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Synopsis
English teenager Bill Coward finds himself losing control of his life when the mill where his father works is shut down and a mysterious beast begins making savage attacks on local livestock
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About the Author
Janni Howker's first book, Badger on the Barge, was shortlisted for the Whitbread Children's Novel Award and the Carnegie Medal. She has since written three longer works of fiction, The Nature of the Beast, Isaac Campion and Martin Farrell - each of which have been highly acclaimed, winning her the Observer Teenage Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Novel Award and the Somerset Maugham Award. She is also the author of the non-fiction picture book, Walk With a Wolf, shortlisted for the Emil/Kurt Maschler Award and the Times Educational Supplement Information Books Junior Award.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7-9 The nature of the beast is such that when deprived of physical and emotional sustenance, it turns wild. To survive, the Haverston beast is killing domestic animals from farms near a town which is being destroyed by unemployment when the local mill is shut down. The story is told by Billy, whose father and grandfather are thrown out of work by the mill closing. Tension grows and tempers flare. Billy's best friend's father has a nervous breakdown. Billy's father takes off for Scottish oil fields to look for work, and that is the final blow that sets the stage for Billy to confront the beast and take its place. This stark and powerful story, set in a small town in nothern England, captures the universal feeling of devastation when the economic lifeblood of the community disappears. Some English phrases may put off some readers, but all of the phrases and slang become clear in the context of the action. Although Howker, author of the award-winning short story collection, Badger on the Barge (Greenwillow, 1985), has drawn a darker picture in this novel, she uses her palette with the caring skill that makes her a welcome addition to those who write for young people. A book for better readers, this may be limited in appeal because of the situation and setting. However, it is finely crafted and offers much to think about and to discuss. Amy Kellman, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
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The Nature of the Beast
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Seller Inventory # M13A-00963
Quantity: 1 available