Grimsdon

Grimsdon #1

by Deborah Abela

The city of Grimsdon is in ruins. Three years ago the sea surged toward it, bloating its river and sending waves stampeding into its grand, historic centre. While many were rescued, others disappeared in the panic and swell. The lost, the poor and the orphaned were left behind and moved into the upper floors of damp city buildings and opulent mansions - the only levels of the city's buildings which still rise above the water. One of the lost is Isabella Charm. Separated from her parents when the floods struck, she is the reluctant 12-year-old leader of a group of children who hide out in a lavish top-floor mansion. Along with her friend Griffin, a brilliantly intelligent boy who desperately hides his crush on Isabella, and Xavier, a plucky, thrill-seeking newcomer, Isabella and her gang scavenge for food and supplies, avoid the bounty hunters, and deal with Byron P. Sneddon, the self-appointed protector of the flooded harbour. Will the fabled Kraken, monster of the deep, come to Grimsdon? And what is Xavier's secret that will put them all in danger?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Middle Grade, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Childrens

278 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2010

About the author

Deb knew she wanted to be a writer when she was 7 years old. Her first story was about a man made out of cheese. It wasn’t very good. She’s had much more practice writing since then and strangely enough her first writing job was for a kids’ show on channel Ten called “Cheez TV”. After 7 years of writing scripts about everything from llamas to bungy jumping and how to go to the toilet in outer space, Deb wrote her first novel - Max Remy Superspy Part 1: In Search of the Time and Space Machine.

It’s about a feisty girl called Max and her best friend Linden who travel the world as secret agents fighting bad guys. It’s an action packed series based on loads of adventures Deb had, just after she left school. She’s slept beside alligators, been harassed by monkeys (and who hasn’t) was almost
traded for a camel and was thrown in jail at gunpoint, twice.
Deb still claims her innocence to this day.

Together with sport icon Johnny Warren, Deb also created
the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series. It’s about a
young boy called Jasper and his best friend Lil, who love
their soccer and dream of being soccer legends, just like
Johnny. Deb lives in Sydney with her partner Todd, who
is almost as cute as Linden.

Reviews

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. A massive flood wipes out a city and thousands are killed - a few children and teens are living in the flooded city, avoiding the rescuers. They survive by breaking into deserted buildings and ransacking anything they find.

Then a new teen arrives from the outside and things start to change. A good adventure with a Captain Hook type baddie living in a ship in the harbour who hassles the kids. And something lurking in the water. Something very big!

There is a sequel to this book.

[Miss_Davies]

Location: Year 6/7 Spinner

Grimsdon is in ruins. Three years ago a massive wave broke its barriers and the sea flooded this grand city. Most were saved, others were lost and some were left behind.

Isabella Charm and her best friend Griffin live with three other children in the top of an opulent mansion. They've survived with the help of Griffin's brilliant inventions, Isabella's survival skills and their vow to look after each other.

But what will happen when a thrill-seeking newcomer arrives in his flying machine? When bounty hunters attempt to capture them? When Byron P. Sneddon, the self-appointed protector of the flooded harbour, demands obedience?

What if the danger is even greater? Something they can't see coming - something below the floodwaters?
(From Random House website)

[Renee Mihulka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous timely story about the possible effects of climate change told by a wonderful storyteller. Great book for kids aged 10+.

[Kerstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grundidee: Die Grundidee ist spannend - Kinder, die durch eine Jahrhundertflut bedingt, allein in einer überfluteten Stadt leben und sich ohne Eltern zurechtfinden müssen.
Charaktere: Bei den Charakteren handelt es sich fast durchweg um Sympathieträger. Die Kinderclique bestehend aus Griffin, Isabella, Raffy, Bea und der stummen Lili lebt seit einigen Jahren allein in der überfluteten Stadt Grimsdon. Verstärkt werden sie durch Quentin, der eines Tages mit einem fliegenden Fahrrad vor ihrer Tür steht und sich ihnen anschließen möchte. Merkwürdige Piraten und ein etwas vergesslicher Wissenschaftler runden die abwechslungsreichen Charaktere der Handlung ab.
Handlungsschauplatz: Das überflutete Grimsdon in der Gegenwart.
Handlung: Die Stadt Grimsdon wurde nach einer verheerenden Flutkatastrophe vor 3 Jahren überflutet, von den Häusern sind nur noch hochgelegene Stockwerke und Dächer sichtbar. Dort lebt die Kinderclique rund um Griffin und Isabella ganz auf sich allein gestellt, da sie entweder von ihren Eltern getrennt wurden oder diese die Flut nicht überlebt haben. Sie bekommen es nicht nur mit sogenannten Schleicher-Wellen zu tun, sondern auch mit Kapitän Sneddon und seinen Piraten und merkwürdigen, gefährlichen Wasserbewohnern.
Ende & Auflösung: Das Ende des Romans kann man in sich abgeschlossen ansehen, wobei hier aber durchaus noch Platz für eine weitere Geschichte um Isabella & Co. wäre. Die Story punktet vor allem durch ihren Genre-Mix, denn hier ist für jeden jugendlichen und junggebliebenen Leser etwas dabei: Abenteuer, Spannung, Dystopie, Fantasy bis hin zu Science-Fiction - Grimsdon. Die Stadt der verlorenen Kinder bietet definitiv alles, was ein junges Leserherz begehrt und ist damit perfekt für die angepeilte Zielgruppe zugeschnitten.

[Leanne]

This was such a fantastic book! From the moment I started reading I was intrigued by Grimsdon - a town partially submerged in water after a disastrous tsunami. It's got all my favourite things: dilapidated palaces, flying machines, comically inept villains who also manage to be genuinely sinister, stories about monsters...While the theme of environmental disaster is strong, for me the beating heart of this book was the gang of children living in Grimsdon. They were so funny and brave and loyal, that I got completely caught up in their adventures. Grimsdon is really, really enchanting.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read for primary students who enjoy adventure and survival literature. A junior attempt at Dystopian fiction with the destruction of the the city due to rising water levels and extreme waves. Large print will entice middle primary readers to tackle this book, which would make a good read aloud in the classroom.

[Viola Sung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and exciting.

[Eva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very very very hard to get into everything just floats by and has barely any action

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grimsdon is a flooded city. Three years earlier, a catastrophe occurred, despite a warning by scientists, including Isabella's father, to build barriers larger than planned.

Isabella and her friends lived in a Palace. They scavenged for food and anything they could find from the surrounding buildings. They were clever and inventive. The flying fox system worked for them to swing from one part of the skyline to another.

Raffy, Bea, Isabella, and Griffin had to be careful on these trips. They didn't have any adults in their building. Griffin read stories from 'The Wizard of Oz' to the younger children.

Xavier intruded on their home and wanted to join them. He was a little older than Isabella. He knew about other kids in other buildings, about how to trade for things in the 'Haggle', and adults on the ship in the harbour.

The adults were untrustworthy. They blackmailed the kids into giving them their scrounged goods. Griffin had been able to build a greenhouse and grow vegetables and fruit. The pirates led by Sneddon made them hand over food to stay safe.

Would they learn to survive in this dangerous world?

[Charlotte M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grimsdon is a very childish book,
It lacks mature literature which can in this situation be key!
I think that this book is great for a 9 year old but for everyone else it’s just like any other little kid book.
I can tell that Deborah was trying her hardest and had produced a very childish adventurous book.
In this case my words of childish are meaning great for children! I do think that making a book is great as long as it has great literature like I said before, I also think that this book needs more mature themes like maybe scarier monster descriptions and more details!

This book is great but I personally think it is better to read a book suited for all ages!
I’m not surprised it go published though,😛

Deborah used her mind, but did she use it enough?

[IvyZuzu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a flawless book that was extremely fun to read. As a series of big waves swept the city away, some were rescued, some were not, some simply didn’t want to be rescued, and continued living in the wild, abandoned city. With the main characters being Isabella, Griffin Xavier, Fly, Bea, Raffy and Jeremiah, they work as a team to try and survive in wilderness, with one adult to help and guide them, and the unexpected, expected. A story of trust, friendship and teamwork. I loved this book, and Deborah Abela did a fantastic job with the description. This book would be most suitable for 10-12 year olds as the story is fun and has a structure easy to understand. My favourite part is when they met Jeremiah, it was interesting and definitely a funny moment.

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

So to be fair my 10year old students really loved this story and were pleading me to read on to New City (the sequel). I also think the author is fantastic, she came to our school and really inspired our students with a simple formula for writing imaginatively - with trouble!
I liked the setting especially fantastic palace like structures with a world left to kids to control and survive. The main cast of characters were great too, especially the confident girl protagonist Isabella. The other characters were maybe a bit cliche. It was the last 100 pages that rather lost my dedication to the story where things started to get a little easy for the kids and the story became very predictable.

Her more recent novel following a young Maltese girls immigration to Australia during World War 2 is fantastic though. So although I won't be reading New City to my class I will still recommend my students read on to the sequel

[Anna Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic adventure story featuring a group of children battling the environment and adults. This is a poignant story in 2020 as society continues to experience governments who ignore the scientific evidence of climate change. Themes of friendship, loyalty, adventure and climate change. Can’t wait to read the rest in the series.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was AMAZING!!!

I loved it, there was so much to think about. The thing that I liked most was the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. It made you want to read on until the end!

[Zainab · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, me & my class have read only 6 chapters & we already love it. We have been making references to Harry Potter as well. It is a really good book about friendship. The Haggle is still very mysterious.
Also, I really wanna read on even though we are not allowed to.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A +, extremely good U tube video to accompany the book . Indeed a professional Australian author with a background to match. I am sure there is much more to come for her . Don't you just love her work.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story set in a flooded Grimsdon where children who have escaped capture roam and do their best to survive. I can see this one being popular with Grades 4 up - enough action and twists and turns to keep them going right to the end along with relatable characters.

[cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

i use to be OBSESSED with this book when i was younger, so i decided to reread it again. the writing style is clearly directed towards younger readers, but that’s what i loved about it when i first read it 10yrs ago

[Dianne Wolfer]

I’ve loved revisiting Grimsdon before beginning books 2 and 3 in the series...

[Clive Parkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flavours of Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz with simple environmental message, beautifully executed for the most part.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

an enjoyable read that isn't too dark.

[H.M. Waugh]

Full of bravery, inventions and friendship - this is a great book, and the start of a fab series for middle grade readers. The world-building is awesome, with the drowned city and the sea monsters.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid adventure with strong messaging and straightforward writing style. Would be great for 7-9 year olds.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book, just felt that the sea monsters weren't really needed.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is WONDERFUL! Very fun, mysterious and everything!

[Angus · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad

[Ren Yonge · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring and uplifting. my class loved it.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the time I read this I would have given it a 5 - Characters were well written

[Lisa_247 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read when I was younger was fking awesome adventure tale. You should read for something quick easy and interesting & entertaining

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent science fiction story for older children.