A captivating new novel from Printz Award winner David Almond.
Liam and his friend Max are playing in their neighborhood when the cal... read full description
Liam and his friend Max are playing in their neighborhood when the cal... read full description
reviews
Jan 09, 2012
Rosalia
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Jan 30, 2012
Karen
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Raven Summer is a book that written by David Almond. I choose this book to read because I was interested by the cover and the title. Its title makes me want to know why the summer is called raven summer, is it surrounding by the theme of raven, but the title does not match with its cover picture - a baby and an adult’s hands. It just like a hook that the author sets. This book is about Liam and his friend Max are playing together, then there is a raven who leads them to a baby girl with a note a
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Mar 24, 2010
Newengland
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RAVEN SUMMER is young adult, so the theme is explicit and laid thick with a cudgel. Thus you will hear out of teenagers’ mouths such words as “good” and “evil,” all in a way you’d expect Rousseau and Voltaire to use them. Meaning: Are we all carrying about the evil seed? Could we (no, surely not ME), under the wrong circumstances, become horrible killers?
Author David Almond says (spoiler alert!) yes. He casts himself (furtively) as the author dad of the protagonist, Liam, who h More...
Author David Almond says (spoiler alert!) yes. He casts himself (furtively) as the author dad of the protagonist, Liam, who h More...
Feb 07, 2011
Ann
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In this coming of age story David Almond blends his setting in the northern England countryside, where ancient armies fought and bled, with modern characters. Though the violence is not overly graphic his descriptions paint pictures of past and today. Liam and his friend Max led by a raven, find an abandoned baby in ancient ruins. Liam's father is a writer, and mother an artist, and are not natives to this countryside, and culture. His family meets the foster family where the baby has been ta
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Mar 02, 2010
Rachel
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This haunting book by David Almond attempts to explain the cruelties of war through the eyes and minds of young people. Liam is a teenage boy living in a rural area of England with his artistic mother and father. One day while playing with his friend Max, Liam discovers a baby girl abandoned in a field. The baby is placed in foster care and Liam and his family begin to visit her regularly, forming a bond with both the baby and the foster family. Through these visits Liam meets Oliver and Crystal
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Nov 20, 2010
Alicia
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I usually can give or take Almond's work and was pleasantly surprised. Let's start with the cover, which I love, but the oddities of the plot don't necessarily jive with the cover. A boy discovers an abandoned baby, becomes a small superstar on TV and in the papers, and meets two characters, Crystal and Oliver, who have been in foster care. Oliver was a child soldier from Liberia and there is a very deep scene toward the end where Oliver divulges the atrocities of civil war in his country and ca
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Apr 20, 2010
Erin
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Raven Summer opens with two teenagers, Liam and his friend Max, exploring the woods near their homes in Northumberland. Upon seeing a raven, they decide to follow it; the raven leads them to a baby lying on a pile of stones with a note pinned on her: "Plese look after her rite. This is a childe of God."
Liam takes the baby home to his parents, and they surrender her to the police. Upon visiting her in her foster home, Liam feels drawn to two other children, Crystal and Ol More...
Liam takes the baby home to his parents, and they surrender her to the police. Upon visiting her in her foster home, Liam feels drawn to two other children, Crystal and Ol More...
Jan 22, 2010
Claire
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Quintessential Almond- though less cryptic than many of his titles. Liam is reluctantly on the cusp between boy and manhood. The boys around him in his Northumburland village are all reacting to this challenge in different ways, as are their families. During a last boyhood fling with his good friend, Liam and Max are led by a crow to an abandoned baby. This kicks off new relationships and responsibilities (not to mention notoriety) in Liam's family. There is food for thought on each page multipl
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Aug 11, 2010
Alison
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Where do I begin with this book? I found the various themes (war, growing up, bullying, art) to be rather dark and raw, which doesn't match the cutesy cover image and the not-very-dark title. I wouldn't reccomend this for younger readers or those with faint hearts. I have read The Savage by David Almond, and I found there was a lot of overlap with that book and this one. They were both kind of eerie, riveting, testosterone-infused books about young teen boys in the U.K. I wonder, though, with al
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Apr 17, 2010
Katie M.
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I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book. I mean, the cover art is very mature, which led me to expect the book to be a snoozer, and the blip on the back, or on the jacket(wherever the heck it was) basically had the same affect.
But as it turned out, it was actually a good and quick read. I think that there was really nothing dramatic about it. I never had any "wow" moments, but it made for a good story. It was only made all the more real because of the whole, "No More...
But as it turned out, it was actually a good and quick read. I think that there was really nothing dramatic about it. I never had any "wow" moments, but it made for a good story. It was only made all the more real because of the whole, "No More...
May 07, 2010
Charlou
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Liam, 14, finds an abandoned baby in field. The baby is placed with a foster family and LIam meets two foster children, around his age, who have had very different experiences than his, realities relating to his fantasies about family and war. It's one of those stories about a kid trying to understand his world, the world.
And that's not all this book is about. It's about what we do to our children, children who aren't allowed to be children. You have to stick with this one and read More...
And that's not all this book is about. It's about what we do to our children, children who aren't allowed to be children. You have to stick with this one and read More...
May 17, 2010
Linda
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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 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 More...
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 More...
Oct 04, 2010
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
One discovery, one event, can change your life forever. For Liam, it was following a raven, which would ultimately lead him into one of the darkest summers he would ever experience.
With the raven came the discovery of a little baby, abandoned with just a note labeling her as "a childe of God," and a jar of money. Liam and his friend, Max, take turns carrying the baby on the way back t More...
One discovery, one event, can change your life forever. For Liam, it was following a raven, which would ultimately lead him into one of the darkest summers he would ever experience.
With the raven came the discovery of a little baby, abandoned with just a note labeling her as "a childe of God," and a jar of money. Liam and his friend, Max, take turns carrying the baby on the way back t More...
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May 25, 2010
Kevinyezbick
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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 friend Gordon is taken with the torturing of animals and Liam alike. [return][return]When Liam and Max stumble upon an abandoned baby in a barn, Liam briefly becomes a somewhat reluctant news celebrity. H
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Jul 29, 2010
Karen
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Not as sinister as some of Almond's other books, but still another one of his dark stories about wild, bad kids in England. This one did not grab me quite as much as his others, but it was still a pretty good one as far as YA novels go.
The really unfortunate thing about this book is the cover - it just does not convey the book's tone and I don't know what teen would want to pick up a book that looks like this. Hopefully the paperback edition will have a different cover.
The really unfortunate thing about this book is the cover - it just does not convey the book's tone and I don't know what teen would want to pick up a book that looks like this. Hopefully the paperback edition will have a different cover.
Dec 07, 2009
Ricki
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I usually like dark books, but this one made me feel very uneasy as I read it. Liam and his friend Max are led by a raven to find a baby in a cave. There are gorgeous passages in the book, particularly those concerning the raven and baby. The rest of the book, however, reminded me of Pet Sematary. There were sadistic sections involving snakes, mutilations, and hangings. I just didn't enjoy the book very much, overall...maybe it is because I wasn't expecting it to be so dark.
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Nov 23, 2009
Chris
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As with most Almond books, I read this one in a single sitting. Something about his style sucks me completely into his worlds and carries me from beginning to end. That being said, this one has a bit different of a flow compared to his other novels. It is darker in tone, more mature, and takes you places you didn't expect it to move.
While it isn't my favorite of his--or even second place--I enjoyed this one much more than Clay, as that one disappointed me.
If you are a fan More...
While it isn't my favorite of his--or even second place--I enjoyed this one much more than Clay, as that one disappointed me.
If you are a fan More...
Jun 04, 2009
Karlan
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Two boys in Northern England find an abandoned baby and, with their parents, visit her later in her foster home. There Liam meets a young Liberian refugee and an eccentric girl whom he would not have known normally. It is a superb novel about a boy who is just growing up and learning about suffering in the world. The author captures the feelings and outlook of a young adolescent who can be childish then mature quickly. A marvelous piece of writing.
Jun 08, 2010
Ms. Rosas
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This is one of those books where I wasn't sure I was going to like it until I finished it. I'm not sure what kept me going maybe it was curiosity at what the author was trying to say or maybe it was just that I hate not finishing a book. At the end I thought it was a good story about childhood and the loss of innocence. I wouldn't recommend it for light reading and the lack of a satisfying conclusion may put some young people off.
Sep 30, 2011
Shannon
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I seem to have trouble with David Almond's books. The tone is always a little off for me if I read them in several sittings. If I read it in one, I understand it better. This story is a coming of age story. Liam learns that knowing who you really are is often a surprise. I'll recommend it to my students but I suspect that some may find the messages more difficult to understand.
Jun 07, 2010
Thorn
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Super weird book. I wish it had given me more insight into how foster care works in the UK. Instead it's basically about boys loving violence and about appropriating stories to create a persona, and I only find the latter bit interesting whereas the author seems to prefer the former.
Dec 31, 2009
Jenny
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Very well written, but a bit too dark for my taste. I enjoyed it more in retrospect than I did while actually reading it. Thought provoking - questions of innate qualities, war, art. I think this one will stick with me for a bit.
Apr 01, 2010
Eileen
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Another great David Almond book. Liam and his friend find an abandonned baby by following a raven. Childhood bullying is juxtaposed with the true horrors of child soldiers in Africa. Moving, believable and thought provoking.
May 09, 2010
Ryan
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I'm not really sure about this - it had the cadence and feel of Skellig, but was dark and unsettling with talk of war and violence. Almost a Lord of the Flies tone, with kids doing kid sorts of things that go just a hair too far.
Feb 09, 2010
Janet
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I'm one of the few people who just doesn't like David Almond's books very much although I did like this better than most. He's an excellent writer, just not my "cup of tea."
Apr 06, 2010
Kristen
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Eh. I was intrigued enough to finish, but didn't really like this book. (It had a touch of Lord of the Flies to it, which I hated.) Dark with one especially disturbing mean kid, but well-written.
Jan 06, 2010
Jane
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A young boy finds a baby near his county home in England. He befriends a child soldier from Liberia and must deal with a local bully.
Feb 09, 2011
Katie
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I had never read anything by David Almond before this book, and now I want to read every word he's ever written ever. Wow.
The language in this book is beautiful. The imagery is perfect. The character development is spot-on. And despite its gentleness in story telling, this novel packs a punch.
I can think of no other book that captures the mindset of children as well as this one. I can't even formulate complete thoughts about the story. It's just good. Two boys find a baby, they bring the baby More...
The language in this book is beautiful. The imagery is perfect. The character development is spot-on. And despite its gentleness in story telling, this novel packs a punch.
I can think of no other book that captures the mindset of children as well as this one. I can't even formulate complete thoughts about the story. It's just good. Two boys find a baby, they bring the baby More...
May 18, 2009
Carter
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Another one of Almond's books with good vs. evil male characters. I like them, but the weight of it seems to be lessening with each successive book.
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Apr 29, 2010
Janean
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I didn't care for this book though it deals with the important subject of children playing war and real children soldiers.
