Stoneheart, Charlie Fletcher
Stoneheart, Charlie Fletcher
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Stoneheart
Book 1

Author: Charlie Fletcher

Narrator: Charlie Fletcher

Unabridged: 3 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/07/2013


Synopsis

'Deep in the City something had been woken, so old that people had been walking past it for centuries without giving it a second look...'

When George breaks the dragon's head outside the Natural History Museum he awakes an ancient power. This prehistoric beast, sentry-still for centuries, hunts him down with a terrifying wrath. And this is just the beginning... The taints and spits - statues with opposing natures - are warring forces; wreaking deadly havoc on the city landscape. The World War One gunner offers protection of sorts; and the wisdom of the Sphinx is legendary. But George and his companion Edie are trapped in a world of danger. And worse - they are quite alone. The rest of London is oblivious to their plight.

This epic adventure exposes forces long-layered in the fabric of London. After entering its richly original and breathtaking world, the city streets and skyline will never again seem the same!

(P) Hodder Children's Books 2006

About Charlie Fletcher

Having studied English Literature at university , Charlie began his career in the film business carrying cans of film round Soho and making very bad cups of tea on the principal that he'd then be asked to do something a bit more interesting, a strategy that he recommends to anyone starting out as a tea-boy. He progressed to the BBC where he worked in film editing on everything from Drama to Current Affairs. He then went to California where he morphed into a screenwriter, having been awarded a Warner Brothers Fellowship in Screenwriting at USC School of Cinema and TV. He's written screenplays for Tri-Star, MGM, Paramount and Warner Bros among others. He continues to write for the movies, and also television. He still thinks that being a film editor is a pretty damn fine way to learn about story-telling in general, and narrative structure and pacing in particular. Charlie also moved into other types of writing including magazine features, a computer game and as both a national Sunday newspaper columnist and restaurant reviewer. Finally he found the way to combine all those writing strands and produced some rattling-good children's books! The Stoneheart trilogy has been a massive international hit and Charlie has recently sold the movie rights of Stoneheart to Paramount. He has also been asked to write the screenplay himself, which just shows you should never make plans, since he actually wrote the books to get away from Hollywood for a bit... In his personal life, Charlie met and married his wife, a fellow Scot, in LA. They have two children, whom Charlie calls his first, most important, and toughest audience. They've all now returned from California and live in Edinburgh with a terrier called Archie.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jonathan on February 15, 2014

Stoneheart is one of those more unusual fantasies and as a work of fiction goes to show that children's literature does not need to be insipid or uninspiring. There is a kind of supremacy that I sense in literature that suggests that the only truly great literature is that which targets an 'adult' a......more

Goodreads review by Sheila on August 28, 2019

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this excellent middle-grade fantasy, set in a parallel London with gargoyles, a dragon and statues come to life, via audiobook. Jim Dale's brilliant narration made this riveting, fast-paced story even more entertaining. There are two more books in the trilogy that I h......more

Goodreads review by Heidi on July 26, 2008

I love the idea of the statues of London coming to "life" and enjoyed the transformation of George.The characters, human and otherwise are compelling, and you don't get hard and fast answers about whose side some of these characters are on. This book can be dark and suspenseful... not recommended fo......more

Goodreads review by Allison on February 14, 2009

from the first line I had very high expectations for this book. I was very excited to read the story, and really interested in how the author would deal with a character who seemed determined to keep the world at a distance. As I read, I waited patiently for some depth, some mystery that would final......more

Goodreads review by Josie on June 10, 2009

This was a real 'page turner'! You can't wait to read what will happen next. However,it is a challenging book. For one thing it is very British. If you were going to use this with a group, it might help to prepare the students with some visuals of London. Talk with them about even though English is......more


Quotes

An extremely clever and original book .... The idea alone is so interesting that is would appeal to almost everybody Scottish Sunday Herald

Intelligently and elegantly written, with pace and suspence, varied and convincing dialogue and big themes of loyalty, sacrifice and emotional growth, Stoneheart will make readers see London with new eyes The Sunday Times

After entering its richly original and breathtaking world, the city streets and skyline will never again seem the same Children's Zone

A fantastical, fast-paced adventure Publishing News

The plot is intricate, multi-layered and the world in which the boys are trapped is breathtaking. Charlie Fletcher is a brilliant storyteller and Stone Heart is an epic adventure that's not to be missed Love Reading 4 Kids

A really exciting read Surrey Quarterly Magazine

Erudition, lively prose and ingenuity combine, making this a not-to-be-missed addition to the fantasy oeuvre that will have readers thumping the air with delight! Books For Keeps

Another highly original fantasy ... the unrelentling thrills never let up and the careful and intelligent integration of realities never interefers with the action School Librarian

Thrilling stuff The Scotsman

Exploding with action on every page. I was gripped from the very first line ... A must-read for fantasy and adventure lovers Watford Observer