The Savage (Almond book)

The Savage is a 2008 graphic novel by David Almond. It is about a boy called Blue who, to cope with his father's death starts drawing and writing a comic book story about a wild boy living in the woods. .

The Savage
First edition
AuthorDavid Almond
IllustratorDavid McKean
CountryEngland
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult graphic novel, Fantasy
Published2008 (Walker Books)
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages78
ISBN9781406308150
OCLC799016444

Reception

In a School Library Journal review of the day, Elizabeth Bird wrote "By all logic, the melding of Dave McKean to David Almond should be a bad idea. .. Yet my encounter with The Savage came as a bit of a surprise to me. As feared it definitely has a slightly older readership, but the darkness of the images and the text work together in ways that actually reduce the scary factor rather than increase it.", and described McKean’s illustrations as "It’s Where the Wild Things Are, shot through with teeth and flesh."[1]

Booktrust found that "Almond’s revelations about child grief, as ever, are unsettling, as are McKean’s tortured illustrations, but as the book progresses we witness Blue achieving a degree of acceptance, and an unworldly resolution."[2] and Kirkus Reviews called it a "provocative outing."[3]

The Savage has also been reviewed by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[4] Booklist,[5] Horn Book Magazine,[6] Michigan Reading Journal,[7] School Librarian,[8] Library Media Connection,[9] and Reading Time.[10]

Awards and nominations

Adaptations

Almond has written a stage adaption of The Savage. It has been performed by the Live Theatre Company and has received favourable reviews.[14][15][16]

In 2009 The Savage was adapted for the stage by Jenifer Toksvig with music by Nicholas Sutton for the youth theatre at the Arcola Theatre, directed by Thomas Hescott.

References
  1. "Review of the Day: The Savage by David Almond". blogs.slj.com. Media Source Inc. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. "The Savage". booktrust.org.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  3. "The Savage". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  4. "Almond, David. The Savage". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Johns Hopkins University Press. 62 (7): 275, 276. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. "The Savage". Booklist. American Library Association. 105 (2): 49. September 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  6. "The Savage". Horn Book Magazine. Media Source. 84 (5): 575. September 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  7. "The Savage". Michigan Reading Journal. Michigan Reading Association. 41 (1): 89. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  8. "The Savage". School Librarian. School Library Association. 56 (3): 159. September 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  9. "The Savage". Library Media Connection. ABC-CLIO. 27 (5): 79. March 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  10. "The Savage". Reading Time. Children's Book Council of Australia. 52 (4): 29. November 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  11. "2008 Nominations Graphic Novels (Young Adult)". cybils. 18 October 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  12. "2009 Kate Greenaway Medal Winner & Shortlist". literaryawards.com.au. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  13. "2009 Best Books for Young Adults: Fiction". ala.org. Young Adult Library Services Association. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  14. "Theatre Review: The Savage". Living North. July 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016. It is both an incredible story and a fantastic piece of theatre.
  15. Chloe Allan (13 July 2016). "Theatre Review: The Savage @ Live Theatre". Cuckoo Review. New Writing North. Retrieved 9 December 2016. The Savage is a ritualistic celebration of all that is creative, come together in one distinctly Northern piece of theatre.
  16. Peter Mortimer. "The Savage". britishtheatreguide.info. British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 9 December 2016. Almond has always celebrated the power of the imagination to flower in the least likely of places and this belief .. runs through The Savage. That and a fierce sense of where the author belongs. Not a bad coupling.
Library holdings of The Savage
Interview with Almond about the play
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