Stone Cold (Puffin Teenage Fiction)

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Stone Cold, winner of the 1994 Carnegie Medal, serves as a sinister warning to any young runaway and not just because there is a killer on the loose. Narrated by 17-year-old Link, homeless and jobless in London after being driven out of home by a drunken, abusive stepfather, he vividly recounts the day-to-day experiences of a homeless person. Because he tells it like it is, his descriptions of sleeping rough shatter any romantic notions: "So you pick your spot. Wherever it is ... it's going to have a floor of stone, tile, concrete or brick. In other words it's going to be hard and cold. It might be a bit cramped, too--shop doorways often are. And remember, if it's winter you're going to be half-frozen before you even start."

If this was just another diatribe on the perils of sleeping rough, the reader's interest would soon wane but it is far more gripping than that. The author alternates Link's tale with that of an unknown serial killer preying on the homeless. You, the reader, see how closely their lives brush against each other and know it's only a matter of time before they clash. Will Link be joining the other recruits in the cellar--what a deterrent that would be! (Age 11 and over.) --Nicola Perry

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-09-23 rating:
Stone Cold: a good story...
Stone Cold: A good story...
in fact, two stories are interwoven until the two become one. The one story is told by Link, a boy who becomes homeless, the other is told by Shelter, a serial killer...
The book is a real page turner and really draws you in. I couldn't put it down and had to find out what was happing to these children who mysteriously disappear, and what would happen to Link. At a certain point it becomes obvious that Link and Shelter's paths will cross but what will happen is the question that will bug you until the end of the book.
An excellent read in class as its themes will surely appeal to children aged from 12-16, and as it is not a difficult book to read can easily be used in ESL classes too.

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review by: Reads Carnegie Medalists For Fun date: 2008-07-07 rating:
Psychopath meets the homeless: the outcome seems bleak
As any serial killer knows, the easiest targets are those who wouldn't be missed - prostitutes, the homeless, the poor and alone. As for the homeless, no matter how streetwise, who can resist a couch for a night and a bowl of tomato soup? The book alternately guides us through the minds of a psychopath and a boy who has lost his way in life. On another level, it also shows how the System can spit out two human beings, turning them into something less. This is not a fairy tale and may leave your child cowering under his duvet. And yet, it may lead him to appreciate shelter, a warm bed and food in the fridge. And yes, to remember to have good friends and never to talk with strangers.

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review by: date: 2008-06-15 rating:
DUMBING DOWN
This is an entertaining read but does not have the depth to be studied for GCSE - what are the examiners thinking of choosing this over Steinbeck, Dickens, Hardy, et al? Even the students are aware they are being patronised - no offence to the book but as 'Literature'? Please! It's doing the author no favours, either, because anything you HAVE to read becomes boring by definition, doesn't it?

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review by: date: 2008-02-01 rating:
Gripping and compelling
The book's theme, poverty and life on the streets, didn't appeal to me before I read the book as I'm used to reading crime novels. However, reading the first few pages of the book immediately changed my opinion as I couldn't stop reading.
The book is relatively short and the story is easy to comprehend. It is written in such a manner that there aren't any dull moments in between that you have to force yourself to read.
The story is suitable for children aged 12 and up, and many will probably be able to identify with the main character, Link, and his troubles at home.
All in all, this book gives an exciting and confronting view of life on the streets, while combining this with an original plot.


review by: date: 2007-07-18 rating:
Depressing and Wry
I read this book in English, as a play. We acted out certain scenes and i found it depressing. It is easy to follow and sometimes it has a bit of humour, but over all it makes you quite sad and lonely.
Most of the story line is a mad crazy guy trying to kill homeless people. It makes you feel unhappy and (when you are at school) wanting to go home and sitting on the sofa with a duvet!
I wouldnt read it out of choice but if you want a creepy and chilling novel, its OK

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