The Stone Throwers

The title is eye-catching and it reminded me of another children's book by Clive King "Stig of the Dump". I also like the sub-title with its subtle reference to the tradition of oral story telling. The illustrations throughout are powerful. I found it quite a hard book to get into - I think this was linked to the complexities of working out who the various children were - but also the number of nicknames for people and places. The plot seemed to develop slowly for a good half of the book - but towards the end it got very exciting. I really liked the way it finishes - because it's not a finishing or ending but a mysterious and new beginning. And all linked to the magical cube like object - I loved the description of it - and the acknowledgement that words can't do it justice. Words belong in this world and the cube seems otherworldly. So I found lots to like and admire in this first book and I do hope there will be more to come.

This novel is masterfully written, pulling the reader into a world that feels at once familiar and quietly enchanted. The dialogue is so strikingly authentic that it carries you directly into the lives of its characters—children whose voices ring with conviction, humour, and vulnerability. Around them, a shimmer of magic lingers, never blatant, but sensed just beyond the edges of the everyday. The story follows two groups of somewhat solitary children who find their spiritual home on a remote island. When its future is threatened by the intrusion of a new hotel to be built there, they are compelled to defend it. Their intuitive imagination and relentless curiosity open doors into secret realms hidden from the pragmatic adults. Along the way, they encounter strange figures, surreal twists, and otherworldly happenings. Help comes from unexpected allies, yet the real heart of the tale lies in the children themselves—facing adversity with natural strength, naïve resilience, and good humour, even as darkening forces of greed and alienation close in. At once whimsical and profound, the novel is a subtle meditation on innocence, imagination, and the fragile spaces—both real and spiritual—that need protecting. It lingers with you, like the aftertaste of a dream you’re not quite sure you’ve left.

My grandma recommended this book to me and I really love it. The mystery it leaves after every chapter makes you want to read on and find out more. Because of this it really brings the story to life in your head almost as if you are one of the characters in it. I can imagine myself climbing through a dark dingy tunnel or a prickly thorn bush which makes the story very captivising. At first I thought this book was going to be a non-fiction story about someones life story, but I was to quickly to judge as I instantly fell in love with its constant questions. I ask myself like "What could be there?" or "Who is it?" Storys that leave you questioning whats going to happen next one of my favorites!

This is a mystery adventure for the modern age. The rich prose draws the reader into a thoroughly engaging story of a group of children fighting the timeless battle of good against evil. A tale to stimulate the imagination, both young and old.

A totally engrossing tale of 4 children and a myriad of unusual characters they meet while trying to save an island that they love, from development. The author weaves a tale, through lovely descriptive writing as well as drawn sketches throughout the book that are quite endearing. I rambled through this adventure in one sitting, and frankly, it took me a while to withdraw myself from the world that the book created. I loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to read a tale that is wrapped in sensitivity, humor, mystery and fantasy. Hoping that there is a sequel!!