[ home page ] [ channel4 ] [ writers toolkit ] [ secret passages ]
Melvin Burgess
When Melvin was a child he wanted to be the man who collected
wild animals for the zoo. Since that wasn't to be, he has to make
do with two cats and a parrot called Henry.
Melvin was brought up in Sussex and Berkshire. He
loved reading, especially animal stories such as The Wind in the
Willows, and books by Gerald Durrell such as My Family and Other
Animals. He also loved fantasies, for example Tolkein's The Hobbit
and Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books. Melvin was not much good at
school but then, when he was 12, an English teacher gave him an A
for a story he had written and at that point he realised that he
wanted to be a writer.
Melvin's books are always challenging and
hard-hitting, whether they are about the savage realities of the
countryside and the ways of animals, or the ways in which humans
are cruel, corrupt or self-harming. When The Cry of the Wolf was
published he was hailed as 'the shocker of the 90s' because he
wrote so powerfully about the battle of wits and strength between a
wolf and his hunter.
Kite
The son of a gamekeeper, Taylor knows all about birds - but he's never done anything as special as hand rearing a Red Kite before. Taylor nurtures Teresa and teaches her to fly away and return to him. But the landlord, Harris, will not tolerate the bird. Backed by his father, Taylor fights for the life of his kite, and together they risk their own livelihood to save this endangered species. A tender and thrilling story of a boy's commitment to preserve something important. (10+)
Published in Puffin Books
The Cry of the Wolf
As soon he mentions the secret of the wolves, Ben knows that he has made a mistake. The Hunter is ruthless; he will kill the wolves, even though it will wipe them out forever. But Greycub, hand-reared by Ben, is no ordinary wolf. He knows humans and, in him, the Hunter has met his match. (10+)
Published in Puffin Books
Tiger, tiger
Lee Yung is determined to have the tigers of Malham Tiger Park. Most of all, he wants the Spirit Tiger, Lila. He believes that her bones can save his life. However, Lila has a mission of her own: she'll fight until she's wiped out everyone involved in the massacre of her own kind. But just who is Lila, a tiger or a girl? (13+)
Published in Puffin Books
The Baby and Fly Pie
Sham and Fly Pie make their living on the rubbish tip. Scavenging on behalf of Mother Shelly they pick up this and that, while Fly Pie endlessly dreams of escape - escape to the country and a proper way of life. But then the rubbish tip throws up something different: a baby worth 17 million pounds. What choices should Fly Pie make now? Deeply moving, this is a tough and thought-provoking story. (11+)
Published in Puffin Books
The Earth Giant
In the middle of the terrible storm Amy hears the anguish of the huge oak tree as it is wrenched from the ground. When she rushes to see the damage she finds a giant trapped in the roots - a giant calling on her to save her. Can Amy help her new-found friend? (10+)
Published in Puffin Books
An Angel for May
Thowt It Farm has always been a refuge for Tam. Then, through a strange slip of time, he finds himself in the farm during World War Two when the house is bombed. Rescuing May from the bomb blast changes his life, but which time will he end up in? (11+)
Published in Puffin Books
[ home page ] [ author - flash version ] [ author - non-flash version ] [ other authors - text only ]
[ Windows Media Clip 1- The Baby and Fly Pie ]
[ Windows Media Clip 2- My books are about really dangerous situations ]
[ Windows Media Clip 3- I was a very dreamy kid ]
[ Windows Media Clip 4- My favourite reading as a child ]
