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Dark Flood
A stunning timeslip tale about a boy who finds himself trapped in a well-known mining incident that happened many years before! This story of family, community and hope by debut author Karon Alderman is perfect for fans of Skellig and The Wild Way Home.Everyone knows the history of the famous Heaton Main coal mine accident - but that's never interested Archie. Why would he bother about the past when he's got more than enough to worry about right now? Like his Granda's health taking a turn for the worse. And the shifty Robson twins from across the street deciding they have it in for him.With the help of his best-friends Adila and Kyle, Archie goes on a mission to raise money for his Granda's recovery while also avoiding the Robsons at all costs. But when timelines collide during an unexpected storm, Archie is pulled more than two-hundred years into the past, and into an experience that will change his life forever. . .If he can make it back.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2024
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 13, 2024
A really engaging read, which meshes present with past to commemorate lives lost and to affirm lives yet to live. An homage to community and local heritage which shows the importance of keeping both alive.
Full disclosure: I was born and bred in North Tyneside so this book is in my vernacular and I love that. In fact, the whole first person narrative is in dialect not just the dialogue- I love that decision. I’m keen to see how it is received elsewhere.
Archie and his friends Deela and Kyle are on holiday for the summer. Archie’s ‘granda’s’ health is failing and the children make a plan to earn money to buy him a mobility scooter. Granda has always been a big part of Archie’s life, unlike his dad. The children’s summer is marred somwhat by the boys who live opposite Archie-the Robson Twins- and their reign of terror in the area.
One day, the children notice an archaelogical survey is being carried out close to where they live at the scene of an infamous pit disaster that happened two centuries before. This welcomes in our first hint about what is to come.
I was a bit worried: along with whippets and flatcaps, mines are a bit of an obvious symbol of north east life but I loved the way the story around the pit disaster developed, although very sad. I think the time slip was done in a really interesting way and well-managed. There are some harrowing moments but its sensitively done.
Dark Flood vividly brought back ‘Thunder Thursday’ where a supercell thunderstorm hit only the north east of England creating chaos in minutes. Just in case anyone thought the weather event being described was far-fetched.
On a personal note, I think I’d like have to have got to the time shift a little bit sooner: it’s a fascinating flashback to a terrible moment but it comes relatively late in the story.
I would have loved some sort of (even start of a ) redemption arc for the Robson twins- linked to their ancestors or something! Their villainy is a bit one-dimensional, and they are universally hated, which makes for great conflict and tension but these boys have had difficult lives and the teacher in me wanted to see at least a glimmer of hope for their future rehabilitation.
A geet canny book that I cannet wait to share with me class.
Thanks to Karon Alderman, Hachette and Net Galley for an eARC of Dark Flood.
Full disclosure: I was born and bred in North Tyneside so this book is in my vernacular and I love that. In fact, the whole first person narrative is in dialect not just the dialogue- I love that decision. I’m keen to see how it is received elsewhere.
Archie and his friends Deela and Kyle are on holiday for the summer. Archie’s ‘granda’s’ health is failing and the children make a plan to earn money to buy him a mobility scooter. Granda has always been a big part of Archie’s life, unlike his dad. The children’s summer is marred somwhat by the boys who live opposite Archie-the Robson Twins- and their reign of terror in the area.
One day, the children notice an archaelogical survey is being carried out close to where they live at the scene of an infamous pit disaster that happened two centuries before. This welcomes in our first hint about what is to come.
I was a bit worried: along with whippets and flatcaps, mines are a bit of an obvious symbol of north east life but I loved the way the story around the pit disaster developed, although very sad. I think the time slip was done in a really interesting way and well-managed. There are some harrowing moments but its sensitively done.
Dark Flood vividly brought back ‘Thunder Thursday’ where a supercell thunderstorm hit only the north east of England creating chaos in minutes. Just in case anyone thought the weather event being described was far-fetched.
On a personal note, I think I’d like have to have got to the time shift a little bit sooner: it’s a fascinating flashback to a terrible moment but it comes relatively late in the story.
I would have loved some sort of (even start of a ) redemption arc for the Robson twins- linked to their ancestors or something! Their villainy is a bit one-dimensional, and they are universally hated, which makes for great conflict and tension but these boys have had difficult lives and the teacher in me wanted to see at least a glimmer of hope for their future rehabilitation.
A geet canny book that I cannet wait to share with me class.
Thanks to Karon Alderman, Hachette and Net Galley for an eARC of Dark Flood.
June 24, 2024
Archie lives with his Mam and Granda. Granda is not able to get out the way he used to, so Archie and his friends Deela and Kyle come up with a plan to raise money to buy him a mobility scooter - playing the fiddle the way Granda taught him. However, twins who’ve moved in across the street have other plans and can’t resist causing trouble.
When Archie is caught up in a storm, he finds himself underground with miners trapped in an accident that happened over two hundred years before.
As a time travel story, I found the ‘portal’ to the past quite a weak one. However, I’m prepared to forgive this as I enjoyed the modern day tale of friendship, family and standing up to bullies a good one.
I live a couple of miles from the location where this story is set and yet I’d never heard of that particular mining disaster. I loved the inclusion of all the local settings and could easily picture where the boys were. I also liked that the story was written in the Geordie dialect throughout, not just the dialogue.
I think this will become a firm favourite in terms of historical novels set in Newcastle.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Archie is caught up in a storm, he finds himself underground with miners trapped in an accident that happened over two hundred years before.
As a time travel story, I found the ‘portal’ to the past quite a weak one. However, I’m prepared to forgive this as I enjoyed the modern day tale of friendship, family and standing up to bullies a good one.
I live a couple of miles from the location where this story is set and yet I’d never heard of that particular mining disaster. I loved the inclusion of all the local settings and could easily picture where the boys were. I also liked that the story was written in the Geordie dialect throughout, not just the dialogue.
I think this will become a firm favourite in terms of historical novels set in Newcastle.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2024
This didn’t quite go how I thought it would but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of layers throughout. I loved the mix of bringing the past in to the present and making it relevant. A fantastic read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews