Jim's Lion - Hardcover

Hoban, Russell

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1406346020 ISBN 13: 9781406346022

Publisher: Walker Books, 2014

Synopsis

Alexis Deacon, brilliant illustrator of Russell Hoban's final masterpiece, Soonchild, now reimagines Russell's touching story about a boy in hospital, who dreams wild and extraordinary dreams as he faces a life-saving operation. Jim is in hospital. He's frightened. What if the doctors send him somewhere that he can't find his way back from? Nurse Bami tells Jim that he must go to his "good place" and there, his "finder" will come looking for him. Everyone has a finder. And so, deep in Jim's dreams, he finds his: a lion. In Soonchild, Russell Hoban's final piece of fiction before he died, Alexis Deacon met the spirit and wit of Hoban's vision head-on - brilliantly capturing the dark magic that lay at the heart of this fable. Since then, it feels almost impossible to imagine a better match for Hoban's words than Alexis' art.

About this title

About the Author

Russell Hoban was the renowned author of many famous novels, including Turtle Diary (which was made into a film starring Ben Kingsley and Glenda Jackson) and Riddley Walker, which won the John W. Campbell Award for science fiction. He also wrote over 50 children's books, including such classics as The Mouse and His Child, Bedtime for Frances, How Tom Beat Captain Najork and The Sea-Thing Child. Born in Pennsylvania in 1925, he moved to London in 1969, and spent the rest of his life there. Alexis Deacon's first picture book Slow Loris was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award. His second Beegu was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award and selected by the New York Times as one of the year's best illustrated children's books. In 2008, he was chosen as one of the Booktrust's ten Best New Illustrators. About illustrating Jim's Lion, Alexis says, "I wanted the reader to see the choices Jim makes in his dreams. Will he turn and run or will he keep on walking?" Alexis lives in London, SE15. Visit his website at www.alexisdeacon.co.uk

Review

This has been given a new lease of life by Deacon's inspired pictures -- Marilyn Brocklehurtst * Bookseller * Absolutely mesmerizing * The Bookseller * Wonderful, trippy . . . a new version of an old story captivates * The Times, Children's Book of the Week * A masterpiece . . . jaw-dropping. It makes me think this as less of a book, more of a cultural artefact, a piece of who and what we are, about who and what we are. If I have to call it merely a book, I assume at this midway point that it's my book of the year. Thanks Lion, thanks Jim, thanks Russell Hoban, and thank you Alexis Deacon * The Book Bag * The superlative illustrator Alexis Deacon has taken the raw materials of a touching story by Russell Hoban and woven around it an astonishing, wordless graphic novel . . . a slim marvel -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times * Poignant and life-affirming . . . the talents of writer and illustrator magically combine to trace a little boy's dreams and nightmares . . . the story's moments of doubt and darkness are magnificently caught in the symbolism of Deacon's haunting illustrations -- Robert Dunbar * Irish Times * A captivating words-and-pictures book full of courage and succour about a boy in hospital. . . . illustrated by Alexis Deacon with great intensity. . . this is no pussyfoot but a peek into the rough and tumble of the subconscious * Observer * Deacon creates an intensely evocative dreamscape for sophisticated thinkers who might otherwise struggle with the words alone -- Daisy Bridgewater, Children's Notebook * The Telegraph Magazine * The writing is marvellous, yet sparse and Deacon has created from it a haunting David Lynchian graphic novel . . . hugely moving and hypnotics, it's a book that makes you stop and stare * The Glasgow Herald * A stunning illustrated hardback, this looks a real treat. Part graphic novel, part story, it has a wonderful, classic, dreamlike quality. * WRD magazine * There are times you hold a book and just know instinctively you are holding something sublime. This is one of those books . . . a masterpiece of illustration. * The School Librarian *

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1406346020
• ISBN 13: 9781406346022
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 84