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The Dark Beneath
GCSEs are over and 16-year-old Imogen is looking forward to a perfect, lazy English summer. But her world is turned upside down by three refugees, all hiding from life. Anthony is fourteen, already an outcast, bullied and shunned by his peers. Farid is an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, who has traveled across continents seeking peace. And Gordon Craig is a bitter, lonely old man. She knows all of them, but she doesn't know how dangerous they are. Being part of their lives could cost Imogen her own. Supercharged with tension and drama, this novel explores what happens when the fabric of normality is ripped apart, exposing the terrifying dark beneath.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
61 people want to read
About the author
Alan Gibbons
165 books56 followersAlan Gibbons is an author of children's books and a Blue Peter Book Award. He currently lives in Liverpool, England, where he used to teach in a primary school. His father was a farm laborer, but was hurt in an accident when Alan was eight years old. The family had to move to Crewe, Cheshire where Alan experienced bullying for the first time. He began to write for his pupils as a teacher, but never tried to get any of his work published.
Gibbons trained to be a teacher in his mid-thirties and starting writing short stories for his students. Later, he began to write professionally. In 2000, he won the Blue Peter Book Award in the category "The Book I Couldn't Put Down" category for Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards. He was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and shortlisted twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has also won the Leicester Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award, the Angus Book Award, the Catalyst Award, the Birmingham Chills Award, the Salford Young Adult Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award.
Gibbons trained to be a teacher in his mid-thirties and starting writing short stories for his students. Later, he began to write professionally. In 2000, he won the Blue Peter Book Award in the category "The Book I Couldn't Put Down" category for Shadow of the Minotaur. He was a judge for the 2001 Blue Peter Book Awards. He was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 2001 and 2003 and shortlisted twice for the Booktrust Teenage Prize. He has also won the Leicester Book of the Year, the Stockport Book Award, the Angus Book Award, the Catalyst Award, the Birmingham Chills Award, the Salford Young Adult Book Award and the Salford Librarians' Special Award.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 1, 2016
5 Words: Obsession, injustice, trust, love, hope.
I have marked out so many quotes from this book. The writing is beautiful, haunting. And the story rings out with a truth that should make us all feel slightly uncomfortable. UKYA at its best.
This is definitely one that will stick with you. Even ten years after my first read, I could still feel this sitting there at the back of my mind, rising every so often to the front. So I read it again.
I have marked out so many quotes from this book. The writing is beautiful, haunting. And the story rings out with a truth that should make us all feel slightly uncomfortable. UKYA at its best.
This is definitely one that will stick with you. Even ten years after my first read, I could still feel this sitting there at the back of my mind, rising every so often to the front. So I read it again.
December 31, 2019
Ο Gibbons γράφει με τόση ευαισθησία που θα ήθελα να πω ότι είναι ειλικρινής κι αυθόρμητη, αλλά είναι τόσο εύστοχη που δεν μπορεί να μην είναι δουλεμένη. Χτίζει χαρακτήρες που όλοι τους ξέρουμε – τους αναγνωρίζουμε στον περίγυρό μας κι ίσως τους συναναστρεφόμαστε καθημερινά. Άλλους τους απεχθανόμαστε, άλλους τους συμπαθούμε κι άλλους απλώς τους καταλαβαίνουμε.
η συνέχεια: https://bookerys.blogspot.com/2019/12...
η συνέχεια: https://bookerys.blogspot.com/2019/12...
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February 19, 2012great book! very good plot with an amazing twist. very memorable and something i am definitely interested in rereading.
May 18, 2019
Several potentially interesting stories were started but led nowhere.
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May 8, 2020Wow. As an older book
December 30, 2023
An interesting look into the inside thoughts of people that you would not suspect from their appearance and interactions with you.
May 27, 2025
Cracking
An excellent read - well written, well thought out plot. i liked it!
An excellent read - well written, well thought out plot. i liked it!
October 14, 2012
This book was sitting on my shelf for a while before I decided to pick it up and give it a try. It has been a while since I first read a book by Alan Gibbons, called "Hold On", and I enjoyed reading that book a lot. On the other hand, I always hesitate when it comes to reading a book that has Muslim/Arab characters, especially if that book is in English and written by a non-Arab or a non-Muslim. I avoid them because usually those books would be full of wrong and rather racist images of Muslims and Arabs, or would generally be following stereotypes as a character guideline. And, it may seem childish now, but it used to really bother me. In the past, I couldn't even stand watching movies or anything that could be offensive (silly, I know).
Now though, I simply don't care that much. Sure, it bothers me when someone insults my religion or race or country and all, but I learned not to mind it anymore. I don't pay it any attention because, at the end of the day, it doesn't change anything. The truth is the truth, whether someone chooses to believe it or not.
And Alan Gibbons proved to me that not all minds are ignorant and believe all they see/hear on the media. In fact, he is a living example of the majority of non-Muslim/non-Arab people I know who are not ignorant at all, and choose to learn about the truth rather than just listen to what others say. I could even say "The Dark Beneath" encouraged me to read more of such books, without worrying about the wrong-or-right details.
A-NY-WAY :p
What I enjoy the most about Alan Gibbons' writing is his style of delivering a specific message to you as a reader, while still adding a bit of a thrill to his story. I couldn't help speeding through the last 50 pages or so; I was hooked! When I first read the back of the book, what I thought was that three random strangers actually turned up at Imogen's house as refugees. I'm not sure why, but it hadn't crossed my mind that they could be exactly what the text on the back cover said "...three refugees, all escaping from life ". And that was exactly what they were, each in his own way, hiding from something. Another part I misunderstood was the theme of the book, judging from the cover and the text from the back, I thought the book would have more violence, crime and such. And I simply loved how Alan Gibbons simply, and indirectly, showed me that just as I helplessly judge a book by it's cover (and judged the content by the back cover), I also judged a fictional character by a few words I read too much into. Just because I heard (or read) something, doesn't mean I heard it right.
On the other hand, one thing I didn't enjoy that much was the ending. It felt very abrupt, and I wished there had been an extension or more to add to it. Maybe it's because I was comparing "The Dark Beneath" to "Hold On", or maybe because I was reading it very fast near the end, but the ending was a bit of a disappointment.
All in all, a good read that I recommend. :]
Now though, I simply don't care that much. Sure, it bothers me when someone insults my religion or race or country and all, but I learned not to mind it anymore. I don't pay it any attention because, at the end of the day, it doesn't change anything. The truth is the truth, whether someone chooses to believe it or not.
And Alan Gibbons proved to me that not all minds are ignorant and believe all they see/hear on the media. In fact, he is a living example of the majority of non-Muslim/non-Arab people I know who are not ignorant at all, and choose to learn about the truth rather than just listen to what others say. I could even say "The Dark Beneath" encouraged me to read more of such books, without worrying about the wrong-or-right details.
A-NY-WAY :p
What I enjoy the most about Alan Gibbons' writing is his style of delivering a specific message to you as a reader, while still adding a bit of a thrill to his story. I couldn't help speeding through the last 50 pages or so; I was hooked! When I first read the back of the book, what I thought was that three random strangers actually turned up at Imogen's house as refugees. I'm not sure why, but it hadn't crossed my mind that they could be exactly what the text on the back cover said "...three refugees, all escaping from life ". And that was exactly what they were, each in his own way, hiding from something. Another part I misunderstood was the theme of the book, judging from the cover and the text from the back, I thought the book would have more violence, crime and such. And I simply loved how Alan Gibbons simply, and indirectly, showed me that just as I helplessly judge a book by it's cover (and judged the content by the back cover), I also judged a fictional character by a few words I read too much into. Just because I heard (or read) something, doesn't mean I heard it right.
On the other hand, one thing I didn't enjoy that much was the ending. It felt very abrupt, and I wished there had been an extension or more to add to it. Maybe it's because I was comparing "The Dark Beneath" to "Hold On", or maybe because I was reading it very fast near the end, but the ending was a bit of a disappointment.
All in all, a good read that I recommend. :]
February 2, 2014
I like this book, I don't love it but I don't hate it at all its pretty good, I love how Mr.Gibbons added stalkers into the twist very realistic I bet half of us can relate to this book by having a stalker like the main character did, but I find very unrealistic that a fourteen year old would stalk someone I wish Mr.Gibbons would change Anthony's age to someone who around Imogen (main character) age or a year older maybe that would make the story better. I would recommend this to anyone for them to read it. Its a good book try it, this book gave me goosebumps a lot
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2015
The book revealed some of the dark and disturbing reality's of life and how dark people can be beneath what they want us to see. This book casts light on how the way we view someone, is not necessarily how or what they are. Someone who may seem like a good guy who is happy to help the odd person out may also be a terrible rapist who likes to beat up people he barely knows.
The book also showed the authors opinion on anti-refugee people and what their like in his opinion.The book was written in an airy tone that suited the book well. Would reccomend
The book also showed the authors opinion on anti-refugee people and what their like in his opinion.The book was written in an airy tone that suited the book well. Would reccomend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2007
I don't know quite how to talk about this one. It's quite odd, sometimes, in the way it's put together, but it draws you in. And it's hard to define in terms of an overall story arc. If it's a coming of age story, it's for Anthony, the 14 year old recluse, rather than Imogen, the main character. And there's a doomed love, with her and the refugee Farid. And there's obsession. It's a quiet story, and an intriguing one. Just I'm not sure what to make of it.
January 3, 2013
Initially quite slow going, began it three times (probably because I was too distracted, not because it was hard to get into) but ended up being quite a compelling story about migrant issues and the destructive power of 'perceived' love. Would probably make a good book to read in school. :)
December 21, 2012
This book was hauntingly creepy. However it was a good read but it was somewhat lacking in depth and characterization. The main characters seemed to have multiple personalities. And as a whole this book didn't touch me like it should have.
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May 7, 2011I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! I RECOMMEND TO ANYONE WHO LIKES BOOKS THAT KEEP YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WONDERING WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT!
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December 5, 2012Yet another one that didn't grab me.
August 19, 2015
I LOVED IT!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews