THE SAVAGE

The Savage

By David Almond

Illustrated by Dave McKean

Published by Candlewick Press

Copyright © 2008

Review by Anthony Kendrick

David Almond has hit upon some of the best advice for youth who are dealing with harrowing problems – Write it down.

Blue Baker’s father recently died. To make matters worse Blue has caught the eye of the school bully, Hopper. Because bullies are like wolves they look for the prey that is showing weakness, and right now Blue is showing weakness. Blue wishes he could smash Hopper’s face in, but he knows he’d get killed. Telling adults doesn’t seem to help either. So Blue does the only thing he can; he writes. Blue writes a graphic story about a grunting Savage who lives in his town and owns nothing more than a pair of pants and a knife. When the Savage pays a visit to Hopper in the middle of the night, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur. The Savage is almost who Blue wishes he could be, but is it who he will become?

David Almond’s character, Blue, does the right things. He ignores the bully, he talks to parents, and he talks to teachers but it doesn’t make things any better. Instead of giving in to the anger he begins to vent his feelings through storytelling. And this outlet helps him in reality more than he could have possibly imagined. Anyone who has lost a parent can relate to this book. And if you have been bullied you can relate to this book. If you have dealt with both I’m sorry, but you must read this book.

LAST LAUGHS: ANIMAL EPITAPHS

By J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins
Published by Charlesbridge
Copyright © 2012
Review by Mr. Kendrick

With simple rhyme, smirking puns, and slightly sadistic illustrations “Last Laughs” will make you laugh, let’s just hope that it isn’t your last.

The epitaph poems in this darkly humorous
book are simple and pun-ny, and in general they were passable. Some were clever like Cooked Goose –

            

            “He was Canada born
              And Canada bred,
              And here he lies –
              Canada dead.” 

Others, like Swan Song on the very next page, were not very impressive. –

             “A simple song.
              It wasn’t long.”

What makes this book of childishly dark poems enjoyable is the even darker illustrations of Timmins. His grey/sepia toned pictures are sparingly splashed with bright color which often spell an animals end. The illustrations more than make up for some of the uninspired poetry, and I’m not ashamed to say that they made me giggle.

Assuming they don’t have delicate constitutions, this book should appeal to most boys and even girls with a morbid sense of humor. If you are an animal lover or a member of PETA this book might not be for you.