

Loading... Joe Quinn's Poltergeistby David Almond
![]() None No current Talk conversations about this book. A visually arresting tale which explores grief in an interesting way. This won't work for everyone, but reflective readers will be rewarded in exploring this title. The cast presents white. Marketed for a young adult audience, but with good potential for adult readers, as well. ( ![]() Almond and McKean (the two Dave's, if you will) are an exceptionally good pairing of artist and author, and their latest spooky collaboration is no exception. As per usual, they navigate the world of youth, as a group of young boys discover that their friend has a poltergeist in his house, but this is not simply a tale of the supernatural. It is unclear whether the entity haunting Joe Quinn is real, but smashed furniture and dishware make for a pretty believable story to his young friends. We, as adult readers, can see that there is more going on in the Quinn household than meets the eye. The narrator, a sceptic about the whole situation, also has a complicated history, as we discover that his sister died very young. His scepticism mirrors our own, as we're immediately led to think that the Quinn's are subject to some (rather expected) domestic instability due to a jailed father and a rather strange mother, but the story isn't quite so simple. As our narrator gets to know Joe and his poltergeist he begins to question his own relationship with supernatural entities. Is it truly impossible that a lost soul can be seen again, or are the staunch old Catholic ways the only truth? As per many of Almond's endings, we are left with many questions, but I think that is what gives his stories their strength. They give us a starting point, but allow room for us to explore a variety of ideas and ultimately act as a means of deeper thought. None of the boys believe Joe Quinn when he tells them about the poltergeist at his house. Davie starts to believe when he goes to the house and sees plates, food, tea cups and just about anything else fly through the air mysteriously. He isn't sure it's a poltergeist...it might just be Joe or his mom throwing things, but he's still drawn to the story. Ever since his little sister died, Davie has been looking for some sort of meaning in things. Joe and his mom, a conflicted local priest, and a supposed poltergeist help Davie put his thoughts about the meaning of life, what might come after, and his dreams of the future into a more clear picture. This story is a bit odd, but has a very deep meaning. I think perhaps the author is delving into his thoughts on his own life, emotions, and ponderings about existence. I found it very thought provoking and maybe just a little bit disturbing. The artwork by Dave McKean is wonderful! All in all, a very thought provoking read. I enjoyed it! I'd be interested in seeing more by David Almond...and definitely would love to see more of Dave McKean's art! This book was not what I expected at all....but an enjoyable surprise! I'm very glad I read this! Coming from a former Catholic background, it brought back some memories and provoked some deep thoughts. **I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ![]() ARC courtesy of Candlewick. ![]() no reviews | add a review
A beautifully imagined story for fans of Neil Gaiman, by the dream team of bestselling author, David Almond and award-winning artist, Dave McKean. Joe Quinn tells everyone about the poltergeist in his house, but no one believes him. No one that is, except for Davie. He's felt the inexplicable presence in the rooms, he's seen random objects fly through the air. And there's something else ... a memory of his beloved sister, and a feeling deep down that somehow it might be possible for ghosts to exist. No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumDavid Almond's book Joe Quinn's Poltergeist was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Popular covers
![]() GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)741.5 — Arts and Recreation Drawing and decorative arts Drawing & drawings Cartoons, Caricatures, ComicsLC ClassificationRatingAverage:![]()
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