writer father, discovers an abandoned baby that he is led to by a Jackdaw. With the baby is a jar of money. this mystery sets in train other events which lead inexorably to the novel's conclusion.
David Almond will not be everyone's favourite author. He is an author to make you think "what was that book about"? And the answer is that it is about many things. But anyone who really enjoys reading should love what he does with language - so simply wrought and yet so profound - not one word out of place.
I enjoyed this book very much.
An over-riding theme is often conflict of one kind
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or another, and this is never more true than in this book. This book sees conflict between friends falling out, between people with different views, between governments and soldiers in Iraq and Liberia. All this in the back drop of beautiful Northumbria in a glorious summer.But it is more than just conflict. Liam, the son of an artist mother and writer father, discovers an abandoned baby that he is led to by a Jackdaw. With the baby is a jar of money. this mystery sets in train other events which lead inexorably to the novel's conclusion.
David Almond will not be everyone's favourite author. He is an author to make you think "what was that book about"? And the answer is that it is about many things. But anyone who really enjoys reading should love what he does with language - so simply wrought and yet so profound - not one word out of place.
I enjoyed this book very much.
Show Less
LibraryThing member wislibwiz
Found this book quite captivating after getting into it. Really gets to the nitty gritty of the lives of the characters, their relationnships and their angst in the change from childhood to adolescence.
LibraryThing member kevinyezbick
Liam lives in England where his mom is a rising photographer engaged in an affair with her agent, his dad is a famous writer in constant engagement with his writing, and he himself is increasingly feeling like he is being left behind. His friend Max has recently taken to gals, and his childhood
When Liam and Max stumble upon an abandoned baby in a barn, Liam briefly becomes a somewhat reluctant news celebrity. His family sets out to visit the foundling in its new foster family setting, where Liam meets another set of characters - green haired and intriguing Crystal - and Oliver, scarred from his war torn past.
Mix up all these characters and you eventually get to a pivotal point in the plot - which leaves a few loose ends around what seems to be a modern day attempt at Lord of the Flies. The writing stands out in its descriptions that seem the perfect bite size to be adapted to an audiobook.
It's a quick read - you might as well.
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friend Gordon is taken with the torturing of animals and Liam alike. When Liam and Max stumble upon an abandoned baby in a barn, Liam briefly becomes a somewhat reluctant news celebrity. His family sets out to visit the foundling in its new foster family setting, where Liam meets another set of characters - green haired and intriguing Crystal - and Oliver, scarred from his war torn past.
Mix up all these characters and you eventually get to a pivotal point in the plot - which leaves a few loose ends around what seems to be a modern day attempt at Lord of the Flies. The writing stands out in its descriptions that seem the perfect bite size to be adapted to an audiobook.
It's a quick read - you might as well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member EKAnderson
Raven Summer by David Almond
In the eerie, literary voice David Almond is so well-known for, Raven Summer chronicles the life of Liam Lynch, a young man living on the English country side. When he and his friend follow a Raven on one lazy summer afternoon, they’re shocked to find an abandoned
In the eerie, literary voice David Almond is so well-known for, Raven Summer chronicles the life of Liam Lynch, a young man living on the English country side. When he and his friend follow a Raven on one lazy summer afternoon, they’re shocked to find an abandoned
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baby. What unfolds is a chain of events that all lead back to that day. The people Liam meets through saving the baby will change his life, and the life of his family, forever. Touching on current events, the human condition, and coming of age, everyone will see a bit of themselves in these characters. Part adventure, part drama, part contemporary folk tale, Raven Summer is the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
This novel is full of darkness and savagery. In some ways it reminds of "Lord of the Flies". What makes this novel most interesting is what happens at the end. Playing at violence and actually being involved in real violence are very different. There are some interesting things going on - the ideas
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of art and reality, the idea of magic and the supernatural, the idea of war. All these things mix into the summer that Liam sits on the edge between childhood and young adulthood. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
A young man in a comfortable albeit odd, artsy family learns hard facts about the life of the kids around him; the town bully, a scarred beautiful girl, and a young black man from Liberia. Very powerful.
LibraryThing member ChristianR
This book didn't achieve for me what it intended to do. Liam and a friend find an abandoned baby, who gets put in foster care with two teenagers, Crystal and Oliver. They make an immediate intense connection with Liam, and so when they ultimately run away they turn to Liam for help. An old friend
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of Liam's, Nattrass, who's become bad and loves violence pushes his way in to incite something exciting and dangerous. None of the characters connected with me and I felt very disoriented trying to understand all of their interpersonal relationships and motivations. Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
This was a darkly disturbing book, which is what Almond's books tend to be. This is a story of two friends who find a baby. Finding the baby is the lightest part of the book, town bullies, knives, fights in holes dug in the ground, a young liberian foster child, a run away foster girl are a mix of
This is not your typical coming of age tale. While it was powerful and the writing was creative, I really cannot recommend it. Maybe I was in the mood for something lighter and thus my opinions are shaped because of that.
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the characters.This is not your typical coming of age tale. While it was powerful and the writing was creative, I really cannot recommend it. Maybe I was in the mood for something lighter and thus my opinions are shaped because of that.
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LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
I enjoyed this a lot. Much more than some of his more recent books. In a way the most interesting character is Natrass. The book is pretty comfortable and comforting despite dealing with some uncomfortable situations mainly because you see through the eyes of Liam - but I could imagine stepping
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right out of that comfort zone by putting Natrass at the centre of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This was an extremely quick read. Liam finds a baby in a field, that is taken into a foster family. Liam and his family make friends with the foster family and eventually his mother adopts the baby, leading Crystal and Oliver two of the other foster children to become even closer to Liam.
This book
***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
This book
Show More
addresses several major themes including growing up, maintaining friendships, what makes art art, and children as soldiers. While the book is a short read there is no lack of things to discuss here. ***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This was an extremely quick read. Liam finds a baby in a field, that is taken into a foster family. Liam and his family make friends with the foster family and eventually his mother adopts the baby, leading Crystal and Oliver two of the other foster children to become even closer to Liam.
This book
***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
This book
Show More
addresses several major themes including growing up, maintaining friendships, what makes art art, and children as soldiers. While the book is a short read there is no lack of things to discuss here. ***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This was an extremely quick read. Liam finds a baby in a field, that is taken into a foster family. Liam and his family make friends with the foster family and eventually his mother adopts the baby, leading Crystal and Oliver two of the other foster children to become even closer to Liam.
This book
***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
This book
Show More
addresses several major themes including growing up, maintaining friendships, what makes art art, and children as soldiers. While the book is a short read there is no lack of things to discuss here. ***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
This was an extremely quick read. Liam finds a baby in a field, that is taken into a foster family. Liam and his family make friends with the foster family and eventually his mother adopts the baby, leading Crystal and Oliver two of the other foster children to become even closer to Liam.
This book
***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
This book
Show More
addresses several major themes including growing up, maintaining friendships, what makes art art, and children as soldiers. While the book is a short read there is no lack of things to discuss here. ***Spoilers***
The idea of child abandonment and what would lead someone to leave their child in a field.
Liam wants to spend this last summer as a child while his friend Max is ready to move on and grow up or even Liam's decision to separate himself from his old friend Natrass, who is becoming more violent and frightening on a regular basis.
Natrass submits "art" to galleries. The pieces are video pieces that mimic the violent torture of human beings only to reveal that it wasn't actually a person. Is this really art, or is it just sensationalist.
There is also Oliver's life before his foster family, as a child soldier. At first he lies and says only that his family was murdered by soldiers, later on he finally admits to being trained as a soldier by the perpetrator and committing similar murders himself.
***Spoilers End***
This is all very heavy food for thought and even though this book is a quick read, I reccommend not reading it unless you have a lot of time because it really does make you think about all of these different issues. Also even though it is a heavy read it is well written with such a light touch that the reader does not get bogged down in the heavy feeling that this kind of book can sometimes lead to for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
I enjoyed this a lot. Much more than some of his more recent books. In a way the most interesting character is Natrass. The book is pretty comfortable and comforting despite dealing with some uncomfortable situations mainly because you see through the eyes of Liam - but I could imagine stepping
Show More
right out of that comfort zone by putting Natrass at the centre of the book. Show Less
Awards
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 9-12 — 2010)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2010)
IBBY Honour Book (2012)
Other editions
Jackdaw Summer by David Almond (Hardcover)
Raven Summer by David Almond (Hardcover)
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