Frozen Billy

by Anne Fine

Ever since their mother was wrongfully imprisoned, Clarrie and her brother, Will, have been forced to live with their negligent uncle in England. Uncle Len works as a ventriloquist in the nearby music hall, and although he and his dummy, Frozen Billy, put on a good show, Uncle Len is constantly drinking away his pay. Then Will hatches a plan to improve the act – by performing as Uncle Len’s second dummy – and soon they’re making more money than ever. But to Clarrie’s horror, just as things should be looking up, they begin to turn terribly sour.

Complete with detailed pen-and-ink line art, Anne Fine’s chilling Edwardian drama brings to life a wooden stage dummy who may just have the power to destroy an entire family.

175 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2004

About the author

Though readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.

Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)

Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.

Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.

Reviews

[Lari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read this in nearly a decade yet I still remember it as being incredibly creepy.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re-read of a book that I listened to hundreds of times throughout my childhood. Truly one of my favourites from growing up.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

creepy,very creepy

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed :)