An enchanting modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from David Almond, award-winning author of Skellig, that takes readers from the joy of first love to the gates of Death and beyond.
Claire and Ella and their friends are bound by ties so strong they seem unbreakable. Then the strange and handsome Orpheus strolls onto the beach, and he sings them all into an astonishing new understanding of themselves. Ella is caught the hardest, fastest, deepest—and Claire feels the pain of looking on.
Raw, emotional, lyrical, funny, and true, A Song for Ella Grey is a tale of modern teenagers and their joys, troubles, and desires. It’s a story of first love, a love that draws on ancient mythic forces. A love that leads Ella, Orpheus, and Claire to the pits of Hell and back.
“Innovative and dreamlike.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Almond’s lyrical narrative will sweep readers on a journey to unearthly, mysterious realms and back.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“David Almond’s books are strange, unsettling wild things—unfettered by the normal constraints of children’s literature, beyond classification.” —The Guardian
“Almond’s . . . prose seeps into your blood like word venom until you can’t imagine reading anything else.” —The Times (London)
“Almond brings his hypnotic lyricism to this darkly romantic tale that sings of the madness of youth, the ache of love, and the near-impossibility of grasping death.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Captures the heady rush of reckless youth. Readers will likely be transfixed.” —Booklist
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A Song for Ella Grey
An enchanting modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from David Almond, award-winning author of Skellig, that takes readers from the joy of first love to the gates of Death and beyond.
Claire and Ella and their friends are bound by ties so strong they seem unbreakable. Then the strange and handsome Orpheus strolls onto the beach, and he sings them all into an astonishing new understanding of themselves. Ella is caught the hardest, fastest, deepest—and Claire feels the pain of looking on.
Raw, emotional, lyrical, funny, and true, A Song for Ella Grey is a tale of modern teenagers and their joys, troubles, and desires. It’s a story of first love, a love that draws on ancient mythic forces. A love that leads Ella, Orpheus, and Claire to the pits of Hell and back.
“Innovative and dreamlike.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Almond’s lyrical narrative will sweep readers on a journey to unearthly, mysterious realms and back.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“David Almond’s books are strange, unsettling wild things—unfettered by the normal constraints of children’s literature, beyond classification.” —The Guardian
“Almond’s . . . prose seeps into your blood like word venom until you can’t imagine reading anything else.” —The Times (London)
“Almond brings his hypnotic lyricism to this darkly romantic tale that sings of the madness of youth, the ache of love, and the near-impossibility of grasping death.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Captures the heady rush of reckless youth. Readers will likely be transfixed.” —Booklist
An enchanting modern take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from David Almond, award-winning author of Skellig, that takes readers from the joy of first love to the gates of Death and beyond.
Claire and Ella and their friends are bound by ties so strong they seem unbreakable. Then the strange and handsome Orpheus strolls onto the beach, and he sings them all into an astonishing new understanding of themselves. Ella is caught the hardest, fastest, deepest—and Claire feels the pain of looking on.
Raw, emotional, lyrical, funny, and true, A Song for Ella Grey is a tale of modern teenagers and their joys, troubles, and desires. It’s a story of first love, a love that draws on ancient mythic forces. A love that leads Ella, Orpheus, and Claire to the pits of Hell and back.
“Innovative and dreamlike.” —School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Almond’s lyrical narrative will sweep readers on a journey to unearthly, mysterious realms and back.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“David Almond’s books are strange, unsettling wild things—unfettered by the normal constraints of children’s literature, beyond classification.” —The Guardian
“Almond’s . . . prose seeps into your blood like word venom until you can’t imagine reading anything else.” —The Times (London)
“Almond brings his hypnotic lyricism to this darkly romantic tale that sings of the madness of youth, the ache of love, and the near-impossibility of grasping death.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Captures the heady rush of reckless youth. Readers will likely be transfixed.” —Booklist
DAVID ALMOND grew up in a large family in northeastern England and says, “The place and the people have given me many of my stories.” His first novel for children, Skellig, was a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. He also wrote My Name Is Mina, the prequel to Skellig. His novel Kit’s Wilderness won the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. David Almond is a recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. Visit him online at davidalmond.com and on Facebook, and follow @davidjalmond on Twitter.
If I remember anything about Circe from my high school reading of The Odyssey, it’s her ability to turn a group of unwanted house guests into pigs—which is a pretty excellent start. Madeline Miller’s Circe takes her from side character to heroine as the demigoddess, lacking her immortal father’s divine powers and overlooked by her kin, finds her strength […]
