Publication
Amsterdam Querido 2005
ISBN
9045101467 / 9789045101460
Language
Collections
Description
In 1962 England, despite observing his father's illness and the suffering of the fire-eating Mr. McNulty, as well as enduring abuse at school and the stress of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Bobby Burns and his family and friends still find reasons to rejoice in their lives and to have hope for the future.
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member norarieger
It is England, 1962, and Bobby's whole life is about to change. He has passed the exam and will continue on to the next level of education--quite an accomplishment for a working-class boy. His friend, Ailsa, has also passed but she has chosen to help her father and brothers who are sea coalers. It
(Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature),no date of journal)
Won Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards Winner 2004 Fiction and Poetry United States
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is just before school begins that he meets McNulty, the fire-eating performer who fought in World War II with Bobby's father and suffers from what is now called post-traumatic stress disorder. As the school year begins, Bobby befriends the new boy as they both seem to be under the watchful eye of Mr. Todd, the abusive faculty member. Bobby and his mother are concerned about his father who has recently developed a mysterious illness and undergoes a series of tests at the hospital. When the Cuban Missile Crisis develops, all these seemingly disparate plot lines come together. Bobby's personal world is falling apart at the same time the wider world may be coming to an end. Peace reigns in both at the end, but Bobby, his friends and family are forever changed. To understand the characters' responses to the Cuban Missile Crisis it is necessary to get to know the characters first. This makes the first half of the book move slowly. There is not much happening in the plot. As the story develops, the pace picks up and by the end of the book there is a great deal for readers to discuss. It will take a special reader to grasp the importance of the standoff between the Americans and the Russians, as well as understanding McNulty's death. 2004, Delacorte, $15.95. Ages 12 to 15(Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature),no date of journal)
Won Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards Winner 2004 Fiction and Poetry United States
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LibraryThing member epence
Almond returns to some familiar themes--the mystery and the pain of life--in a dramatic story drawn from both global and personal events. It is 1962, and the world is on the brink of nuclear destruction. For Bobby Burns, the waste and ruin is even closer to home: his father is seriously ill, and a
(Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 14))
Won: Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards
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cruel schoolmaster is forcing Bobby to take a stand that may destroy his educational chances. As in all of Almond's books, everyday detail mingles with the grotesque. The bizarre here comes in the form of McNulty, a fire-eater and strongman who also pushes sharp objects through his flesh--an explicit demonstration of pain mirrored by Bobby's sticking pins in his hands as a sacrifice to keep his father healthy. For anyone who loves words, Almond's books are a pleasure. But this time the Newcastle accent used by most of the characters may be difficult to grasp initially, and though Almond brings together the strands of his story, some of his many characters are not well integrated. Whatever the book's flaws, though, Almond's writing is so imaginative and layered that turning the pages is always meaningful. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2004, Delacorte, $15.95, $17.99. Gr. 6-8.(Ilene Cooper (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 14))
Won: Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards
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LibraryThing member akfarrar
A stunning book that touches on the territory of Lord of the Flies in its use of the apocalypse and exploration of the cruelty and exploitation common humanity is capable of.
The Rite of Passage we observe is that of all humanity as it totters on the brink - a multi-layered brink with elements of
At the centre is the character of McNulty with his cry, "Pay!" He is the fire-eater and escapologist who illuminates, in a way worthy of Beckett, the condition of man at the end of a century of world conflict.
As a teacher of English I would recommend this to any of my students as a thought provoking text which will grip them from the first page. As a human being I am glad I read what is sure to become a classic.
The Rite of Passage we observe is that of all humanity as it totters on the brink - a multi-layered brink with elements of
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the political and the personal brilliantly exploited by Mr Almond to give a book not only accessible to young people but enjoyable to a more adult readership.At the centre is the character of McNulty with his cry, "Pay!" He is the fire-eater and escapologist who illuminates, in a way worthy of Beckett, the condition of man at the end of a century of world conflict.
As a teacher of English I would recommend this to any of my students as a thought provoking text which will grip them from the first page. As a human being I am glad I read what is sure to become a classic.
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LibraryThing member tiamatq
In the last days of summer, 1962, Bobby Burns first saw McNulty, the Fire-Eater. He could wriggle free of binding chains, or stick a skewer through one cheek and out the other, so it stretched the span of his mouth. Or McNulty could breath fire, so that you couldn’t tell where the man ended and
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the fire began. McNulty’s past is dark and full of violence, but Bobby cannot stop thinking about him. As he begins his first days at a new school, as he worries about his father’s hacking cough, as he waits outside of the new boy’s house and peers through the windows, Bobby is always thinking of McNulty. Even as his family watches the Cuban Missile Crisis unfold on their television, Bobby wonder what McNulty could teach him, and what the strong man hears as the ocean crashes on their beach. The Fire-Eaters feels somewhat disjointed throughout the first half of the book. Almond introduces several different characters and issues for Bobby: class, power, war, death, religion, civil rights, and personal heritage. This makes the book a slow read, though it picks up nicely towards the end, connecting and resolving several of the issues. The moments in the book that stand out the most are those with McNulty, the fire-eater. He is a mystic character that brings those scenes to life, whereas others sometimes fall flat. The historical issues that Almond addresses are particularly relevant and allow the reader to view a world crisis beyond the perspective of Americans. Show Less
LibraryThing member Whisper1
This one is set in a sleepy, off the beaten path, coal town near New Castle, England. As usual, Almond writes of coming of age experiences with a cast of characters both soft and hard, gritty and kind.
As the United States and The Soviet Union prepare for potential nuclear disaster during the Cuban
As the world approaches disaster, Bobby's father, who is mysteriously ill, is a survivor of WWII and knows all too well the terrors of war. Bobby and his friends and family find a way to believe in miracles that have the power to heal.
As in his book Skelling, Almond weaves a motley group of characters who, through reaching out to the unknown and different, find the power of love and redemption.
As the United States and The Soviet Union prepare for potential nuclear disaster during the Cuban
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missile crisis, Bobby Burns witnesses McNulty, a fire breathing illusionist, carnival-like man who, as the story progresses, symbolically represents destruction and the power of fire to charm, and harm!As the world approaches disaster, Bobby's father, who is mysteriously ill, is a survivor of WWII and knows all too well the terrors of war. Bobby and his friends and family find a way to believe in miracles that have the power to heal.
As in his book Skelling, Almond weaves a motley group of characters who, through reaching out to the unknown and different, find the power of love and redemption.
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LibraryThing member sirfurboy
This was one of the best books I read last year. There are a couple of intertwined themes here all set in the background of a working class family in the Durham coalfields.
The protagonist passes the 11 plus and is thus accepted into a grammar school, where he is nevertheless subjected -along with
At the same time there is a theme with a character - McNulty - of mental illness, as well as the strains on the family under the threat of a life threatening illness - all set against the fear of approaching apocalypse in the cuban missile crisis.
There is so much in this book, it cannot be described - it has to be read. And Reading is not a chore, because David Almond is such a good writer. His prose is simple, but still manages to be vivid and engaging.
This is a book to read and ponder. Highly recommended.
The protagonist passes the 11 plus and is thus accepted into a grammar school, where he is nevertheless subjected -along with
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other children there - to daily cruelty, and ingrained prejudices, which during the novel, and through a friendship, he gains the power to overcome.At the same time there is a theme with a character - McNulty - of mental illness, as well as the strains on the family under the threat of a life threatening illness - all set against the fear of approaching apocalypse in the cuban missile crisis.
There is so much in this book, it cannot be described - it has to be read. And Reading is not a chore, because David Almond is such a good writer. His prose is simple, but still manages to be vivid and engaging.
This is a book to read and ponder. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member DubaiReader
Unabridged version read by the author.
This was a cleverly written book, with several themes weaving themselves in and out of the narrative.
The Fire Eater, of the title, is also an escapologist and war veteran. He makes his living as a street performer, dealing with his demons from the war by
Closer to home, Bobby Burns spends time on his East Coast beach, trying to retain a normal life amongst the adults' tensions. When he joins the local Grammar School he finds the severe (excessive) discipline daunting. Meanwhile, his father seems to be suffering from some mysterious illness and no-one will let Bobby know what is happening. His two close friends, Ailsa and Jimmy keep him sane and the new boy from The South, Daniel, often helps him see things in a different light.
The characters were wonderful and the descriptions of the coastal world teemed with life. I had never heard of sea coal, which Ailsa and her family dragged from the sea for a living.
My only complaint about this book would be the excessive violence exhibited by the Fire Eater on himself, the thought of a skewer through from one cheek to the other made me cringe and could be quite upsetting for a sesitive child.
I was lucky enough to have the unabridged audio version, read by David Almond himself, although he has a very thick Northern accent that was a bit hard to comprehend at times. I am keeping my copy for another listen in the future and I will definitely look out for more by this author.
This was a cleverly written book, with several themes weaving themselves in and out of the narrative.
The Fire Eater, of the title, is also an escapologist and war veteran. He makes his living as a street performer, dealing with his demons from the war by
Show More
inflicting pain on himself. Meanwhile the whole of the Western world is consumed by fear of the War ships steaming towards Cuba in a showdown with the Russians (1962). Again the theme of fire haunts the reader, this time from nuclear explosion.Closer to home, Bobby Burns spends time on his East Coast beach, trying to retain a normal life amongst the adults' tensions. When he joins the local Grammar School he finds the severe (excessive) discipline daunting. Meanwhile, his father seems to be suffering from some mysterious illness and no-one will let Bobby know what is happening. His two close friends, Ailsa and Jimmy keep him sane and the new boy from The South, Daniel, often helps him see things in a different light.
The characters were wonderful and the descriptions of the coastal world teemed with life. I had never heard of sea coal, which Ailsa and her family dragged from the sea for a living.
My only complaint about this book would be the excessive violence exhibited by the Fire Eater on himself, the thought of a skewer through from one cheek to the other made me cringe and could be quite upsetting for a sesitive child.
I was lucky enough to have the unabridged audio version, read by David Almond himself, although he has a very thick Northern accent that was a bit hard to comprehend at times. I am keeping my copy for another listen in the future and I will definitely look out for more by this author.
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LibraryThing member SuPendleton
Since I have read Skellig and Mina by David Almond, I was looking forward to reading this book. I liked some aspects of the book but felt it never really tied all the different story lines together. The story is about a teenage boy growing up in a mining town. His family is considered working class
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but Bobby is offered the opportunity to attend a more advanced school which may offer him other opportunities although he is content with his family, friends, and station in life at the moment. There is the undercurrent of darkness and danger from a possible nuclear event between the U.S. and Cuba/Russia and he worries about his father's health. It is definitely geared towards high school students rather than middle or lower school students. Maybe that's why I didn't like it as much as other books by Almond. Show Less
LibraryThing member Gary-Bonn
A truly beautiful story with stunning characters. It also has one of the most tense and desperate scenes you'll find anywhere - and a romantic moment you'll never forget.
Rarely does a week go by that I don't remember this book. Read it to your children!
Rarely does a week go by that I don't remember this book. Read it to your children!
LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Picturesque, poetic descriptions set the mood of the slow-paced town and the various troubles weighing on the townspeople. The story meanders in the way the town life does.
Bobby Burns lives in a small coal-mining town in England. He counts among his friends the rough 16-year-old Joseph; Ailsa,
Bobby Burns lives in a small coal-mining town in England. He counts among his friends the rough 16-year-old Joseph; Ailsa,
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whose family plumbs coal from the sea; and assorted schoolmates. As the world is on the verge of a possible nuclear war (1962), Bobby meets and is intrigued by McNulty, a homeless street performer who also served in the war with Bobby's father. Bobby also meets Daniel, a new boy at school and a son of intellectuals. Their family is so different from struggling families of Keely Bay but it is Daniel who challenges the bullying school discipline of Mr. Todd. Bobby's father is also suffering from a mysterious ailment and Bobby worriedly prays for his recovery. Show Less
Awards
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (Winner — Fiction & Poetry — 2004)
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — Children's Book — 2003)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (2004)
Guardian Children's Fiction Prize (Shortlist — 2003)
Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (2003)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2003)
IBBY Honour Book (2006)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2005)
CCBC Choices (2005)
Notable Children's Book (2005)
Original publication date
2003