This is such a powerful story told in such a quiet voice that the effect is spellbinding. Kit tells us, in his own words, how he came back to live in Stoneygate where the roots of his family grow deep, and found that he had a natural affinity not only with his old grandfather, but also the other ancient rooted families and the very earth itself.
What is the nature of this affinity? Does he actually travel back in time as he enters the ancient drift mine? Is he haunted by ghosts? Or does he share some kind of present-day hysteria with his grandfather and the other local children as they see their own lives bounced back at them from the monument to the past in the local graveyard?
As with Skellig, there is a predominant theme of healing in this story. Sensitive Kit forms an unlikely alliance with John Askew, harsh and bewildered. At first dominated by Askew, Kit 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. Kit can see them. Kit's grandad can see them. Many of the miners who worked in the pit can see them. Askew can see them, but Askew 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.
Kit is waiting for the call though and he is able to guide Askew 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.
What do you think about ‘Kit's Wilderness’?
claudia, girl, age 16, from Germany, on 30th November 2005. Rating:
Das ist eigentlich ein ganz interessantes buch und hat einen guten inhalt. Ich fand es spannend es zu lesen,auch wenn es an manchen stellen etwas langweilig war. Im ganzen aber voll OK!!!!!!
brooke, girl, age 11, from carlisle, United Kingdom, on 2nd November 2005. Rating: 9/10
i think yhe review was good and i am reading it for english because the review was so good thank you brooke
Alyssa, girl, age 13, from Alberta, Canada, on 26th October 2005. Rating: 6/10
I read this book and at first, i was not very interested in it because the game called "Death" kind of confused me. The end of the story is great, of course all turns out good. I am doing a book report right now but i cannot figure out who the Antagonist is. Other than that - it was great. Cudos David Almond on a great book.
Read all 21 comments about Kit's Wilderness by David Almond
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This is beautiful work which stays with you for a long time after you turn the last page. And if you want to read more of David Almond, have a look at:
It's difficult to know how to follow a David Almond book, but you might like to look at this one, with similar subject matter, by Jonathan Stroud:
If you are a mature reader you might like the air of mystery surrounding this long novel by Jan Mark:
