I've decided to write a little more and read more. I realise I owe a load of rates for my most recen...
I've decided to write a little more and read more. I realise I owe a load of rates for my most recent, I will get round to them soon!
Member since:21.03.2006
Reviews:51
Members who trust:60
Book information ---------------------
Title: Abomination Author: Robert Swindells Year Published: 1999 Length: 208 pages Publisher: Corgi Childrens ISBN: 0440863627 Price: £4.99
The Author -------------
Swindells was born 20th March in Bradford and currently lives in West Yorkshire. His first book was 'When Darkness comes' which was written in 1973. He has won many book awards including the Children's Book Award more than once. Swindells said this about books, "The novelist's first duty must be to produce a book which gives pleasure and keeps children reading. It can be interesting, gripping, frightening as long as it keeps children reading."
Story Line ------------
*Martha* This story is about a girl called Martha who is bullied at school for her odd parents and strange
clothes. She has no friends and feels extremely lonely. Her home life is no better with her strangely religiously parents who think they are doing the best for her but really seem to be destroying her. Martha is prohibited to watch TV, play computer games, wear trendy clothes, read books, have posters and can not have friends. The only luxury Martha has is to listen to the radio but if she listens to Radio 1 she gets beaten. Her daily life is to pray and do housework but not much else. Martha does have a sister but she lives away from home and Martha keeps sane in the postcards she receives which her parents try to hide from her.
*Scott* Scott is the new boy at Martha's school and is also being bullied and finding it hard to make friends. Martha and Scoot support each other by their troubles and become friends. Scott helps Martha with her difficulties and is her only friend.
*Abomination* This thing is the secret and the shame of the family that can not, under any circumstances be mentioned. The thing is kept in the cellar and it is Martha's chore to go down to feed it or clean it out but Martha hates it. Martha hates going into the cellar and is almost scared of this thing. Apart from the family no-one knows apart this secret that has bought the family such shame. No-one can enter the house just in case they find out about the secret. But Martha is on the urge of telling her friend Scott about this secret, would she and shame the family?
*Problems* The problems in this book are obvious as the bullying throughout this book is great and shows how parents can affect to a certain extent whether their child will be bullied. Also this book shows us the problems of parents abusing their children not just physically but mentally as well. This book tackles these problems in a good way without scaring children. This book also comforts the problems that every child faces sometime in their life such as "How can I be in with the popular children?" Therefore faces serious and not so serious problems.
My opinion -------------
I though this book was very interesting and though provoking. I really enjoyed reading this book and thought that the story line was very imaginative and quite realistic. Te reader is made to feel very sorry for Martha and we understand the problems that Martha is going through. The story line is sad and quite upsetting but the way Swindells has written about it allows children to read this book without getting too emotional or scared. Throughout the book it is gripping and the final twist occurs right at the end.
Suitability -----------
In general Swindells writes books for children between the ages of 7 and 17. However I thin k this book is suitable for children between the ages of 10 and 15. I think this book is suitable for girls and boys as different chapters are written from different points of views (Scott and Martha). This allows boys and girls to read this book and understand the problems but at the same time enjoy it. The language is not too complicated so suitable for younger children and the story line is fairly simple.
Where it can be bought from ----------------------------------
This book can be bought from all good bookstores or from online stores such as Amazon. I recommend this book and think everyone should read it and if you do not want to buy it then borrow from the library. Please read this book and share what I have got out of this book.
Thank you for reading.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Really nice review I like the way you combine your personal ideas and experiences with the books contents the objective as subjective and also subjectivly objective you must be very smart.
6chris6 08.05.2006 08:24
Far too old a book for my little ones, but a great review of a book I had never heard of...
worldchallenge 03.05.2006 19:47
Personally I think this review is great and can not see how it can get any better! I love this book and you have summarised it well in my opinion.
Martha, the youngest daughter of fanatically religious parents, is all too aware that her ... more
family is unusual. Taunted and bullied at school, and lonely at home with only postcards from her elder sister to keep her sane, Martha knows there has to be so...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Martha, the youngest daughter of fanatically religious parents, is all too aware that her ... more
family is unusual. Taunted and bullied at school, and lonely at home with only postcards from her elder sister to keep her sane, Martha knows there has to be so...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Martha, the youngest daughter of fanatically religious parents, is all too aware that her ... more
family is unusual. Taunted and bullied at school, and lonely at home with only postcards from her elder sister to keep her sane, Martha knows there has to be so...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Martha, the youngest daughter of fanatically religious parents, is all too aware that her ... more
family is unusual. Taunted and bullied at school, and lonely at home with only postcards from her elder sister to keep her sane, Martha knows there has to be so...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Apr 21st, 2006
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