FROM SHCC: Most highly recommended.

FROM PUBLISHER: The developing relationship between teenager Davie and a mysterious new boy in town morphws into something darker and more sinister when Davie learns firthand of the boy's supernatural powers.

FROM AMAZON: Fourteen-year-old Davie and his best friend, Geordie, are altar boys at their local Catholic Church. They’re full of mischief, but that all changes when Stephen Rose comes to town. Father O’Mahoney thinks it would be a good idea for Davie and Geordie to befriend him—maybe some of their good nature will rub off on this unhappy soul. But it’s Stephen who sees something special in Davie.

Stephen’s a gifted sculptor. One day as Davie looks on, Stephen brings a tiny figure to life. It’s a talent he has, the gift of creation—and he knows that Davie has this talent, too. Davie allows Stephen to convince him to help bring a life-size figure to life—and Clay is born. Clay is innocent, but Stephen has special plans for him.

What has Davie helped to unleash on the world? ( )

Interesting book about some boys in England, one of whom is able to make a sort of golem out of clay to attack larger kids who are bullying them. The bully is killed, and one of the boys is confused about what part he played in bringing the monster to life, and yet felling sorrow when the monster had to be destroyed. A good story about the confusion and uncertainty of adolescence and the changes in life. And how easy it is to be manipulated by others, especially in the pursuit of power and control over life- especially your own! ( )

Interesting book. Is it hypnotism?? Hard to say. Seems to be or else the kid is very gullible. Some of it is difficult to read.

Clay is an unusual set-up for a coming of age type of story. Davie and Georgie, two “good” altar boys, are urged by their parish priest and Davie’s mum to become friendly with the new boy in town, Stephen Rose. Davie and Georgie have their own problems, with a bully on their heels, and Davie’s nascent interest in a girl, and are not that interested in Stephen Rose. Stephen’s background is suspicious to them—his father’s dead, his mum is locked away in a mental home, he was kicked out of a seminary school, and he’s living with his only living relative, a crazy very religious aunt. But Stephen is attracted to Davie and introduces him to new adventures—including the creation from riverbed clay of a living figure Davie names Clay. There are questions of faith, love, family, hate, revenge, and redemption, all wrapped up in one young man’s dilemma of dealing with a friend who isn’t such a good friend. ( )

A little creepy.. but the overall storyline is entertaining. It was a little boring towards the end of the book. The author could put a little more imagery and detail in descriptions of things.

Joy Yau 10N