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45th out of 87 books
—
215 voters
The Savage
Mysterious and utterly mesmerizing, this graphic-novel-within-a-novel
pairs the extraordinary prose of David Almond with the visual genius of
Dave McKean.
Blue Baker is writing a story — not all that stuff about wizards and fairies and happily ever after — a real story, about blood and guts and adventures, because that's what life's really like. At least it is for Blue, since...more
pairs the extraordinary prose of David Almond with the visual genius of
Dave McKean.
Blue Baker is writing a story — not all that stuff about wizards and fairies and happily ever after — a real story, about blood and guts and adventures, because that's what life's really like. At least it is for Blue, since...more
Hardcover, 80 pages
Published
October 14th 2008
by Candlewick Press
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David Almond got me years ago with Skellig and Heaven Eyes. The weirder the better, I guess! I also quite his golem story, Clay. His more overtly nostalgic stories like The Fire-Eaters, beautifully written as they are, they haven't gotten to me as much as these odder ones do. And now there is a new odd one, The Savage. It is an incredibly powerful story of coping with extreme loss and bullying. Two stories actually that intertwine with each other. The main one of Blue and the sudden loss of his...more
The power of story. Healing a deep grief. Another bully goes down.
Blue has been told that he should write things down to help him deal with his father's death. It all seems forced and useless until he starts to write a story about The Savage, a boy who lives alone in the woods near their small town, eats animals and murders anyone who glimpses him. Blue has to deal not only with his own grief and his mother's and sister's but also with a bully named Hopper. Hopper is featured in the stories about The Savage as are others in Blue's small community. As Blue begi...more
The wild child phenomenon is something that's been represented repeatedly in literature, perhaps most notably in the case of The Wild Boy of Aveyron. But it's never been treated like this.
Almond and McKean have produced a strange, enthralling hybrid of a book. It's not quite picture book, it's not quite graphic novel, it's a layer between the two - switching from one story to the other and then eventually, beautifully tightening the gaps between the two. I won't attempt to write a synopsis of...more
Almond and McKean have produced a strange, enthralling hybrid of a book. It's not quite picture book, it's not quite graphic novel, it's a layer between the two - switching from one story to the other and then eventually, beautifully tightening the gaps between the two. I won't attempt to write a synopsis of...more
This book was created by the same author/illustrator team who created one of the books now shortlisted for this year's Greenaway Medal ("Slog's Dad"). I didn't like this book as much as their other effort, but it is interesting and unusual. The boy in this story, Blue, has recently lost his dad (who passed away rather suddenly from a heart attack), and is being bullied by a bigger kid, Hopper. His father's advice had been to ignore the bully, but Blue finds this harder and harder to do as the bu...more
Sep 18, 2011
Delma Matta
added it
The Savage by David Almond
One of the unique characteristics of this book is that it has alternate sections. It starts like a regular story and then it has another section that discusses the story of “Savage”. Blue is the main character early in the story his father dies and Blue has to deal with all the emotions and anger inside of him. This is when the counselor tells him to write down his feelings however Blue thinks of a better idea. Blue begins to write about a Savage Kid who lives in the wo...more
One of the unique characteristics of this book is that it has alternate sections. It starts like a regular story and then it has another section that discusses the story of “Savage”. Blue is the main character early in the story his father dies and Blue has to deal with all the emotions and anger inside of him. This is when the counselor tells him to write down his feelings however Blue thinks of a better idea. Blue begins to write about a Savage Kid who lives in the wo...more
I have previously read "The Skellig" by David Almond and really liked it. So, I was eager to read another book by Almond. When I saw that Dave McKean (illustrator for many of Gaimen's kid's books and graphic novels) had illustrated this I had to read it. The story was interesting but not what I expected.
The story is written in two alternating parts. It starts as a normal printed book with a kid, Blue, talking about how he wrote a story as a younger kid about a Savage in a notebook. He started th...more
The story is written in two alternating parts. It starts as a normal printed book with a kid, Blue, talking about how he wrote a story as a younger kid about a Savage in a notebook. He started th...more
When I was 22 my dad was killed in a car accident. He spent 2 or 3 weeks in ICU and everyday we were told something different about his condition; variations on, "he might live, he might die".
At the time my youngest sibling was 10. On the day he did die, I drove my mom to pick up my sister from where she was staying. When she got in the car, she asked when our dad would be coming home and my mom got in the back of the car and told her that he wouldn't be coming home. Seeing my sister collapse o...more
At the time my youngest sibling was 10. On the day he did die, I drove my mom to pick up my sister from where she was staying. When she got in the car, she asked when our dad would be coming home and my mom got in the back of the car and told her that he wouldn't be coming home. Seeing my sister collapse o...more
5 likes · like · see review
I am not a fan of David Almond so I started this book with somewhat of a reluctance. I was sure that I probably wouldn't like it and I was right. The book is about a young boy whose father has recently died from a heart attack. His mom is very loving and supportive but the young boy is still finding it hard to go on after the funeral. Things get worst when the town bully tells him in essence that he was glad his dad died. In frustration, the boy turns to writing a story about a young and very vi...more
This book almost got five stars from me. It is extraordinarily poignant. It is illustrated by Dave McKean, who, though I do not adore him as SOME PEOPLE do, is the perfect artist for the subject matter of this book. It's about a boy named Blue, whose father died very suddenly, and he is overwhelmed by grief and fear. The counselor at school wants him to write out his feeling, but he says that makes him feel worse. Instead he writes a story about a savage: a boy about his age and build who lives...more
A boy loses his father to a heart attack and he and his mum and little sister are left to deal with the grief. He's also being bullied at school. He's told to write about it as it might ease his grief but instead writes a novel entitled "The Savage". But suddenly the things he writes about happen in real life and he's left to wonder if his character, the Savage, has come to life.
David Almond writes an interesting novella that's obviously aimed at a different audience to me (late twenties) and mo...more
David Almond writes an interesting novella that's obviously aimed at a different audience to me (late twenties) and mo...more
I really liked this. The format is a little unusual, as it told in the first person by a fictional young man (not sure of the age), interspersed with a graphic novel story that the young man had written and drew some years before.
Something surprising and fantastical happens towards the end of the book, which gives another reason for this book's novelty.
The spelling of the graphic novel portions is unconventional and supposed to reflect the character's realistically poor spelling at the time that...more
Something surprising and fantastical happens towards the end of the book, which gives another reason for this book's novelty.
The spelling of the graphic novel portions is unconventional and supposed to reflect the character's realistically poor spelling at the time that...more
"There was a wild kid living in Burgess Woods. He had no famly and he had no pals and he didn't know where he come from and he culdn't talk. His wepons were old kitchen nives and forks and an ax. He was savage. He was truely wild."
The savage appears one day in a story written by Blue. Blue doesn't know where the savage came from, he just started writing and writing and couldn't stop. And the savage isn't a fairytale or a bedtime story and he becomes real. As real as real life.
This is my first e...more
The savage appears one day in a story written by Blue. Blue doesn't know where the savage came from, he just started writing and writing and couldn't stop. And the savage isn't a fairytale or a bedtime story and he becomes real. As real as real life.
This is my first e...more
Dealing with a school bully and his father’s recent death, a boy named Blue begins writing the story of a savage young man who lives in the woods and kills whatever and whoever gets in his path. But as the lines between his story and his life begin to blur, Blue must confront his monsters, both fictional and real.
Despite the loss of his father, Blue’s family life still offers him happiness. It’s the bully that disturbs him more deeply. “What is it about some kids? Why do they want to make life...more
Despite the loss of his father, Blue’s family life still offers him happiness. It’s the bully that disturbs him more deeply. “What is it about some kids? Why do they want to make life...more
Dec 05, 2012
Ed
added it
Almond, David. (2008). The Savage. New York: Candlewick. 80 pp. ISBN 978-0-7636-3932-7 (Hardcover); $17.99
While this book is only 80 pages, readers should not be fooled into thinking that it is short on content. Encouraged to use a journal to deal with the death of his father, Blue instead begins inking a story that is much darker and far more dangerous. Blue draws and writes about a silent savage who kills and eats people. Gradually this savage intrudes upon the story narrative. The lines betwe...more
While this book is only 80 pages, readers should not be fooled into thinking that it is short on content. Encouraged to use a journal to deal with the death of his father, Blue instead begins inking a story that is much darker and far more dangerous. Blue draws and writes about a silent savage who kills and eats people. Gradually this savage intrudes upon the story narrative. The lines betwe...more
At first I was rather perturbed by the bad spelling of Blue's original story. The change in font was enough distinction from the first person narrative that I didn't really need the mistakes, especially that many. To me, this started the story off a little forced-feeling. I also really wanted to like the pictures but somehow I've never been able to convince myself that I like McKean's work, perhaps because like in this case it didn't completely fit the story. The rawness is certainly right on, b...more
Jan 05, 2010
Kristin
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Ages 8 and up
Shelves:
david-almond,
graphic-novel
I initially bought this book for the library and Middle school students. However, when I received it, I pulled it aside because it looked a little violent and I wanted to read it prior to giving it to the students.
I was quite surprised by the story and ended out loving this book. It's about a young boy who is encountered by the neighborhood bully and seeks his fathers advice. His dad tells the boy that he will talk to the bully and was not surprised by the boys actions because the family has alw...more
I was quite surprised by the story and ended out loving this book. It's about a young boy who is encountered by the neighborhood bully and seeks his fathers advice. His dad tells the boy that he will talk to the bully and was not surprised by the boys actions because the family has alw...more
Ooooo...it's dark, but delectable. Like the protagonist of 'The Savage,' Blue Baker, don't a lot of boys (including this rather old one)--and for that matter a lot of girls--desire the 'truely [sic:] wild?' As Blue puts it, 'I've never been one for stories. I couldn't stand all that stuff about wizards and fairies and "once upon a time" and "they all lived happily ever after." That's not what life's like. Me, I wanted blood and guts and adventures....' That's what Blue gives us as he comes to te...more
This book is a swapover book it swaps from the main character's life to his book that he called the savage.
I like the book beacause it has his life in it . My friends said they liked it beacause it has alot of swearing in it. Yes this book contain quit a bit of mild landgauge and some violence so id age the book 9-16. Some of the things i dont like in the book is the violence and mild swearing.
In the book it has some sad parts about his life such as he lost his dad and he gets bullied of an old...more
I like the book beacause it has his life in it . My friends said they liked it beacause it has alot of swearing in it. Yes this book contain quit a bit of mild landgauge and some violence so id age the book 9-16. Some of the things i dont like in the book is the violence and mild swearing.
In the book it has some sad parts about his life such as he lost his dad and he gets bullied of an old...more
After losing his father and getting bullied at school, Blue Baker begins writing and illustrating his own stories. They center around his character The Savage. The Savage is a wild boy, close to his age, who carries a knife or an axe and lives in a cave. These segments are illustrated by Dave McKean, in a comic book style, bold and brash and reminiscent of his work with Neil Gaiman.
Chapters alternate beween the real life story of Blue and his fantasies. But soon the two begin to mesh. It seems a...more
Chapters alternate beween the real life story of Blue and his fantasies. But soon the two begin to mesh. It seems a...more
Part graphic novel, this story is told from the point of view of Blue Baker, a young teen who just lost his father. His guidance counselor encourages him to write out his feelings, and Blue takes her advice in his own way by writing the story of "The Savage". Blue works through his grief, issues with bullies & feelings of loss & disconnect from his family using the wildness & pure emotional world of his savage. Great illustrations. Interesting story-telling techniques. Gripping voice...more
Good, short read. About a boy who creates an alter ego to deal with the grief of losing his father. But somehow, truth and fiction sort of merge together. Blue, who is the main character in this story, is trying to deal with the loss of his father, while also dealing with a bully. He creates a character names "The Savage" whom he has do things that he wishes that he could do. By reading his story to his mother and little sister, it gives them an out to focus on. It makes them laugh during the ti...more
The Savage
by Dave Mckean
Blue Baker hates school and instead of doing his work he writes a story about a savage boy who lives in the woods. As the story progresses, I started to wonder...is The Savage make believe or, does Blue have multiple personalities? You see, Blue isn't treated very well at school, and suddenly the Savage starts helping Blue think of ways to get revenge. The little colorfully illustrated book has interesting misspellings that sometimes made me chuckle and very dark drawings...more
by Dave Mckean
Blue Baker hates school and instead of doing his work he writes a story about a savage boy who lives in the woods. As the story progresses, I started to wonder...is The Savage make believe or, does Blue have multiple personalities? You see, Blue isn't treated very well at school, and suddenly the Savage starts helping Blue think of ways to get revenge. The little colorfully illustrated book has interesting misspellings that sometimes made me chuckle and very dark drawings...more
Cool. I read this book on the bus ride home, then spent the evening reading it to my kids. I'm not sure I would recommend reading it to kids, though. One reason is because Almond makes his characters uncomfortably real. In the end of this book (and some of his others), I thought, "I wouldn't want my children to model that kind of behavior." But on further reflection, I realized that what Almond does real well is he seems to avoid the typical behavior of storybook characters and makes his charact...more
I'm sorry, but I just think you have to be under the influence of a illegal substance to understand or like this book. The illustrations are graphic and severe. The writing style is choppy and harsh. The book follows a boy dealing with the recent death of his father. By writing a journal, he shows the raw emotions he's dealing with. This is a very dark book. I just don't see the reason why anybody would consider this a good book. I certainly would never tell someone to NOT read it, but there are...more
Jun 06, 2009
Samuel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of David Almond; people who like strange stories.
Shelves:
graphic-novels,
fantasy
4 1/2 stars.
The Savage is a really fascinating novel. Dave McKean's art fits perfectly with David Almond's storytelling, and melds together to create a delightfully weird short story. It's hard to say this is a "graphic novel"; it felt more like a short story with pictures to me. Regardless, it was a great, intriguing, quick read.
It starts with a boy named Blue writing a story about The Savage; a boy who lives entirely in the wild. As Blue progresses the story, the line between fantasy and real...more
The Savage is a really fascinating novel. Dave McKean's art fits perfectly with David Almond's storytelling, and melds together to create a delightfully weird short story. It's hard to say this is a "graphic novel"; it felt more like a short story with pictures to me. Regardless, it was a great, intriguing, quick read.
It starts with a boy named Blue writing a story about The Savage; a boy who lives entirely in the wild. As Blue progresses the story, the line between fantasy and real...more
A graphic novel of sorts, this short book (short story? novella?) is about a boy named Blue who has a hard life. He copes by writing in a journal about a savage that lives in the nearby woods -- the savage is everything that Blue is not: fiercely independent, brave, not afraid to be alone. As the Blue deals with his problems, the savage in his story becomes all too real for Blue to handle.
I think the story is more of a sketch but with mean, scrawny artwork by Dave McKean, I guess it's enough to...more
I think the story is more of a sketch but with mean, scrawny artwork by Dave McKean, I guess it's enough to...more
Shortly after the sudden death of his father, Blue begins to write the story of a savage boy who lives in a nearby woods. He intersperses this handwritten text with his own story as he copes with the loss of his father and with the hateful bullying of a neighborhood boy. As the feral boy becomes more and more real to Blue, he is finally able to accept the savage intensity of his own emotions and to understand that like the savage, his father will always be a part of him. The illustrations by Dav...more
A wonderful book, a mixture of standard novel and graphic novel. Written as a "book within a book" where the main character, Blue, describes how, as a younger boy and after the death of his father, he started writing and illustrating his own book about "The Savage", a young wild boy.
An interesting way of showing how young Blue learned to deal with the death of his father and the school bully. With the graphic novel sections written in childish language with the words spelled phonetically, it is...more
An interesting way of showing how young Blue learned to deal with the death of his father and the school bully. With the graphic novel sections written in childish language with the words spelled phonetically, it is...more
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David Almond is a British children's writer who has penned several novels, each one to critical acclaim. He was born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia. When he was young, he found his love of writing when some short stories of his were published in a local magazine. He started out as an author of adult fiction be...more
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updated Dec 20, 2008 02:54pm
Sep 08, 2011 10:48am