CLAY

What if your wish for revenge against a bully could come true? Stephen Rose, an odd boy with a strange past, comes to town and befriends Davie, and in his skill with clay comes a salvation of sorts against Mouldy and his gang. With a kinship to the Golem of Jewish legend, Frankenstein and Dracula, comes a creature created out of clay, representing the human paradox in its capacity for good or evil. The tale represents our twin passions for creation and destruction and the world we have of angels, devils and monsters, of God, and of humans acting like gods. Fans of Almond’s work will enjoy contemplating such ideas and finding parallels with his other novels. The haunting tone, philosophical depth and beautifully crafted prose are what readers have come to expect of a work by this master. A memorable tale that raises provocative questions. (Fiction. 12+)