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#Giveaway Review A SONG FOR ELLA GREY by David Almond @davidjalmond @randomhousekids #BlogTour

October 11, 2015 By Mary

I received this book at no cost from the publisher

#Giveaway Review A SONG FOR ELLA GREY by David Almond @davidjalmond  @randomhousekids #BlogTourA Song for Ella Grey by David Almond
ISBN: 0553533592
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers on October 13th 2015
Genres: Young Adult
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

David Almond, recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, a Printz Honor for Skellig, and the Printz Award for Kit’s Wilderness, has crafted an enchanting modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.
Written in lyrical prose, this novel for fans of epic romances and mythology retellings explores themes of love, loss, fate, and destiny set against the dramatic and diverse backdrop of Northern England.
Claire and Ella and their friends are bound by ties so strong they seem unbreakable. Then the strange and handsome Orpheus strolls onto the beach, and he sings them all into an astonishing new understanding of themselves. Ella is caught the hardest, fastest, deepest—and Claire feels the pain of looking on.
Raw, emotional, lyrical, funny, and true, A Song for Ella Grey is a tale of modern teenagers and their joys, troubles, and desires. It’s a story of first love, a love that draws on ancient mythic forces. A love that leads Ella, Orpheus, and Claire to the gates of Death and beyond.

MY THOUGHTS

Orpheus has a gift of music and all of the girls are charmed by his talents.  With many admirers, he falls upon Ella Grey, a seventeen year old who would rather daydream than finish her school work.   Her best friend, Claire, tells the story of their romance.  In this retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice, the myth becomes modern.  The island of Greece is replaced by Northumberland in England.

Claire is a wonderful narrator, who is in love with Ella herself. Even though, she doesn’t feel that Ella should marry Orpheus, she helps them  elope, setting off a tragedy that costs both of them their lives.  As Claire replays their romance in her mind, she realizes that they are ill fated from the start. The UK slang might take a bit away from American readers, but it is easy to figure out.

Overall, this is a romantic account of an ancient tale that remain true to the original.  For me, Orpheus should have been playing a guitar to full update this one.  I don’t think I have ever seen a lyre player with a fan club.  Parts of the story were a bit too overly poetic for me, but it all works.  Parents:  since this book takes place in the UK, there is alcohol present and for that country, it is appropriate, also some language and sexual situations.  If you are looking for a wonderful, dreamy romance, this is the one!

 

 

 

 

david almondAbout the Author

(from Goodreads)

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 before finding his niche writing literature for young adults.

His first children’s novel, Skellig (1998), set in Newcastle, won the Whitbread Children’s Novel of the Year Award and also the Carnegie Medal. His subsequent novels are: Kit’s Wilderness (1999), Heaven Eyes (2000),Secret Heart (2001), The Fire Eaters (2003) and Clay (2005). His first play aimed at adolescents, Wild Girl, Wild Boy, toured in 2001 and was published in 2002.

His works are highly philosophical and thus appeal to children and adults alike. Recurring themes throughout include the complex relationships between apparent opposites (such as life and death, reality and fiction, past and future); forms of education; growing up and adapting to change; the nature of ‘the self’. He has been greatly influenced by the works of the English Romantic poet William Blake.

He is an author often suggested on National Curriculum reading lists in the United Kingdom and has attracted the attention of academics who specialise in the study of children’s literature.

Almond currently lives with his family in Northumberland, England.

Website   –  Twitter  – Facebook 

 

 

Check out the rest of the tour:

October 12th:

Bookhounds YA
Adventures in YA Publishing
Teenreads

October 13th:
Fangirlish
Jessabella Reads

October 14th:
Winterhaven Books
Bibliophilia, Please!
Biographile

October 15th:
The Book’s Buzz
Tales of a Ravenous Reader

October 16th:
Lost in Literature
The Young Folks

October 17th:
Adventures in YA Publishing
Teen Lit Rocks
The Reader Bee

October 18th:
Fiktshun

 

WANT TO WIN A COPy?

 

Giveaway Ends 10.23.15 and open to all who can legally enter.
US only -Sorry no PO Boxes
You must be over 13 or have your parents permission to enter.
An email will be sent and you have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.
Winner will be announced within 48 hours at the end of the giveaway. Giveaway is organized by Bookhounds and sponsored by the publisher
It has no affiliation with Facebook, Twitter or any other entitiy.
Void where prohibited.

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four-half-stars

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Comments

  1. Carl says

    October 12, 2015 at 8:55 am

    I’ve enjoyed the Wicked series from Gregory Maguire and even had the chance to work on one of the stage productions. I’m also very excited for the chance to win this new book from David Almond. Thanks.

  2. anne says

    October 12, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    Wonderful giveaway. Retelling of Peter Pan.

  3. Linda Romer says

    October 12, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    My favorite is Alice in Wonderland! Thank you

  4. MIkiBooks says

    October 13, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    Q: What was your favorite retelling?

    A: My favorite retelling would have to be The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh .

  5. MIkiBooks says

    October 13, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    Q: What was your favorite retelling?

    A: My favorite retelling would have to be retellings of Beauty and the Beast…

  6. MIkiBooks says

    October 13, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    Question: What was your favorite retelling?

    Answer: My favorite retelling would have to be retellings of Beauty and the Beast…

  7. bn100 says

    October 13, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    don’t like retellings, so no fav

  8. Richard Brandt says

    October 14, 2015 at 9:55 am

    A Dozen Tough Jobs, Howard Waldrop’s retelling of the labors of Hercules as Southern noir.

  9. Ashley White says

    October 16, 2015 at 7:17 am

    I’m a huge fan of The Lunar Chronicles. I love the futuristic version of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel. I cannot wait for Winter to release next month!

  10. missy ellis says

    October 23, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    i like all of the retellings

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