Kit's Wilderness
 by David Almond

Bibliography

Almond, D. (2001). Kit's wilderness. London, UK: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 0385729898

Summary

Christopher's (Kit's) family moves to be near his widowed grandfather.  In Stoneygate, an ancient mining community, he meets John and Allie - dark and light - and plays a game called Death.  Kit's Wilderness chronicles the development of Kit's friendships with Allie and John, as well as Kit's relationship with his aged grandfather -- and the spectral beings the descendants of the ancient families see.

Critical Analysis

While reading Kit's Wilderness I constantly felt emotionally unsettled.  The novel is charged with deep emotions throughout and I never knew whether I wanted to put the book down for a while and leave Stoneygate or keep reading!

The character development is incredibly deep on some levels but undeveloped on others.  For example, the relationships between Kit and John and Kit and his grandfather all hinge on the past of the community.  No other aspects are examined, but the reader feels like they are involved in that past completely. The same is true for Stoneygate.  The reader can almost picture the eerie wilderness with beings seen through squinted eyes, but the rest of the town is an unknown.

Almond's writing suits the subject of the novel perfectly and heightens the emotional pull.  At times poetic and others brusque and choppy, the words are always just right for what is happening.  Almond has succeeded in writing a story difficult to read and more difficult to put down.

Review Excerpts

*...establishes Almond as the most exciting new voice in children's books this decade. -- Literary Review

*...this superb piece of lyrically written literary fiction captivates children and their parents alike .-- The Guardian

* Almond offers another tantalizing blend of human drama, surrealism and allegory. -- Publishers Weekly

Connections

* Also available on audio here.

* Get to know David Almond and his work on his website.

* Designed for British classrooms, these resources are excellent for using Kit's Wilderness with students.

*From Kit's Wilderness 

Silky came that night, long after the doctor had gone, long after Grandpa had been put to bed, long after I'd come to bed myself, long after the moon shone in through my window.  Long after the moon had been blotted out and the snow began to fall, long after I'd tried to sleep and couldn't sleep and simply watched the snowflakes thicken on my windowsill.
     Just a glimpse, from the corner of my eye.  A shimmering like silk.  I caught my breath.  "Who's there?' I whispered.
     Nothing.  Then again, nothing but a flickering.  Nothing.  I closed my eyes, saw the boy running away from me, glistening  as he headed down the  tunnel.
     "There he is!" I called.  "After him! After him!"
      I ran. Endless tunnels, heading further and further into the earth.