Ostrich Boys (Definitions) [Paperback]

Keith Gray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2008 | Series: Definitions

It's not really kidnapping, is it? He'd have to be alive for it to be proper kidnapping.' Kenny, Sim and Blake are about to embark on a remarkable journey of friendship. Stealing the urn containing the ashes of their best friend Ross, they set out from Cleethorpes on the east coast to travel the 261 miles to the tiny hamlet of Ross in Dumfries and Galloway. After a depressing and dispiriting funeral they feel taking Ross to Ross will be a fitting memorial for a 15 year-old boy who changed all their lives through his friendship. Little do they realise just how much Ross can still affect life for them even though he's now dead. Drawing on personal experience Keith Gray has written an extraordinary novel about friendship, loss and suicide, and about the good things that may be waiting just out of sight around the corner ...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When their friend Ross is killed in an accident, Blake, Sam, and Kenny are devastated by the loss and furious at the hypocritical outpouring of support by previously uncaring teachers and fellow students at the boy’s funeral. What are the mourning mates to do? Why, steal Ross’ ashes, of course, and take them from London to the village of Ross in Scotland for a proper funeral. What starts as a bit of a farce quickly turns serious as the three teens encounter mounting difficulties on their journey. Secrets they’ve either jealously guarded from each other or chosen, ostrichlike, to ignore begin to spill out—secrets that will test their own friendship and may reveal some surprises about Ross’ death. Unfortunately, the critically important backstory is reserved for the very end of the book, where its presentation feels rushed and a bit prosaic. Nevertheless, the boys are likable, their adventures en route are often diverting, and the big reveal invites some rethinking of the meaning of hypocrisy. Grades 8-12. --Michael Cart --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Keith was born and brought up in Grimsby and knew from an early age that he wanted to be a writer. When he received 0% for his accountancy exams he decided to pursue his dream. Since then, he has gone on to win numerous awards. Rave reviews about his writing have appeared in every broadsheet. Keith was a judge for the Blue Peter Book Award, the Guardian Fiction Prize, the Smarties Prize and the Bookstrust Teen Prize and reviews regularly for the Guardian. Keith is now a full-time writer living in Edinburgh with his girlfriend and his cockatiel.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Definitions (July 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099456575
• ISBN-13: 978-0099456575
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,881,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Road Trips Are Always Worth It, March 24, 2010

By 

J. Richard Box - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ostrich Boys (Hardcover)

This book accomplishes a lot. First, It's a coming-of-age/loss-of-innocence story, wherein three 15-year-old friends take the ashes of their recently dead fourth friend on a journey they all need. Second, it's a book that reminds you that no matter what happens on a road trip, road trips are always worth it. Third, it's sickly funny.

So, yeah, these three mates (that's British for 'friends') take their mate's (friend's) ashes. Take them. Out of the dead guy's sisters hands. Because they're angry that the funeral was just what a bunch of people who didn't care particularly for their friend made it. And they book for Scotland. They figure what they're doing is illegal, but don't quite know what crime it is. Things don't go smoothly, of course - otherwise you wouldn't have a book, would you? - and they find themselves off course, without money, hungry, and more interested in the girls on the train than the coming storm and their shelterless evening awaiting.

Some of what you know is going to happen toward the end happens, but it has to happen, because some of it was pretty much inevitable. That's not the point, though, is it? It's the journey, after all.

Road trips are always worth it.

By the way, I'm a modern, enlightened dad, and want to make sure everybody's kids (but my own) are exposed to the most vile stuff imaginable, but be aware that the language in this book is like real fifteen year old boys talk, when adults aren't around. There's plenty of sex slang and meaningless curse words throughout. It's YA, but definitely for the older members of that demographic.

5.0 out of 5 stars You never know what might happen..., January 20, 2012

By 

Scotty Draws "Scott" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ostrich Boys (Kindle Edition)

Before reading this book, I was more a graphic novel reader than a YA novel reader. I picked this book up on the recommendation of a few great reviews and I was very pleased. As other reviews and the book synopsis reveals, this is a story of three best friends as they deal with the death of their best friend, Ross. After going through some of the traditional anger stages, the three boys "kidnap" Ross's ashes and set off on a road trip to give Ross what the three boys believe to be a "proper funeral."

From vandalism, to stowing away on a train, to theft and bungee jumping, this story has it all. Around each chapter, the boys do something you never would imagine. And in the end they discover things you would never believe. This is a great story that reminds me of Stand By Me and something better. What's better than Stand By Me, you ask? Ostrich Boys. I cannot speak highly enough for this amazing story.

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and moving, September 25, 2011

By 

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ostrich Boys (Critical Scripts) (Paperback)

Review of the paperback edition ISBN 9780099456575, 2008

Kenny, Sim, Blake and Ross are best friends, fifteen year old boys they live in the small town of Cleethorpes on the North East coast of England, or at least three of them do now, for Ross has just been killed in an accident. Disgusted with the lack of any genuine input at Ross' funeral and the hypocrisy shown by those who by all rights should not even have been there, they think on what they can do to put matters right. After wreaking havoc locally taking revenge on those who they consider deserve it, they ponder what Ross would really have wanted. Recalling that Ross always wanted to go to Ross, Dumfries and Galloway (simply for reasons of the name), they decide that that's what they will do, take him there - but first they must secure his ashes from his family.

Blake, the somewhat overweight member of the group, narrates events as they steal away Ross' ashes and make their escape from Cleethorpes. We follow them on their incident filled quest, where the clumsiness of one causes a detour of route, and subsequent difficulties in reaching their ultimate destination. Along they way think about Ross, they ponder their friendships, and worry about the consequences they must face on returning home; the increasingly difficult journey testing the friendship of the three boys to the limits.

Ostrich Boys is an appealing and touching story, Keith Gray has created four very different, likeable boys bound by their loyalties to each other. Blake's narrative is honest, full of insight and peppered with touches of humour, making for an entertaining yet moving read.