The Ransom of Dond | TheBookSeekers

The Ransom of Dond


No. of pages 112

Published: 2016

Great for age 6-12 years

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Darra is an omen of unluck: a thirteenth child. To appease the dark god, Dond, and bring good fortune to her small island community, Darra must be sacrificed at the age of thirteen - by drowning. On the eve of her final birthday, Darra begins to dream of the twin brother she has watched from afar but never met, and dares to hope that she might escape her fate . . . The scouring wind and remorseless waves which beat against Darra's island world are matched in Pam Smy's powerful, wild and emotive illustrations. The Ransom of Dond is our final story from Siobhan, and a book to be treasured.

 

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards

This book has been graded for interest at 9-11 years.

There are 112 pages in this book. This book was published in 2016 by Penguin Random House Children's UK .

Siobhan Dowd lived in Oxford with her husband, Geoff, before tragically dying from cancer in August 2007, aged 47. She was both an extraordinary writer and an extraordinary person.

 

This book has been nominated for the following award:

Peters Book of the Year
This book was recognised by the Peters Book of the Year.

"Embraces the magic of myths, with animal transformations and transporting dreams. Movingly, it is above all about the power of a mother's love and how much anyone facing death would want to live" -- Nicolette Jones * Sunday Times *

 

"This new title, in its elegance, wisdom and lyricism, provides a poignant coda to Siobhan Dowd's earlier achievements" -- Robert Dunbar * The Irish Times *

 

"A beautiful, mystical fable for our time . . . The Ransom of Dond is a book to be read aloud or alone. It provides a marvellous opportunity for storytelling and discussion" -- Clare Morpurgo * The School Librarian *

 

"One of the most attractively produced works of junior fiction" -- Robert Dunbar * The Irish Times *

 

"A riveting story . . . Raises questions about religion and highlights the dangers of ignorance. But equally, it is a tale of love and family, and their ability to conquer all . . . As a physical thing, it is a beautiful book. From the dustcover to the endpapers, it is a joy to hold" * Children's Books Ireland - Inis magazine *