Customer Reviews

The Giant Under the Snow (Puffin Books)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Giant Under the Snow is, without a doubt, one of the best children's books ever written. Yet despite being the equal of Harry Potter, The Hobbit and The Princess Bride, this dark magical tale is now almost impossible to find. The story concerns three school children (Jonquil, Bill and Arthur) who are drawn into a battle between good and evil for the possession of an ancient artifact. Not exactly an original premise, but John Gordon's execution introduces some new and creative elements such as the terrifying leathermen. The background behind the giant itself is an inspired mix of inventive writing and historical research which makes the story all the more believable. Another print run is long over due!

A suspense novel for readers of about junior high school level, The Giant Under the Snow concerns English schoolkids Jonquil, Bill, and Arf (short for Arthur), who become entangled in a magical struggle for what appears to be the spirit of the land itself. Gordon's writing is evocative and atmospheric, his characters are finely drawn and non-stereotypical, and the fantastic elements of the story are so original that they still seem fresh today, decades after I first read this book as a youngster. This book deserves a new print run.

Like everyone else here, I too have been looking for this book for ages having read it as a kid - I was enthralled by it. It is atmospheric and exciting - a compelling read.

I read this book as a child, and have been trying to track it down ever since - if you know where I can get a copy - please let me know!! I am now 35yo and would love to share this superb book with my children, if you can find it - do yourself a favour and read it. Simply superb.

Yes!! Merry Christmas to me, and to my kids. I have been hoping for years to find this back in print and I can't wait until my girls are old enough that I can read it to them (without the leather men giving them nightmares!). This is a great book and I highly recommend it to Harry Potter fans and the like. The tale of a young girl and her friends' desperate fight to keep a magic amulet from the clutches of an evil warlord and his army of VERY creepy henchmen. For those of you with young children, be forwarned that this book does have some genuinely scary moments. A fantastic story that would make for a great screenplay (just a wee hint for the folks in Hollywood.... cha-ching!). For the rest of you.......now you can own a classic without paying 80 bucks or more for a ragged used copy. Get it.

This was my favorite book when I first read it aged 11 (over 25 years ago!) in a penguin paperback edition. My recollections are of a magical story that gripped my imagination. This has been out of print too long, it's great that it's back and I look forward to sharing it with my son. It will enchant Harry Potter fans looking for something new.

I read this book as a child and found it enthralling. I'm now 30 and have just ordered a second hand copy online from a rare bookseller to share with my 12yr old daughter. It comes highly recommended = a very good book and to be honest I can not understand why it is out of print.

I loved this as a child - I used to make a point of reading it every year so that I would finish it on Christmas Eve as I found it so magical. A real treasure in itself

I read this book as a child and found it hugely exciting. I'm now 36 and was discussing this book with my kids. It's images have stayed with me all these years and I long to own a copy. Upon searching for it at Amazon I was surprised to see how expensive it is, but not to see that others consider it a minor classic too. A dark and magical tale that will remain with you long after you finish the last page.

I read this book first as a child, and read it again and again until it fell apart. it is a brilliant and dark tale, which children and adults alike will enjoy immensly, I would beg or steal a copy if i could find one. anyone know where i could get a copy?