Okay, so I am chicken. But with a title like that, and a cover page illustration like that, this was not a book I might have picked off the bookshelf myself. The book's author, David Almond, however, happens to be winner of the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award (Cue: Wowww...) and so I found myself one night, curled under the covers, on a wild ride I didn't regret.
The Savage, who lends his name to the title of the book, is a character within a character's mind, whose story seemingly exists only in the context of another's. Or is it? I was intrigued, and the book does not leave the reader with clear answers. Let me clarify: this is not a story that leaves readers wondering what happened at the end. There is no ambiguity regarding what the narrator says did happen. Nonetheless, I was left to wonder long after the story was told. That, to me, is a sign of a powerful story; the ability to cause the voice of the narrator to come across so realistically, that the listener begins to recognize that that voice belongs to a narrator who has an inner world, which could very well be having a say about how he sees the physical world around him.
This book is all about the power of storytelling and stories. It is also a bildungsroman telling of a thirteen-year-old boy's coming-of-age as he comes to terms with the loss of his father. It is a dad book only in the sense that his father's death is the central event that led to the writing of the book. It is also a book about masculinity. The narrator starts off with some lessons to learn about what's a boy to do in the face of the threats of an unscrupulous bully. He brings his questions to his dad, who ends up showing him how, and not in mere words. By the end of the book, the narrator has learnt lessons not only on how to protect himself from the school bully, but lessons on how he can face life, even when good is overshadowed by evil and death snatches his loved ones from his grasp.
A title like that and illustrations like those made me expect a wild, chilling, and unforgiving ride. What I was met with, however, I wouldn't describe primarily as wild at all. Instead, this was a remarkably realistic window into the mind of a grieving teenage boy, in circumstances that could almost be described as common. Far from inciting fear, this book is somewhat comforting, with its final message: even death, even evil need not have the final say.
Teacherish Tips:
Like I mentioned in the post, the themes of death, good vs. evil, and bullying all feature in this novella, making it a book to use for rich literature discussions. Also, being part graphic novel, and just seventy-nine pages, it may be a book reluctant readers are willing to pick up.
Did you know?
The Hans Christian Andersen Award is one to watch out for. Unlike awards which are given for individual books, this international award is given to an author and illustrator every other year on the merit of their entire body of work. It is also not restricted to works written in the English language. The awards for 2012 will be announced on Monday, 19 March. A list of nominees and past awardees is here. Read more about David Almond here.
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