Thought-provoking... poetic. (The Sunday Times' 100 Best Children's Books) * The Sunday Times *A rich and satisfying tale of lives turned around...sharp and snappy as well as thoughtful. * The Observer *This gripping novel, beautifully crafted, is David Almond writing at the top of his game. Readers will be thinking and talking about it long after they've finished reading. * Bookfest *An outstanding novel, truly a challenging and thought-provoking read. * Books Quarterly *A vivid and unnerving portrayal of raw adolescent emotion. As ever, Almond's wiritng is lucid and accessible, and the novel's themes of acceptance and tolerance are complex and challenging. * The Bookseller *Another brilliant novel from a master storyteller. * Carousel *This evocative, intelligent and moving novel amounts to an essay about the potential savagery in human nature. Simultaneously poetic and down-to-earth. * The Sunday Times *Almond is a master storyteller. there is more than enough in this brooding story to keep readers engrossed right up to its near-cataclysmic ending. * The Independent *Unsettling but, as ever, beautifully written. * Daily Mail *Almond's writing is like the perfect outfit - it may look casual, but everything fits just right. * The Sunday Times *This gripping new novel by Almond cleverly explores themes of loyalty, savagery, friendship and goodness in an accessible and contemporary way. An expertly written novel that is intensely moving. * School Librarian *Nobody since William Golding captures so perfectly the savage intensity that underlies the joshing of young teenage males. * The Herald *One of the finest writers of children's novels today. Jackdaw Summer is a wonderful piece of writing for children - unsettling yet poetic. Nobody evokes childhood like Almond. * The Guardian *This is a novel of power and beauty. * The Daily Telegraph *Thought-provoking poetic stuff from the author of Skellig. * The Sunday Times *'a book of startling quality and tremendous beauty' * The Bookbag *'Another brilliant novel from a master storyteller.' * Carousel *Unsettling but, as ever, beautifully written. * Daily Mail *'... exceptional, delicate writing ... make a moving and thoughtful story told with exceptional elegance.' * Julia Eccleshare *'exquisite prose which sparkles off the page' * Writeaway *