Kit is a young man in transition. He and his family have moved to a remote mining village in England to take care of his ailing Grandfather who moves in and out of moments of reality and dreams. Kit loves the stories of the village's past. They are tales of suspense and adventure of former souls who roamed the surrounding wilderness. Viewed as an outcast in his new school, Kit makes friends with the eccentric Allie Keenan and draws the attention of the mysterious Askew.

The stories of his grandfather are woven into the maturation of Kit as he sees the spirits of the village's past. What he must figure out is why these spirits have found interest in him and what they mean to his future. Drawing from the friendship of Allie and his growing curiousity, Kit begins to search for the meaning of his life and ultimately tries to define the terms of death.

This book is extremely well written. The author Almond does an amazing job of writing such a suspenseful story for such a broad audience. The one weakness of the book is that it will take a reader a few chapters to really get involved with the story. Kit's introverted personality does not allow the story to take off until he develops his friendship will Allie. The first chapter will tease the taste for suspense, but the opening chapters following move rather slowly. Despite this flaw, the book is still outstanding and would be enjoyed by most audiences. ( )

This story is beautifully written. David Almond's use of language, his characterisations, and his blend of magic and a hard realism rooted in rugged and historic Northumbria gives a reading experience unlike any other and second to none.

Kit moves to Stonygate, where his family hail from, and quickly feels integrated with the local community. A new boy, but an insider - and this is particularly recognised by local troublemaker, John Askew, who strikes up an unlikely - and initially an uneasy - friendship.

Askew encourages Kit to play a game called Death. A curious game of the type that people sometimes play to scare themselves, but this game is more intense. Some people cheat at the game, but some people - including Askew and Kit, see something very real and a touch chilling. There are ghosts of people lost in a pit disaster, and another strange ghost too. Kit sees the ghosts and he discovers his grandfather has too.

But his grandfather is not well, and increasingly suffers from senior moments, or being "off with the fairies". Askew also lands himself in trouble (which he is well used to) and then vanishes.

There are so many threads in this story that weave together to make something that is very beautiful. Kit struggles and grows and learns. There is friendship and love and courage here, and themes of life and death all blended in a manner that is very typical of David Almond, but pretty much without parallel among other children's/young adult's authors.

This story works on many levels, and even though its unlikely anyone will understand all the themes the Author intended for this work, it is likely that anyone will understand some and enjoy it. However, I have to add a warning that I always write for David Almond's books: These are not heavy plot driven adventure stories. These are quieter and more reflective works. Not everyone will enjoy them, although I wish they would!

But as long as you are not looking for the next Alex Rider adventure. As long as you are happy to read a story that is ultimately about a boy, Kit, and not about saving the world from alien invasion - this book is one I would thoroughly recommend. ( )

Though I liked it marginally less than 'Skellig', I love Almond's poetic language, and hopeful characters. Life is full of mystery, and the tensions between doing good and doing evil, both of which co-exist in each human. Almond captures this tension beautifully. ( )

Kit's Wilderness, by David Almond: The shortlist. March 25, 2000 p9The Guardian (London, England), p.9.

Kit's Wilderness. April 6, 2000 v92 p15The Christian Science Monitor, 92, p.15.

in a sentence: A story based journey with Kit Watson through the semi-dream/semi-reality experience in his family's hometown during his Grandfather's final times.

The story begins simply enough, with the coming home again to support a Grandfather during the loss of his Grandmother. We journey with Kit as he starts a new school, meets new people, and uncovers a plethora of family history within this small town that goes back hundreds of years. There is a genuine goodness in Kit, and a strong desire to know more that draws the reader to him. The elements in the book range from dark to light, fantasy to reality, and everywhere in between. Emotions run high in both the stories that Kit writes and in his real life relationships with the town.

The blending of reality and fantasy is incredible. The reader becomes blurred in what is really happening and what is not, and therefore puts us right in Kit's shoes. The comic relief of Allie is welcome in this otherwise heavy novel, and is tastefully done. The reader's heart breaks for John Askew and his dark and troubled past. The plot moves swiftly, but takes time to truly develop emotions and situations in a respectful way. The reader is kept in the dark with Kit, and I found myself having "ah-ha" moments at the same time as intended - nothing was revealed a moment too soon. It was gutsy to put a book of this intensity and darkness out there to a young adult audience, but it is done so respectfully and honestly and so genuine. The challenge of blending reality with fantasy is met in this novel, and takes it to a truly higher level of literature. ( )