Description

One long, hot summer, Joff's life changes for ever. He's always believed the Falling Boy is just a story, told to make the kids do what they're told. But this is the summer of breaking boundaries ... David Almond writes award-winning, heartfelt and unforgettable stories, and this is perfect for readers of Skellig and Michael Morpurgo. Nothing is the same for Joff this summer. His dad is ill, his mam is working, there's a new kid in town. He can't wait to escape each day and explore with his dog Jet. But there's one place he's not allowed to explore. Above the town sits the Chapel of Doom, ancient and crumbling, with its warning signs and the legend of the Falling Boy. And when Joff's adventures take him beyond the boundaries he discovers something unexpected, something truly magical ... Intense and compelling, this is a brilliant coming-of-age story about hope, friendship and conquering your fears, from the award-winning author of the bestselling Skellig.

Author description

David Almond is the author of Skellig, My Name is Mina, Island, Bone Music and many other novels, stories, picture books, opera librettos, songs and plays. His work is translated into 40 languages, and is widely adapted for stage and screen. His major awards include the Carnegie Medal, two Whitbread Awards, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, the Michael L Printz Award (USA), Le Prix Sorcieres (France), the Nonino International Prize, the James Kruss Prize and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. He has also won the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the world's most prestigious prize for children's authors. In 2021, David was awarded an OBE for services to literature. David speaks at festivals and conferences around the world. He is Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. He is widely regarded as one of the most exciting, inspirational and innovative children's authors writing today. He has one amazing daughter. He lives in Newcastle, the city in which he was born.