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Kit's Wilderness
Unavailable
Kit's Wilderness
Unavailable
Kit's Wilderness
Audiobook5 hours

Kit's Wilderness

Written by David Almond

Narrated by Charles Keating

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

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 can be revealed from the depths of darkness.

The Watson family moves to Stoneygate, an old coal-mining town, to care for Kit's recently widowed grandfather. When Kit meets John Askew, another boy whose family has both worked and died in the mines, Askew invites Kit to join him in playing a game called Death. As Kit's grandfather tells him stories of the mine's past and the history of the Watson family, Askew takes Kit into the mines, where the boys look to find the childhood ghosts of their long-gone ancestors.

A Michael L. Printz Award Winner
An ALA Notable Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book

LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 7, 2000
ISBN9780553750027
Unavailable
Kit's Wilderness
Author

David Almond

David Almond is an experienced author who specializes in paranormal fiction. The recipient of a Hans Christian Andersen Award, a Carnegie Medal, and a Michael L. Printz Award, he currently resides in England.

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Reviews for Kit's Wilderness

Rating: 3.5924855884393065 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

173 ratings14 reviews

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Kit moves back to his father's home town to live with his grandfather. He gets involved in a game some of the other children of the old mining families play and when the game is abruptly brought to an end Kit continues to see ghosts of the children who died in the coal mines.

    The narrator killed this for me. He had old man voice, which worked beautifully in some places but in others just ruined the whole tone of the story for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    his is such a powerful story that is spellbinding. Christopher Watson,Kit, moves back to live in Stoneygate with his parents after the death of his paternal grandmother to a place where the roots of his family run deep. There he finds that he has a natural affinity not only with his grandfather, but also the other ancient rooted families and the very earth itself.There is a predominant theme of healing in this story. Newcomer Kit forms an unlikely alliance with John Askew, regarded my many as a lout and largely feared. Kit joins Askew's 'clique', made up of kids from the old local mining families, and plays Askew's game called Death. It becomes clear that this game is a device which Askew uses to identify those who can see the ghosts who occupy the Wilderness and those who merely pretend. Kit can see them as can his grandfather. Many of the old miners who worked in the pit can see them. Askew can see them, but he lives in a family which struggles with unemployment and drunkenness. Suspended from school and floundering without the moral support he needs, Askew is seduced by the ghosts into an emotional darkness.Askew claims that he has been waiting for Kit to appear all his life and sees him as a like minded individual but Kit is able to lead Askew out of darkness and back to a new beginning through the thousands of years and the hundreds of feet of earth which overburden them both, out of the old drift mine and back into the morning light. Kit's grandfather is a natural story teller passing on verbally the many local legends. Kit is also a natural storyteller and finds that through his writings is able to bring life to long dead peoples thus showing that nobody truly dies as long as there is someone to remember them.This is a book that would certainly appeal to the Young Adult readers as it is well written with an easy to understand vocabulary with plenty of interwoven threads but it should also appeal to older readers as it also has a remarkable depth about it. A quick, easy and very enjoyable read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A complex tale of grandparents and grandchildren; good kids and not so good kids; the allure of danger and fear; ghosts of the past; and the nature of reality all blended together into one, fairly short novel.Kit's family moves to Stonygate after his grandmother's death. He forms a close bond with his grandfather, an old mine worker from the town's early days. As his grandfather tells Kit stories from the past, Kit begins to think he is seeing ghosts of children who died long ago. Meanwhile, he has joined a group of kids from school who play a fearful ritualistic game, in which they go into an abandoned mine pit and sit in a circle around a knife. The knife is spun, and whoever it is pointing to when it stops - that person must "die." The death is figurative, but frightening and disturbing all the same. The two key players are John Askew, who leads the game and comes from a not-so-good family, and Allie, a precocious aspiring actress, who views it all as practice for the great acting rolls she will have in her future. Then, (if that's not enough), when Kit begins to write a story about a prehistoric family for a school assignment, he begins to see characters from his story loitering around as well.Full of the sorts of themes and symbolism that will make a high school English teacher just salivate with excitement, it provides an entertaining and somewhat creepy tale even for those (like myself) who probably missed a fair amount of the deeper message.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Kit's family returns to rural England, mining country, to care for his grandfather, a former pit coal miner. Kit connects with the spirits (?) of the child workers who died over the centuries in mine accidents. Kit is an imaginative writer, at first writing the old stories his grandfather tells then, with the encouragement of his teacher, feeling the tale of ancient cave peoples come alive in his thoughts. Two other teens play a major role in this story: Allie, energetic young actress-wanna-be looking for experiences, and Askew, vivid artist but otherwise sullen loner who skips school.At first I was afraid this would be another of the vampire/evil stories, and the teens were certainly following some ancient impulses. Yet the strength of the Kit pulls the tale in a new direction, shows how there is goodness deep inside even the most troubled of us, how much need there is for a hand to reach out in friendship.Strongly recommend
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    40. [Kit's Wilderness], by David Almond (***) - 2001 WinnerCategory: Printz Award (YA) WinnersI wasn’t quite sure what to make of this story. It opens with a game called Death, in which the young teenagers of the small town of Stoneygate play inside an old coal mining shaft. There is a girl who wants to be an actress, a grandfather who tells old stories but is starting to forget his past, and a number of children ghosts. I liked the story, but didn’t love it and I’m not really sure what else to say.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm planning a full review on my blog. So for now I'll say, meh.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This novel was about 13 year old Christopher Watson (Kit) who has just moved with his parents to Stoneygate after his grandmothers death. They move there to be with Kit's grandfather and throughout this novel Kit grows closer to him. Kit learns about his ancestors and how they were some of the first ones to live in this old mining town. Kit becomes part of a group which goes down to the pit (although it is closed now) and plays a game called "Death", until a teacher finds out what they are doing. The group is forced to stop, but Kit continues to hang out with Allie and they become close friends. I believe this novel would really appeal to young adult readers. I believe that it would keep their attention. This book shows moral situations aimed at the young adult readers. His growing relationship with his grandfather shows strong family bonds, which is important to any young adult. This book also has a lot of other useful materials. I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the suspense that this novel was full of. It kept you wondering the whole time. I also liked how Kit became close to his grandfather and at first would ask him question about his life and their ancestors. I have always been close to my grandfather and loved hearing him tell stories so I could relate to Kit in that way. It was interesting to read about how some of the character is this novel reacted to the death game and to each other. I also liked the ending of the book, which you will just have to read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Plot Summary: Kit and his family moved to a small mining town in Stoneygate, England to take care of his elderly grandfather. Kit loves to hear the suspenseful stories of former souls who roamed the wilderness from his grandfather. Kit makes friends with John Askew, an outcast. A group of friends go into the mines and play a game called Death, to scare themselves. Most of the gang pretends to see apparitions, but Kit really sees them and Askew believes him. They share a bond that no others do.Critique: This was just another YA book that dealt with family, death, alcoholism, the need to fit in, and the need to find oneself. I thought the blending of reality and fantasy was incredible, therefore putting me in Kit’s shoes.Curriculum Uses : This novel could be used with many discussion topics, such as:1.Describe Askew. What type of a person is he: Does his family play an important role?2.John Askew is labeled a ‘bad child’. What do you think about the label and do you think you’ve ever been labeled.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This story is beautifully written. David Almond's use of language, his characterisations, and his blend of magic and a hard realism rooted in rugged and historic Northumbria gives a reading experience unlike any other and second to none.Kit moves to Stonygate, where his family hail from, and quickly feels integrated with the local community. A new boy, but an insider - and this is particularly recognised by local troublemaker, John Askew, who strikes up an unlikely - and initially an uneasy - friendship.Askew encourages Kit to play a game called Death. A curious game of the type that people sometimes play to scare themselves, but this game is more intense. Some people cheat at the game, but some people - including Askew and Kit, see something very real and a touch chilling. There are ghosts of people lost in a pit disaster, and another strange ghost too. Kit sees the ghosts and he discovers his grandfather has too.But his grandfather is not well, and increasingly suffers from senior moments, or being "off with the fairies". Askew also lands himself in trouble (which he is well used to) and then vanishes. There are so many threads in this story that weave together to make something that is very beautiful. Kit struggles and grows and learns. There is friendship and love and courage here, and themes of life and death all blended in a manner that is very typical of David Almond, but pretty much without parallel among other children's/young adult's authors.This story works on many levels, and even though its unlikely anyone will understand all the themes the Author intended for this work, it is likely that anyone will understand some and enjoy it. However, I have to add a warning that I always write for David Almond's books: These are not heavy plot driven adventure stories. These are quieter and more reflective works. Not everyone will enjoy them, although I wish they would! But as long as you are not looking for the next Alex Rider adventure. As long as you are happy to read a story that is ultimately about a boy, Kit, and not about saving the world from alien invasion - this book is one I would thoroughly recommend.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Though I liked it marginally less than 'Skellig', I love Almond's poetic language, and hopeful characters. Life is full of mystery, and the tensions between doing good and doing evil, both of which co-exist in each human. Almond captures this tension beautifully.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Yet another Young Adult book that deals with very heavy subjects such as the love of family and friends, sacrifice, death, alcoholism, abuse, the need to fit in and conversely the importance of finding individuality and oneself amid peer pressure. This coming of age tale seen through the eyes of Christopher "Kit" Watson is compellingly beautiful. In order to care for Kit's aging, ailing grandfather, his family moves to the village of Stonegate, previously a coal mining town and scene of tragic deaths of young children who worked underground in the blackness years before.As Kit's beloved grandfather nears death, a mythological story unfolds and the lives of Kit and his two new classmates become entwined with the spirits of those who roam the mines and the memories of Kit's grandfather. While it is only 229 pages, this is not a breezy read , though I do recommend it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My favourite David Almond book. Palpably recognised the scary-exciting sense of being a young kid hanging out with older boys and getting in over your head.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Kit moved to Stoneygate with his family so they could help take care of his aging grandfather, a retired miner. Kit immediately finds friendship with a group of children, led by a boy named John Askew, who go into an abandoned mine to play the game of Death. They each have ancestors who also found death in the mines, but not as a game. As Kit’s grandfather’s health fails and John’s home life worsens, Death seems to become more real. Kit finds that his dreams and stories come to life and he is surrounded by the ghosts of children who died in the mine long ago. Kit must stop John from joining the dead, though John wishes it.This is a very strong and engaging story. People of all ages will find depth and entertainment in its pages. Almond’s writing is superb and it is easy to lose yourself in Kit’s world. Kit’s relationship with his grandfather is touching, and you really get a sense of appreciation for life from their story. John Askew brings darkness and death into Kit’s world, but he is able to overcome it and bring John back into the light of life. It is truly a moving story, thick with meaning.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    David Almond's best to date. A subtle story about life, death, family and memory, with a slight hint of gothic fantasy to it, but not in a depressing way - has a myhtological touch to it.