"Gripping, memorable debut novel with a strong sense of place"
July 2024 Debut of the Month | Interest age 10 Reading age 10+
The distinctive vernacular of the north-east enriches this time-slip story which links present day challenges and grief with a 19th century tragedy.
Archie lives with his mum and grandad in Heaton, almost directly above the scene of a mining disaster that took the lives of 75 men and boys two hundred years ago. His own life is affected by the area’s industrial history too. His grandad is fighting for breath after a lifetime working in the pit, his dad has disappeared looking for work elsewhere, and life for him and his friends is tough.
The stories combine one terrible night of torrential rain. Archie is beaten up by the local thugs and almost drowns in the mine entrance. While unconscious, he finds himself back in time, trapped in the mine, his prize possession, the fiddle passed down to him by his grandad, providing the miners with much-needed comfort even though they know they’ll never see daylight again. It’s music that saves Archie and provides the story with an ending that offers hope of new beginnings.
Dark Flood won its author the Hachette Children’s Novel Award and it’s an impressive debut, well-plotted, full of memorable characters and scenes and with a strong sense of place.
A stunning timeslip tale about a boy who finds himself trapped in a well-known mining incident that happened many years before! This story of family, community and hope by debut author Karon Alderman is perfect for fans of Skellig and The Wild Way Home.
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A stunning timeslip tale about a boy who finds himself trapped in a well-known mining incident that happened many years before! This story of family, community and hope by debut author Karon Alderman is perfect for fans of Skellig and The Wild Way Home.Everyone knows the history of the famous Heaton Main coal mine accident - but that's never interested Archie.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Dark Flood and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Dark Flood features in the following genres: Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Interest age 11+, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Interest age 9+, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Teens, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Historical Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Science Fiction, Stories about Family and Friends, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Dark Flood was written by Karon Alderman and published by Orion Children's Books an imprint of Hachette Children's Group
Dark Flood has 302 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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