I'm Not Scared (original 2001; edition 2004)

by Niccolo Ammaniti, Jonathan Hunt (Translator)

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Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML: *The international bestselling novel "of childhood innocence lost in rural Italy [is] a gripping read...a deft masterpiece with never a false note" (The Guardian, UK).* Southern Italy, 1978. In the midst of a relentlessly hot summer, as the adults stay inside tending to their own business, six children explore the scorched wheat fields that enclose their tiny Italian village. When the gang find a dilapidated farmhouse, nine-year-old Michele Amitrano makes a discovery so momentous that he doesn't dare tell a soul. It is a secret that Michele doesn't fully understand, yet it will force him to question everything and everyone around him, and will bring his innocent world toppling down. Both "an exquisite parable" and a tense thriller, I'm Not Scared has become a contemporary classic in Italian literature, read and celebrated the world over (Daily Telegraph, UK). .… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	katrinasreads
Title:	I'm Not Scared
Authors:	Niccolo Ammaniti
Other authors:	Jonathan Hunt (Translator)
Info:	Anchor (2004), Paperback, 208 pages
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
Tags:	1001, italy, 13 in 13

Work Information

I'm Not Scared by Niccolò Ammaniti (2001)

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▾Member reviews

English (76) Italian (8) Dutch (6) Spanish (4) French (2) Danish (2) Swedish (1) All languages (99)

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Showing 1-5 of 76 (next | show all)

Another Between the Covers rec! I did enjoy the story, which is sort of classic Stephen King-esque, but the writing and characters felt a bit light, although that might be the translation. And there was a frustrating lack of resolution - I know that was intentional, because the nine year old narrator never found out what was going on with the little boy in the hole, but I still needed answers! I feel like this would be a good text to study in class - chock full of themes about fear and trust and growing up, and only 200 pages. (

)

AdonisGuilfoyle | Apr 14, 2023 |

Molto, molto bello.
Una storia avvincente, toccante e che riesce a coinvolgere intensamente, raccontata peraltro anche in maniera impeccabile.
Voce narrante un bambino di 9 anni, Michele, che si troverà a vivere una vicenda terribile destinata a cambiargli per sempre la vita. (

)

Raffaella10 | Jan 28, 2023 |

I'm with the reviewers that found the movie better. That's not usually my opinion of other books/movies. The ending was more complete in the movie also. (

)

augustau | Feb 21, 2022 |

Proprietario: Cristina Bolelli
Prestito: Fiorillo (

)

CristinaBolelli | Dec 13, 2021 |

Billed as a psychological thriller. However, I really didn't find this to be true. I found this book tedious and the plot, from the perspective of a 9 year old boy, quite unbelievable. The story got weaker as the book progressed. The ending was a big disappointment and I felt cheated. A book I would not recommend. 200 pages (

)

Tess_W | Sep 16, 2021 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Ammaniti, Niccolò	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Hunt, Jonathan	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Long, Peter	Cover designer	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Pluijm, Els van der	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Publisher Series

Pegasuse väike sari

Stile libero [Einaudi] (Noir)

ET Tascabili [Einaudi] (830)

Has the adaptation

I'm Not Scared [2003 film] by Gabriele Salvatores

Is abridged in

Reader's Digest Condensed Books: The Janson Directive • Winter's End • The House Sitter • I'm Not Scared by Reader's Digest

Livros Condensados: O Macaco de Pedra | Um Passo de Dança | Eu Não tenho Medo | Melodia do Coração by Reader's Digest

Kirjavaliot - Tokion varjot, Kuikan huuto, Minä en pelkää, Keskellä kylmää talvea by Valitut Palat

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Campiello Europa (2006)

Viareggio Prize (Narrativa – 2001)

Премия Горького (2011)

Notable Lists

1001 boeken die je gelezen moet hebben! (editie 2017)

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2008/2010/2012 Edition)

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (Swedish)

I 150 Grandi Libri dell’Italia unita (2001)

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▾Common Knowledge

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For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Canonical title

I'm Not Scared

Original title

Io non ho paura

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

vader Pino, moeder, felice, de oude man

Barbara

(show all 6 items)

Important places

Acqua Traverse, Italy

Important events

Related movies

Io non ho paura (2003 | IMDb)

Epigraph

That much he knew. He had fallen into darkness. And at the instant he knew, he ceased to know.
Jack London

Dedication

Dit boek is opgedragen aan mijn zusje Luisa, die me in de duisternis is gevolgd, met haar zilveren sterretje op haar jas gespeld.

This book is dedicated to my sister Luisa,
who followed me on the Nera
with her little silver star
pinned to her jacket.

First words

I was just about to overtake Salvatore when I heard my sister scream.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Information from the Dutch Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.

Een huiveringwekkend spannend verhaal, geschreven in een zintuiglijke stijl waarbij de Italiaanse sfeer van de ondraaglijke hitte, de zoemende ventilator, de tv zonder geluid en de lucht van tomaten, zweet en muggengif van de bladzijden spat - Psychologie Magazine

Original language

Italian

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (2)

Don Giovanni in Sicilia (novel)

I'm Not Scared (novel)

▾Book descriptions

Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML:

The international bestselling novel "of childhood innocence lost in rural Italy [is] a gripping read...a deft masterpiece with never a false note" (The Guardian, UK).

Southern Italy, 1978. In the midst of a relentlessly hot summer, as the adults stay inside tending to their own business, six children explore the scorched wheat fields that enclose their tiny Italian village. When the gang find a dilapidated farmhouse, nine-year-old Michele Amitrano makes a discovery so momentous that he doesn't dare tell a soul. It is a secret that Michele doesn't fully understand, yet it will force him to question everything and everyone around him, and will bring his innocent world toppling down.

Both "an exquisite parable" and a tense thriller, I'm Not Scared has become a contemporary classic in Italian literature, read and celebrated the world over (Daily Telegraph, UK).

▾Library descriptions

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▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

The hottest summer of the twentieth century.

In a tiny community of five houses enclosed by wheat fields, the adults shelter indoors, while six children venture out on their bikes across the scorched, deserted countryside.

Exploring a dilapidated and uninhabited farmhouse, nine-year-old Michele Amitrano discovers a secret so momentous, so terrible, that he dare not tell anyone about it. To come to terms with what he has found, Michele has to draw strength from his own sense of humanity...

It is Ammaniti's ability to inhabit the mind and perspective of his young hero that makes I'm Not Scared such an affecting and extraordinary novel. The book is a masterpiece of coming of age; a compelling portrait of losing one's innocence and a powerful reflection on the complexities and compromises inherent in growing up.

Haiku summary