Description
Startling in its simplicity and immediacy, told from Sal’s undeniably practical perspective, this remarkable debut novel is a story of courage, lost innocence, and freedom. Sal memorably unpacks the skills needed for survival, of all kinds ( –BOOKLIST )This debut novel is about the hot topic of female empowerment (even if written by a man) should be enough to attract attention; readers, once hooked, will be captivated by Sal's resolution, ingenuity, singular voice, and infinite capacity for wonder in the face of appalling circumstances. ( –Library Journal, STARRED )There’s an edgy charm and an innocence to this story of two youngsters who escape into the woods...Kitson’s novel has an abundance of influences and themes―from flashbacks to Ingrid’s life in East Germany to the belief in a Mother Goddess―that will make it a rewarding read for teens and adults alike ( –FOREWORD REVIEW )Readers who enjoyed My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent should love this novel of the resourceful, 13-year-old Sal, who escapes an abusive home in Scotland with her ten-year-old sister Peppa to live in the wilderness, armed with knowledge gleaned from YouTube survival videos. Author Mick Kitson gives narrator Sal an endearing, unique voice ( –Barnes & Noble Reads ) Mick Kitson was born in South Wales, and studied English at university before launching the prolific 80s pop band, The Senators, with his brother Jim. He worked as a journalist for several years, then went on to become an English teacher.Mick lives in Fife, Scotland with his wife Jill and bad-tempered dog Lucy. He has three grown-up children, and spends more time than is good for him fly fishing for sea trout, reading, playing the banjo and growing strawberries. He also builds boats. Sal is his first novel.
Features & Highlights
- 'Just
- *wonderful*
- . A breath of fresh air in a book.
- Sal
- is a story with incredible heart, told so beautifully and with such clarity and grace I can hardly believe it's a debut! I loved it' JOANNA CANNON, author of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEPAN
- OBSERVER '
- NEW FACE OF FICTION 2018'
- Sal planned it for almost a year before they ran. She nicked an Ordnance Survey map from the school library. She bought a compass, a Bear Grylls knife, waterproofs and a first aid kit from Amazon using stolen credit cards. She read the
- SAS Survival Handbook
- and watched loads of YouTube videos.And now Sal knows a lot of stuff. Like how to build a shelter and start a fire. How to estimate distances, snare rabbits and shoot an airgun. And how to protect her sister, Peppa. Because Peppa is ten, which is how old Sal was when Robert started on her.Told in Sal's distinctive voice, and filled with the silent, dizzying beauty of rural Scotland,
- Sal
- is a disturbing, uplifting story of survival, of the kindness of strangers, and the irrepressible power of sisterly love; a love that can lead us to do extraordinary and unimaginable things.
