The Flask

by Nicky Singer

An unforgettable standalone novel from Nicky Singer, author of the sensational, award-winning FEATHER BOY.

Twelve-year-old Jess is grieving for her beloved Aunt Edie, and anxiously awaiting the birth of her twin brothers, when she finds a mysterious glass flask hidden in a desk. The flask is beautiful to Jess, and soon she starts to believe that it contains a magical life-force. When her half-brothers are born critically ill, Jess becomes convinced that their survival depends on what’s happening to the flask…

Through Jess's stunning narration, Nicky Singer explores the meaning of life, and the interconnected nature of all things - in a way which is entirely accessible to young readers.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Music, Friendship

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 19, 2012

About the author

Nicky has written four novels for adults, two books of non-fiction but most of her recent work is for young people. Her first children’s novel Feather Boy won the Blue Peter ‘Book of the Year’ Award, was adapted for TV (winning a BAFTA for Best Children’s Drama) and then commissioned by the National Theatre as a musical with lyrics by Don Black and music by Debbie Wiseman. In 2010 Nicky was asked by Glyndebourne to adapt her novel Knight Crew (a re-telling of the King Arthur legend set in contemporary gangland) for an opera with music by Julian Philips. In 2012 her play Island (about ice-bears and the nature of reality) premiered at the National Theatre and toured 40 London schools. She also published The Flask that year. A story about songs and souls and things which live in bottles, The Guardian called The Flask ‘a nourishing and uplifting story, with big themes and a big heart’. Nicky has recently re-written Island as a novel with illustrations by Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell.

Reviews

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess is exploring a bureau she received after her Aunt Edie died when she discovers a mysterious bottle that seems to hold a life force of some kind. She’s mesmerized by the swirling colors and the way the bottle sometimes feels warm and glowing while other times it is dark and cold. When her twin brothers are born conjoined and struggling for life, she begins to sense that whatever is in the bottle may hold the key to their survival.

Under Shifting Glass by Nicky Singer is mystical, heartfelt, and a bit haunting. Along with Jess’s worry over her brothers, she suffers from the loss of her Aunt Edie, her grandmother’s sister, who taught her to make music. She’s also worried that her best friend, Zoe, is growing away from her and that she can’t share her fears with Zoe the way she always has. In her search for understanding, Jess turns to her Catholic church and a Buddhist temple for solace. In the end, a discovery about Edie helps her know what she has to do.

Jess’s story is sure to resonate with readers in mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 12 and up. Jess’s family situation is complicated: her father died when she was young, she was raised by her stepfather, and the grandmother she sees regularly is her father’s mother. She doesn’t think it’s right to call her new siblings half-brothers. She’s not sure where she fits in with her stepfather’s affections now that he has biological children of his own. Jess feels fiercely protective of her brothers, so she overreacts when Zoe and her other friends don’t understand her fears.

Life is complicated for Jess, much the way it is for many young teens who are experiencing emotional and physical changes of their own. Her journey of self-discovery is thoughtful, and author Singer does an excellent job of keeping all the threads working together to knit a story that will linger with you long after you read the last page. I highly recommend Under Shifting Glass. It's a book that is sure to strike a chord with the moms as well as the daughters.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally the kind of person you can catch writing a book review. But here I am. That's the thing- sometimes you read a book that's so good that you can't simply go about your day knowing you didn't write a review.

First things first, I'll talk about Jess, as the book is mostly about her view of all of this change. Other comments talk about how Jess was being irrational and an annoying narrator and all. I don't necessarily agree. Her twin brothers, born conjoined, are a massive cause of worry for everyone involved. It wouldn't make sense for someone Jess' age to handle the news with poise and act like everything's still normal.

Because of course it's not. Nothing is the same from that point onward.

Everything is different with Clem and Richie finally here. So yeah, generally speaking, I'd say Jess is a likeable narrator. It is so easy to sympathize with her. Especially when she's going through her first fight with her best friend, Zoe, and the loss of her great-aunt. Everything about her characterization was so real. There was no doubt in my mind that somewhere there is a girl like Jess going through similar problems.

In addition to the believable narrator, the book also has a fairly decent plot revolving around the mysterious flask. Her fascination with the flask more often than not fascinated me too. I spent half the book trying to figure out the contents of the flask with her. I never saw the ending coming, and I usually see these things from a mile away.

Everything about this book was so wonderful. My hasty recap can't do it justice at all. If you even got this far, it's a yes from me.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book! It's an incredible story about love and family and leads you to wonder what is and isn't real. Maybe there are people in the world who can see much more than everyone else can. Maybe there are forces out there beyond comprehension. These thoughts are explored in Under Shifting Glass as Jess is quite different from everyone else and sees things no one else does.

I loved our main character from the beginning. Jess is a little odd and most people seem to know that but she's also the most loyal person there is. She sticks up for her friends and family though of course she can't stand it if that loyalty isn't being returned. I like how nobody appears to be perfect in this book and that allows everyone to grow more by the end of the novel.

The writing in this book is beautiful. Even when nothing important was happening I was still captivated because of the way everything was written and blended together. Because of that I really hope to read more from this author in the future because I'm fairly certain that any kind of plot paired with this writing could be great!

I recommend this book for anyone who wants a short, interesting read that will leave you thinking.

[Jillian (Peapod Historical Bookery) · Rating 5 out of 5]

{ I received an ARC for free through Early Reviewers on LibraryThing. Review originally posted on my blog, PidginPea's Book Nook. }


Wow. This book was beautiful. I wasn't expecting it to really touch my heart like it did. I kind of thought it would be a book about Jess's family troubles with a paranormal twist in the form of the flask. But it was so, so much more than that. I really am just in shock with how fantastic this book was.

Under Shifting Glass does deal with Jess's family - her mother (pregnant with twins), her stepfather, and her grandmother. But it also deals with Jess's beloved Aunt Edie, who has recently passed away, and throughout the book we see Jess progress through her grief over her aunt's death towards acceptance and peace. As if this wasn't enough for a young girl to deal with, her father has also passed away, and she's struggling with her relationship with her stepfather now that he'll have children of his own when the twins are born. Her friendship with her closest friend Zoe seems to be falling apart, and Jess doesn't know how to fix it. And then her twin brothers are born conjoined, and the outlook is grim.

It's hard to classify this book. Is it realistic fiction? Fantasy? Magical realism? Even when you reach the end of the book, you're not quite sure (more on that in a bit). Under Shifting Glass is labeled as Young Adult on Goodreads and Barnes & Noble, but I can see where a Middle Grade label would fit too. Jess is 12 years old, and at times I felt like her thoughts and actions might appeal more to younger readers. But then again, she is facing some very grown-up problems as well, and she does show some incredible maturity which brings her story right back to the YA level. I finally had to force myself to stop trying to label the book and just read.

Singer has a stunning way with words. Jess is a sweet narrator who wraps you up in her world; I felt her pain over the loss of her Aunt Edie, her joy at seeing her brothers for the first time, her hopelessness when her problems seem to stack up endlessly. She is dealing with so much and she's handling it as best she can, but she's looking for a reason behind it all, or a way to fix it all. As she learns more about the flask, she realizes that perhaps the flask itself the solution. There is a beautiful mix of something mysterious, something supernatural, a bit of desperate superstition on Jess's part, and a touch of religion. After everything is resolved, Singer leaves it up to the reader to decide what really happened... Was it a miracle? Was it the flask? Was it nothing special at all - just the way of things? I thought this was wonderful, as each reader can take away whatever they wish from the story.

In the middle of the book, Jess and her friends learn about Buddhism for a class assignment. To be honest, as I was reading that part, I was wondering where Singer was going to go with it or why exactly she chose to include it in the story. But I thought the way Singer tied it in at the end was quite nice, with Jess's gift of eucalyptus to her Aunt Edie. The Buddhism aspect may be a little much for some readers ("much" being perhaps a little too heavy on the religious/spiritual side for those who prefer not to read about religion, or being perhaps a little too complicated for younger readers), but it hit me just right.

I can see where this book wouldn't appeal to everyone, but in the hands of some readers it will become a new favorite. It certainly became an instant favorite for me, and I'll be on the lookout for other books by Singer.

[M— · Rating 5 out of 5]

/review to come

adored. exquisite.

quotes.

nothing like I'd thought it was to be.

might not ever give up this ARC.

Reminded me of.

Chronicle also published.

Oh, this was exquisite. I had completely misunderstood

I just won an ARC off GoodReads, and it was extraordinary. Completely different than what I thought it would be (which had been along the lines of 'young girl falls in love with/saves vampire' except with a genie -- and this was not the plot. So not), and I fell in love with it utterly.

I thought, as I was reading it, about sending the ARC on to you; but then I got to the end and I don't think I can let this copy go quite yet.

An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher through the Goodreads Giveaway Program.

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old Jess is grieving over the loss of her beloved Great Aunt Edie. She is also worrying about the birth of her twin brothers. They are conjoined (Siamese), and everyone is concerned about their future.

When Jess is given an old bureau (desk) from Aunt Edie’s, Jess doesn’t want it. She’d rather have the piano Aunt Edie taught her to play beautiful music on together.

But when Jess finds a strange glass flask hidden in one of the compartments of the desk, she is sure the swirling colours, baby’s breath breeze and howling noise she sees and hears is somehow linked to her brother’s survival.

A beautiful, gentle, magical story about family, growing up and believing in something different

[Kaycee Adair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm currently on page 78, just the start of chapter 22. Its a relatively small book. It is an odd type book that describes this captivating force that Jess found in a place really important to her, her deceased grandmother's desk. I'm not sure if I like it or not. It has a lot of description about the senses and I'm not sure if its too much. There are a lot of plots including her siblings connected just below the hip, her insecurities that come from her friends, and her flask. I think that the plots will connect by the end but its pretty random so far. I will update periodically.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have seen The Flask before but not really heard a lot about it, so when the opportunity came along to get if off netgalley via HarperCollins UK I picked it up.

Jess, still grieving over the loss of her Aunt, inherits a bureau and finds flask inside it with a strange glowing light.  As Jess investigates the flask and the light she makes a connection between it and her twin brothers.  When something happens to the flask and her brothers at the same time she makes it her mission to ensure the safety of the flask and the glowing light, therefore ensuring her brothers stay safe.  As the story progress and Jess's obsession with the flask grows, her friendship with Zoe begins to form cracks and soon they are not longer speaking to each other.

While I liked idea behind the story and having this 'thing' in the flask, at times I found it hard to relate to the protagonist. I felt she became too obsessed with the flask and was quick to find faults in her friendships and family, sometimes even acting like a spoilt brat.  The reality that Jess has tried to create for herself seemed a bit childish for her age, and although the mystery behind the flask is eventually solved I did struggle to get there.

Don't get me wrong, I did like some of the characters in The Flask, and if I was younger may have been able to relate to them a bit better, I just could not get Jess's whiny voice out of my head enough to focus on what else was happening.  Overall The Flask is an OK read but I doubt I will be adding a physical copy to my shelves.

[Annmichelle Klingelhafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, Under Shifting Glass, is so beautiful. It was a joy to read, and incredibly thought-provoking. It had me hanging from its every thread, aching to read more. First I was beginning the book, then I was on chapter 23, then I was done. It's just that good! A young girl struggles as she must deal with the death of her aunt, the worry that comes with conjoined twins unborn in her mother's womb, and the stress of a changing friendship. She has a very strong connection to music, and so wishes to have her aunt's piano to keep when asked what she would like. Instead, she receives the bureau in which sh finds a mystifying glass flask. As I read along, I experienced her joy and perplexity in discovering that there is a join, a connection, in every aspect of life. Sometimes we must reach out, and sometimes we must look inside ourselves. Slowly, I learned with the young girl to listen in the quiet, to see what others cannot. Everything has a join. It may be difficult to see, or perhaps simple to find, but once it is found then we can begin to finally understand. Though a slightly easy read, the simplicity and delicacy of this book is a breath of fresh air. The book jacket intrigued me at first glance, and I was pulled in by the sweet innocence with which every chapter is narrated. A gentle balance between light and thoughtful, Under Shifting Glass is an amazing read.

[Miss Literati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicky Singer’s UNDER SHIFTING GLASS is a deep, emotional story about a girl and a mysterious bottle.

Jessica Walton is struggling with the death of her beloved Great Aunt Edie. Upon Edie’s death, Jess is given her aunt’s old bureau and inside it she finds a strange bottle. That very same day, her twin brothers are born joined at the chest. Jess decides that the bottle and the twins are somehow linked. She becomes even more convinced when, during the night, the bottle turns black and starts to howl-around the same time that her brother Clem’s health dips.

Jess starts to draw inside of herself, her only company being the bottle. She begins to have one-sided conversations with it, and is afraid to show it to others in fear they won’t believe her. Her lack of communication begins to hurt her friendship with Zoe, her best friend since childhood. Instead, Zoe starts to hang around a cheerful boy named Piddy, who Jess cannot stand.

As the twins’ condition gets more severe, more and more mysteries unravel. Jess finds a song that her aunt wrote that was dedicated to someone named Rob. When she mentions it to Gran, Gran refuses to give...[READ THE REST ON MISS LITERATI]

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oddly, I liked almost everything about this book EXCEPT the central plot conceit of the glass bottle Jess finds that holds the secret to her conjoined twin brothers' survival. It isn't that I don't like books with mystical elements, or magical realism, because I certainly do. For some reason, this part of the book just didn't work for me. But I loved everything else. The characterizations are so strong, and the way Singer portrays relationships is amazing. What Singer focuses on are pairs and connections--love, possessiveness, and jealousy. How do we maintain a tie to one person, but remain an individual? How do we allow a person we need and love make attachments to other people, too? How do we handle the ultimate division--death? Singer deals with all of these very huge questions with grace. An ultimately uplifting book that I can see thoughtful, introspective kids really enjoying.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good teen book about beginnings and endings, friendships and family, children and parents, best friends and just friends. Lots of real life and a little bit of magic. Jess does a lot of growing and changing and at the same time staying who she really is inside. I liked this book very much and enjoyed how it was written to be easily digested in short little chapters that seemed to say a lot in a minimum of words. Recommend to anyone who enjoys a good story with a little magic thrown in, whether the magic is "real" or not I will leave up to the reader. Try it out and decide for yourself!!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read! This book is perfect for a young girl that is going through changes in her life, due to loosing a loved one, a growing family, or just fights with friends. You become a part of Jess's life and watch her mature and grow in the book. There is such a spirit in Jess that you come to love and understand as things in life that only an innocent child can connect and how at times they take on the whole world on their shoulders and feel that something small that they do or didnt do can cause other things to happen when they really to adults seem to have no connection.

[PopcornReads - MkNoah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review & Giveaway: We’re participating in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop. Our giveaway for this hop is Under Shifting Glass by award-winning children’s author Nicky Singer. This novel has been rated for grades six and up, and is really targeted toward middle school kids. It deals with the fragile nature of life and friendship, and how those issues affect people. It will make an excellent addition to any school or family library. And we’re giving away an advance readers copy (ARC) to one lucky reader at http://popcornreads.com/?p=5585.

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by a 6th grader: Jess's mother is remarried and is pregnant with Siamese twins, but Jess doesn't realize that another change is about to come. Her beloved Aunt Edie died and Jess inheirts her desk. Jess soon discovers a mystical flask hidden in the desk that may or may not have a living being inside. When the twins are born, there is not a very good chance of survival, and Jess thinks that the 'thing' is the key to her brother's survival.

The book was written extremely well and had just the right amount of fantasy and reality.

Recommended.

[Pam Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quiet, understated, mystical.

Jess is suffering, her piano playing Aunt Eddie has died. Her mother is about to give birth to 'the twins', twins who are conjoined. Then she is given Aunt Eddie's ancient bureau not the piano. Jess is not impressed nor is her best friend Zoe, who declares it is hideous. Then Jess accidently discovers the bureau also hides a beautiful bottle, a flask, an item that changes colour and seems to contain a spirit. What does it mean. And why is her friendship with Zoe also falling apart.

[Elizabeth Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this quiet little book. Jess is dealing with the death of her grandmother at the same time her conjoined twin brothers are expected to arrive. As she struggles with her thoughts and emotions around these events, she finds a glass object hidden in a desk that might be connected to multiple people in her life. Just a tiny bit of magical realism graces this lovely book for middle schoolers. Perfect for a sensitive child.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book for free in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Let me just start out by saying that is book is excellent. I completely identified with the sidewalk crack game, and the supernatural elements were completely believable. At first I disliked Zoe, but throughout the book she began to grow on me. Each of the characters felt real, and had enjoyable quirks. I would recommend this book.

[Sarra · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Jessica's beloved Aunt Edie dies of old age, Jess finds that things aren't what they seem. Finding a flask in the drawer of the bureau, Jess finds that its connected to her baby brothers, conjoined twins Richie and Clem. Through a lot of character growth, Jess finds out that figuring out the connection isn't so easy without outside help.

[Tjala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful book from Nicky Singer, tackling different issues in a family and combining moments that made me laugh out loud and ones that made me sob. beautifully composed and just as good as

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great easy read! I know and have meet people that's are as sensitive to the world as Jess is. A beautiful story of hope and wonder in the world. Written perfectly from a child's point of view but with the compassion of an old soul. Hmmmm, old souls....... Beautiful!

[Diana Gagliardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking with a main character who allows her heart to lead her head. Discussions of science and philosophey, loving-kindness, between places and new beginnings... somewhat supernatural but not in a hit you over the head kinda way...nice.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I love about Nicky Singer is that she (he?!) makes the completely unbelievable believable. Another beautiful book.

[Tabitha Munyaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have read this book i like it.sometimes i take books without knowing wht is in it but i grow from the story.

[Susannah Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a great book

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still trying to figure this one out, but it was unique.

[Isla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing bit of mystery love and kindness. It gets intense and nearly started crying its beautiful

[LeeAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think maybe I need some time to process this book.

It was written for middle grade readers, but it's a bit, well, weird for that.

First of all, it's weirdly written in first person present tense. Like stream-of-conscience. But with more "proper" plot placement and character dialogue.

I've been told the book is "magical realism", but I just can't tell how much of the story is just in Jessica's imagination and how much is real world. (Maybe Jess can't, either. Maybe that's the point?)

There are lots of weird references and symbolism, most of which I'm not even sure is intentional. Like, what is up with the piano? And the fish? And eucalyptus?

Piano: "I remember my dark little heart opening out." pg 3
Fish: "I see things that aren't there. And hear them sometimes, too. Like now, beneath the glass, through the glass." pg 28
Eucalyptus: "People can look in the same place but not see the same things." pg 51

And let's talk about her imaginary friend for a minute. Someone explain.

What is real, anyway?!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grate book absolutely love it and when I saw the rating I ligit lost it like how is it a 3.8 I absolutely adore this book and read it 13 times before returning it to the library absolutely adore definitely recommend if you’re looking for a kinda fantasy stile some what of a mistery and kinda sad if you ask me witch I don’t say that often about a book but the end had me crying I will say I think I like this more than about any other book I’ve read and I really want a book that follows out the theme as well as a movie but hey I will say I love this book and if this is all we get this is all we get plus I will say I’m glad I have a good librarian because he recommended this to me ( yes I’m in 7th grade and yes this is my favorite book so don’t take my opinion personally it’s just an opinion) any way absolutely loved can’t wate to read again

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter brought this book home from her ELL teacher's classroom library. Based on the cover and the typography, I didn't expect much. However, the book wasn't half bad! The story was interesting. The flask was mysterious and I was eager to find out what it contained. The main character kept driving me crazy with her assumptions about life but I had to remind myself that she is just a kid. Overall, the story was a quick read and I'm glad I took the time.