The fire-eaters

by

218 pages

English language

Published Jan. 1, 2004 by Delacorte Press.

ISBN:
978-0-385-73170-6
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4 stars (1 review)

In 1962 England, despite observing his father's illness and the suffering of the fire-eating Mr. McNulty, as well as enduring abuse at school and the stress of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Bobby Burns and his family and friends still find reasons to rejoice in their lives and to have hope for the future.

9 editions

reviewed The fire-eaters by David Almond

Review of 'The fire-eaters' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

what a fine writer this david almond is. he wrote My Name is Mina, and so when this book came up during our history studies, i just had to read it alongside ds.
set during the heavy apprehension of the Cuban missile crisis, the story has fear hit home (his father may be seriously ill) and school (nasty teachers enforcing corporal punishment quickly and randomly). it's a well drafted theme that deserves a wider audience than junior fiction. which is pretty much how i felt about 'My Name is Mina - this author is too good to be missing from the young adult section.

Subjects

  • Conduct of life -- Fiction.
  • Hope -- Fiction.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 -- Fiction.
  • Great Britain -- History -- 20th century -- Fiction.