Melt
A tale of courage and survival in a changing climate
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pushkin Press
Published:3rd Jun '21
Should be back in stock very soon
In Melt, a boy's survival in the Arctic tundra intertwines with a girl's struggles, revealing themes of courage and environmental change.
In Melt, the story unfolds in a remote, snow-bound village where a young boy lives with his elderly grandmother. Their traditional way of life is increasingly threatened by the rapid changes in climate, as the snow and ice that once defined their existence begin to melt at an alarming rate. One fateful day, while out hunting, the boy faces a life-threatening situation when the sea-ice collapses beneath him, leaving him stranded in the unforgiving Arctic tundra. This harrowing experience marks the beginning of his journey of courage and survival in a world that is rapidly changing around him.
Parallel to his struggles, a girl navigates the challenges of adapting to a new school. Her father, who recently started a job at an oil company, assures her that this will be their permanent home. However, as time passes, he begins to act strangely, shrouded in secrecy. The girl's life takes a drastic turn when her path unexpectedly intersects with that of the boy, leading them both into a desperate quest not only for survival but also for the truth about their circumstances.
Melt explores themes of resilience, environmental change, and the interconnectedness of lives shaped by greed and self-interest. As the boy and girl confront the harsh realities of their worlds, their stories intertwine, revealing the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
A marvellously compulsive story. The unbelievable made believable. Now there's the test of a great story -- Michael Morpurgo
Corrupt oil corporations, lost planes, and epic journeys of survival across the threatened Arctic - this is a brave and high-octane thriller about a boy and girl who are both affected by the fossil fuel industry in different ways. As well as carrying an important message, this is a thrilling action-adventure novel -- Lauren James, author of The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker
A tense, high-stakes survival adventure, underpinned with the urgent issue of climate change. Her earlier novels, BOY 87 and LOST, both come highly recommended * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *
Fans of Ele Fountain, author of Boy 87 and Lost, will find plenty of white-knuckle drama in Melt * Telegraph *
An engaging eco-conscious thriller * New Statesman *
I thoroughly recommend this book and give it full marks! -- Maeve, 11
Praise for Ele Fountain: * -- *
Fountain writes with verisimilitude and verve. Novels are works of imagination and this book's compassion overrides any questions about the "right to write" * Observer *
[Lost] will arouse compassion for society's lost, reminding readers how small the difference may be between them and us * Sunday Times *
Full of tension, fear, heartbreak and hope, [Boy 87] conveys both the bitterness of having family, home and identity stolen away piecemeal, and a courageous determination to survive * Guardian *
Exceptional... vivid, convincing and empathetic... [Boy 87] grips us with the need to know how the heart-stopping events will turn out * The Times, Children's Book of the Week *
ISBN: 9781782692881
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
256 pages