Waterslain Angels [Hardcover]

Kevin Crossley-Hollan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2008

In the village of Waterslain in Norfolk, in the 1950s, a fragment from a carved angel's wing is discovered. Maybe the wooden angels that once supported the church roof were not, after all, destroyed centuries ago, but spirited away to safety. Two children decide to find them. There are few clues, but a strange inscription on the church wall leads them into terrifying places - up to the top of the church tower, down a tunnel where they are nearly drowned. Annie dreams of the man who was sent in by Cromwell to smash up the church, and of angels flying and falling. For Sandy, whose father, an American airman, was recently killed, the angels bring comfort. The whereabouts of the angels becomes clear to them - but then they discover that other people are hunting for them, and are determined to stop the children at all costs. The friendship between the boy adjusting to a new life in his mother's village, and the girl whose family have always lived on their remote farm, the haunting atmosphere of the Norfolk saltmarshes, and the strong sense of the past still present, give richness to a tense and fast-paced story of detection for younger readers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Detailed and richly textured...perfectly combines fantasy and reality as two children search for missing medieval angels' -- Vivien Hamilton DAILY TELEGRAPH 'This atmospheric story from a well-established master combines detection and fantasy' THE BOOKSELLER 'Kevin Crossley-Holland is brilliant at bringing historical episodes to life and together with a quality of writing almost unsurpassed in historical fiction he is sure to grab the reader's attention on every page' LOVEREADING.COM 'heartwarming and full of adventure' EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS 'Heart-warming with marvellous descriptions' THE TABLET 'It's interesting, it's pacy, it's direct and it has a magical quality too' THE BOOKBAG 'Beautifully written and very satisfying' BOOKS FOR KEEPS 'Both beautifully and poetically written and tightly plotted from one daring escapade to the next...a thrilling and evocative read.' ACHUKA 'Atmospheric and evocative. the masterly pen of Kevin Crossley-Holland has created a believable adventure and mystery story which will charm its readers' SCHOOL LIBRARIAN

About the Author

Kevin Crossley-Holland won the Carnegie Medal in 1985 for STORM. His many notable books for adults and children include poetry, classic retellings and anthologies. He has written and presented many BBC radio programmes and is a frequent speaker at schools and libraries. For some years he held a university post in Minnesota. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. THE SEEING STONE won the prestigious Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for 2001 and AT THE CROSSING-PLACES won a Silver award at the 2001 SWPA Spoken Word Awards.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Orion Childrens H/B & Trade Pb (October 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842556916
• ISBN-13: 978-1842556917
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,210,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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