Stoneheart
 First UK edition of Stoneheart | |
| Author | Charlie Fletcher |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Hodder |
Publication date | 19 October 2006 (UK) 1 May 2007 (US) |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Pages | 496 (UK) 464 (US) |
| ISBN | 978-0340911624 |
| OCLC | 70401626 |
| Followed by | Ironhand |
Stoneheart is a children's novel by Charlie Fletcher, published in 2006. When George Chapman in anger, damages a stone dragon at the Natural History Museum, he is plunged into an alternate London where the statues are alive.
Plot
After getting in trouble on a school trip to the Natural History Museum, George takes off in a huff and, out of anger, breaks off the head of a stone dragon on the side of a wall. This sets off a stone pterodactyl literally peeling itself off the top of the building and following George. As George runs away he sees three stone salamanders too chasing him. During the chase, George bumps into the Gunner, a statue of a World War I soldier who helps him escape the pterodactyl and salamanders. He explains to George that by breaking the stone dragon,he has entered a different world - an un-london - where statues move and talk. The statues that are models of humans have the spirit of that particular person inside of them, enabling them to talk. Being the 'spitting image' of that person, they are called 'spits'. The animal and other creature statues (such as the pterodactyl and the salamanders) have no spirit inside them so cannot talk. They are called taints. There are many worlds and the world George has entered is one where all the statues and sculptures and spits and taints are at war with each other.
Characters
George Chapman - the protagonist, whose adventures the story follows. Branded a 'maker' during a battle with the Temple Bar Dragon
Edie Laemmel - one of the thought to be extinct 'glints', met early on in the book, who reluctantly befriends George.
The Walker - The antagonist of the book. Cursed and now a servant of the stone, he is unable to keep still. It is strongly implied in the book that he is actually the Elizabethan occultist John Dee.
Spits
The Gunner - the first 'spit' George meets in the book. The Gunner is part of the Royal Artillery Memorial which was made by Charles Sargeant Jagger and stands in Hyde Park Corner.
The Sphinxes - Met near Cleopatra's Needle. Being half lion and half woman, there is some confusion as to whether they are spits or taints.
Dictionary Johnson - the statue of the first man to write down all English words and their definition, Samuel Johnson. Like Johnson himself, the statue is prone to muscle spasms and fidgeting behaviour. The statue, made by Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald is in Westminster at Aldwych & Strand behind St Clement Danes Church.
The Black Friar - enigmatic spit whose true allegiances are unknown. The statue stands above Black Friar's Pub in Blackfriars, London.
Fusilier - The 5th spit George Chapman meets. The Fusilier saves George from the Gridman. The Royal Fusilier Memorial, made by Albert Toft, is on High Holborn, near Chancery Lane tube station and the regimental chapel is at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate. (Image of Royal Fusilier memorial.)
Taints
The Grid Man - a metal sculpture separated into a grid, he moves part by part, just out of sync. Although a humanoid shape, it is classified as a taint. The Grid Man statue is located in High Holborn at the Chancery Lane junction
Minotaur - captures Edie but is killed by the plasticine bullet that George makes.
Spout - named by George, lives near St Pancras railway station and originally an enemy though after(in the next book) George uses his 'maker' skills to heal its wing, befriends him and fights by his side.
Temple Bar Dragon - the most detailed of all dragon sculptures. As with Spout, the dragon is against George, having a big battle with him and scarring his hand, but in the last book of the series, the Temple Bar Dragon turns over sides because of his purpose. The purpose of its construction being to defend the city, it ended up being a major part in battle.
The Pterodactyl - the first taint that unpeeled itself from a frieze at the Natural History Museum and chased George. It was killed by The Gunner as with the salamanders.
Salamanders - three lizardlike statues that are killed by The Gunner at the War Memorial.
Supporting Roles
Mr Killingbutt - George's teacher at the start of the book.
Kay - George's 'babysitter'. Lives in the flat below.
The Clocker - Another of the 'Weirded' or cursed men, unlike the Walker it is his punishment, not his choice to severe the Stone. It is his curse to watch time.
Achievements
The novel was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and longlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.[1][2] It has also been nominated for the Carnegie Medal.[3]
Responses to the book were mixed. Several critics praised the central concept, calling it an "intriguing premise"[4] and an "ingenious idea".[5] The Scotsman said the book was "thrilling stuff",[6] and The Times was highly positive, describing it as "intelligently and elegantly written, with pace and suspense, varied and convincing dialogue, and big themes of loyalty, sacrifice and emotional growth."[5] However some reviewers felt that it was "tedious and longer than necessary"[7] and that "the execution is flat".[4] In particular, Kirkus Reviews criticised the action for being "disappointingly dry"[7] and Publishers Weekly said it had a "protagonist who doesn't ring true."[4]
The film rights were purchased by Paramount months before the book was even released.[8]
Stoneheart is succeeded by its sequels Ironhand and Silvertongue.
References
- ^ Branford Boase Award press release - 2007 shortlist
- ^ The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
- ^ The CILIP Carnegie Medal & Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards
- ^ a b c "Children's Book Reviews: Week of 5/14/2007". Publishers Weekly. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2008-03-27. [dead link]
- ^ a b Jones, Nicolette (2006-11-05). "Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher: Children's book of the week". London: The Times. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ "Winter wonderland". The Scotsman. 2006-12-02. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
- ^ a b Kirkus review, archived at Waterstones.com
- ^ "Paramount gets "Stoneheart"". The Hollywood News. 2006-03-21. Retrieved 2008-03-27. [dead link]