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The Giant's Necklace
It all began with a necklace, made of glistening pink cowrie shells. A long, long necklace that had taken Cherry days – weeks – of careful, painstaking work. It was nearly complete, and Cherry was determined not only that it would be the longest necklace she had ever made, but that it would be fit for a giant! But the end of the summer holidays had arrived. "You've only got today, Cherry," said her mother. "Just today, that's all." Cherry didn't mind, a day would be enough – she only needed a few more shells after all. So, amidst the taunts of her older brothers, she set out to search for them. Then the clouds grew dark and the waves grew large, and as the storm blew in, Cherry realized, to her horror, that she was cut off from the shore. From then on, events began to take a decidedly dark turn. And one from which there was no turning back...
80 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2016
About the author
Michael Morpurgo
649 books3,111 followersSir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 6, 2016
Eleven year old Cherry is on holiday with her family. She decides that she would like to make a seashell necklace fit for a giant, but the giants have very wide necks, which means she needs lots of shells.
On their last day, Cherry realises that she still hasn’t made the necklace big enough and asks her mum if she can stay for a little longer on the beach, near the cottage that they are renting. Her mum agrees that she can, for just a little while.
Cherry is so occupied with collecting her shells, that she doesn’t see the big black clouds rolling in, and the waves getting bigger. By the time she notices, it’s too late. She is stuck, cut off from the shore. Her only means of escape is to climb the rocks high enough to get to safety.
Will Cherry manage to get to safety? Will she be able to finish her necklace? And just who might she meet on her journey back to the cottage?
The Giant’s Necklace is a ghost story for children. As you might have gathered, this isn’t a lovey-dovey, sweet children’s book. This is a book for older children who love adventure/ghost tales.
Written by Michael Morpurgo, who is a fantastic author, he has the skills and the expertise to drag you into the story and have you clinging on to the characters, hoping that everything will be okay in the end.
The book follows Cherry’s story, who is such a lovely young girl. She is determined, and no teasing from her older brothers will stop her building her necklace.
The beautiful illustrations throughout will help children have a better connection with the story, and help them to visualise the words that they are reading.
As well as being a ghost story, the book also gets across the powerful message about how quickly you can suddenly find yourself in danger whilst at the beach, and that by taking care, you won’t end up in Cherry’s predicament.
I loved this book, and Michael certainly got me with the ending, as I really didn’t see it coming, and was shocked.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
On their last day, Cherry realises that she still hasn’t made the necklace big enough and asks her mum if she can stay for a little longer on the beach, near the cottage that they are renting. Her mum agrees that she can, for just a little while.
Cherry is so occupied with collecting her shells, that she doesn’t see the big black clouds rolling in, and the waves getting bigger. By the time she notices, it’s too late. She is stuck, cut off from the shore. Her only means of escape is to climb the rocks high enough to get to safety.
Will Cherry manage to get to safety? Will she be able to finish her necklace? And just who might she meet on her journey back to the cottage?
The Giant’s Necklace is a ghost story for children. As you might have gathered, this isn’t a lovey-dovey, sweet children’s book. This is a book for older children who love adventure/ghost tales.
Written by Michael Morpurgo, who is a fantastic author, he has the skills and the expertise to drag you into the story and have you clinging on to the characters, hoping that everything will be okay in the end.
The book follows Cherry’s story, who is such a lovely young girl. She is determined, and no teasing from her older brothers will stop her building her necklace.
The beautiful illustrations throughout will help children have a better connection with the story, and help them to visualise the words that they are reading.
As well as being a ghost story, the book also gets across the powerful message about how quickly you can suddenly find yourself in danger whilst at the beach, and that by taking care, you won’t end up in Cherry’s predicament.
I loved this book, and Michael certainly got me with the ending, as I really didn’t see it coming, and was shocked.
Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com
December 4, 2019
This book is a tense and thrilling ghost story, which is written with an amazing descriptive style throughout. It leaves the reader questioning what is reality and what is actually happening; but in an extremely subtle way. The story revolves around a girl called Cherry, who is on holiday with her family and sets herself the task of collecting glistening pink cowrie shells from the sea shore to make a necklace fit for a giant. Events take a dark turn when Cherry finds herself stranded by the sea and endeavours to find her way home.
June 19, 2023
A nice short ghost story
March 4, 2021
Je ne connaissais rien de cette histoire avant de l'emprunter par hasard à la bibliothèque. J'étais loin de me douter de la tournure qu'elle prendrait. Une histoire bouleversante qui me rappelle légèrement les contes de Dickens et La petite filles aux allumettes.
June 4, 2019
A short read with beautiful illustrations!
I remember listening to this story on tape as a child and recently feeling the urge to read it as an adult. Powerfully emotional, 'The Giant's Necklace,' tells a heartbreaking story about a girl named Cherry.
Cherry, determined to finish her extremely long shell necklace, her 'giant's necklace,' stays on the beach to collect shells after her family go home. It is the last day of her holiday and she is eager to complete her project. But then she gets stuck...
This story is simply written, so much so I read it in two sittings. However, it doesn't take away from the book as a devastating tale of an extremely sweet young girl. It is written for children and therefore challenging themes are written in a way that allows topics to be addressed, but not brutally so.
There isn't too much I can say about this short read except pick it up whilst sitting on a beach on the Cornish coast (for the atmosphere!) It can be read in one sitting and is a lovely, albeit sad, little story...
I remember listening to this story on tape as a child and recently feeling the urge to read it as an adult. Powerfully emotional, 'The Giant's Necklace,' tells a heartbreaking story about a girl named Cherry.
Cherry, determined to finish her extremely long shell necklace, her 'giant's necklace,' stays on the beach to collect shells after her family go home. It is the last day of her holiday and she is eager to complete her project. But then she gets stuck...
This story is simply written, so much so I read it in two sittings. However, it doesn't take away from the book as a devastating tale of an extremely sweet young girl. It is written for children and therefore challenging themes are written in a way that allows topics to be addressed, but not brutally so.
There isn't too much I can say about this short read except pick it up whilst sitting on a beach on the Cornish coast (for the atmosphere!) It can be read in one sitting and is a lovely, albeit sad, little story...
August 29, 2021
Beautifully written and illustrated but be warned it has a sad ending so not really q bedtime story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
A ghost story for children, beautifully illustrated. The topic of death is dealt smoothly as part of life. Good way to talk with children about loss and grieving.
November 7, 2017
This book is absolutely fantastic. Morpurgo caught my attention from the very beginning. Cherry was an interesting and intense character. As someone growing up in a busy household and the youngest of the siblings she came across fearless and determined from the start. The bond between her and her older brothers as well as her parents seemed to be very strong and endearing which was lovely to read. At the same time, she was clearly a girl who liked to be independent and had her own ideas of what she wanted to achieve giving her character resilence, at times slightly obnoxious. It is the last day of the family holiday and Cherry is on a mission to accomplish a very long necklace that has evidently taken up much of her time and patience. She was determined and clearly not leaving the beach until she has collected enough shells to finish her masterpiece 'the giants necklace'. Eventually, this leads to a horrific event whereby Cherry finds herself compromising her own safety in order to finish the necklace and the consequences are catastrophic. The book takes a carefully created twist which enables the reader to make some assumptions as to what happens to Cherry and the ending clarified to me what I had already assumed, although this still managed to create shock and provoked many emotions on the last few pages. The book is a whirlwind of cleverness and I absolutely adored the way we got to walk with Cherry through her experience. It suggested that not everything is worth fighting and risking things for and that being determined and strong-willed can be a positive thing when building strong relationships with people and being able to 'hold your ground' however sometimes you have to respect and be grateful for things you have already achieved not overlook them or force yourself to try to be better as this can have long-term consequences. Is it worth the risk? Is what you achieved enough? Do you need to always push yourself to be the best? Could this end badly? Can you learn to enjoy what you already possess? Does everything have to be bigger and better? Some great life lessons and yet again Morpurgo has astonished me with his clever thinking and beautiful illustrations.
November 14, 2017
I think that this book is a masterpiece of words, includes the crucial elements which I think make a lovely story, which are creativity, a little bit a of sadness and emotion, some mystery and a little happiness at some point.
This story is a ghost story, but not a scary one, although young and sensitive children will probably feel upset and very emotional and cry.
This story is about a 11-year-old girl called Cherry, and how she is making a huge necklace for a giant to wear. An old fishing line covered in seaweed inspired to make this necklace, only that she made hers out of a piece of long string and pink cowrie shells. She lived by the sea, and since it was the summer holidays, she collected the shells for the necklace. There were many of those shells on the beach, but because she wanted perfect shells, that's what took the time. Because it is her last day of summer vacation, she has only has a limited amount of time to collect the many shells she still needs.
She is so immersed in collecting these shells she does not notice a storm rolling in and the tide rising until it is too late and she is cut off from the little cove leading to her home.
She tries to escape, but then suddenly a huge wave comes and takes her away. As she goes down she is conscious that she is drowning and clutches her shells to her chest. Those are her last thinking thoughts before the sea takes her away. Here is one of the main clues that she died. I kind of guessed she died from here but then since the story continues and she is still in it, it came to me as a little surprise that she died.
She tries to climb the cliff leading to her home and succeeds but also finds some other ghosts along the way. After this she comes home and then finds out the shocking truth and understands that she no longer belongs with the living but has passed on instead.
This story is a ghost story, but not a scary one, although young and sensitive children will probably feel upset and very emotional and cry.
This story is about a 11-year-old girl called Cherry, and how she is making a huge necklace for a giant to wear. An old fishing line covered in seaweed inspired to make this necklace, only that she made hers out of a piece of long string and pink cowrie shells. She lived by the sea, and since it was the summer holidays, she collected the shells for the necklace. There were many of those shells on the beach, but because she wanted perfect shells, that's what took the time. Because it is her last day of summer vacation, she has only has a limited amount of time to collect the many shells she still needs.
She is so immersed in collecting these shells she does not notice a storm rolling in and the tide rising until it is too late and she is cut off from the little cove leading to her home.
She tries to escape, but then suddenly a huge wave comes and takes her away. As she goes down she is conscious that she is drowning and clutches her shells to her chest. Those are her last thinking thoughts before the sea takes her away. Here is one of the main clues that she died. I kind of guessed she died from here but then since the story continues and she is still in it, it came to me as a little surprise that she died.
She tries to climb the cliff leading to her home and succeeds but also finds some other ghosts along the way. After this she comes home and then finds out the shocking truth and understands that she no longer belongs with the living but has passed on instead.
October 16, 2022
Cherry and her four older, rowdy brothers love being on a hideaway beach they found years before. Their family has rented a small granite cottage for the summer holidays as long as she can remember, and below it is a private beach, with rock pools and lots of fun to be had.
This year, Cherry decides she is going to make a necklace from small shells scattered through the sand. It stretches across their holiday house kitchen, but isn't quite long enough yet. Her brother and mum ask her who it is for, as it is sooo long.
"It's for a giant," she said.
Her brothers laugh, and her mum warns that they are going home tomorrow. But Cherry is determined to finish it. Some more time spent on their tiny beach will do the trick.
Later, down on the beach, Mum reads, dad dozes and the boys dive, snorkel and swim, while Cherry gathers more shells. Her family leave one by one reminding her to watch the tide and not to swim alone. But the tide sneaks up on her and she is cut off from safety.
As she tries to leave, the waves have other ideas. She decides to climb above them instead, up the rocky cliff. Hang on... She looks again. There is a light coming from higher up...
At only 80 pages, this is a quick read, but Michael Morpurgo's skilled storytelling and the dozens of expressive pencil sketches throughout by illustrator Briony May Smith, make it seem so much more.
The family dynamics are explained in only a smattering of sentences but the reader will feel the love in it, even as friendly teasing is the norm.
Just as we all do at some time, character Cherry is so focused on her task (gathering shells), that everything around her changes and the task suddenly isn't the most important after all.
A twist in the ending will surprise, delight and leave young readers wondering about this family after they put this book down.
This year, Cherry decides she is going to make a necklace from small shells scattered through the sand. It stretches across their holiday house kitchen, but isn't quite long enough yet. Her brother and mum ask her who it is for, as it is sooo long.
"It's for a giant," she said.
Her brothers laugh, and her mum warns that they are going home tomorrow. But Cherry is determined to finish it. Some more time spent on their tiny beach will do the trick.
Later, down on the beach, Mum reads, dad dozes and the boys dive, snorkel and swim, while Cherry gathers more shells. Her family leave one by one reminding her to watch the tide and not to swim alone. But the tide sneaks up on her and she is cut off from safety.
As she tries to leave, the waves have other ideas. She decides to climb above them instead, up the rocky cliff. Hang on... She looks again. There is a light coming from higher up...
At only 80 pages, this is a quick read, but Michael Morpurgo's skilled storytelling and the dozens of expressive pencil sketches throughout by illustrator Briony May Smith, make it seem so much more.
The family dynamics are explained in only a smattering of sentences but the reader will feel the love in it, even as friendly teasing is the norm.
Just as we all do at some time, character Cherry is so focused on her task (gathering shells), that everything around her changes and the task suddenly isn't the most important after all.
A twist in the ending will surprise, delight and leave young readers wondering about this family after they put this book down.
December 23, 2016
This felt very much like one of Dickens' ghost stories, short and atmospheric, with a twist in the tale. It is unlike any other Morpurgo book I've read.
It would be a good 'pick up' for a reading lesson, it only took me 25 minutes to read, and the text is well interspersed with some lovely illustrations by Smith (not an illustration I know, usually Michael Rosen collaborates with Morpurgo on these short stories), and they gave it an 'upper primary' feel.
Cherry and her family are on holiday, in the same coastal cottage they have every year. The youngest, and only girl, she is loved and teased in equal measure, and is determined to finish her 5000 shell Giant's Necklace of pink cowries before they leave the following day. On their last afternoon at the beach, Cherry stays behind and doesn't see the tide and waves coming in.
The 80 page story moves quickly from scene to scene, as Cherry finds herself sheltering in an underground mine, with a light up ahead...
The story ends very suddenly for the author, with an ending that his usual readers won't be expecting. I did want more detail, in the mines, and in the final pages. It may upset some young readers/listeners not used to such finishes.
As ever, it's a well told tale that has excellent descriptive sections (the waves as white horses) and excitement (as we worry for Cherry in the incoming tides).
A very attractive hardback edition with slip cover, it's also a bit of an old-fashioned morality tale for children, that could act as a warning on how to behave near the sea.
With thanks to Walker books for the sample copy, sent for review purposes.
It would be a good 'pick up' for a reading lesson, it only took me 25 minutes to read, and the text is well interspersed with some lovely illustrations by Smith (not an illustration I know, usually Michael Rosen collaborates with Morpurgo on these short stories), and they gave it an 'upper primary' feel.
Cherry and her family are on holiday, in the same coastal cottage they have every year. The youngest, and only girl, she is loved and teased in equal measure, and is determined to finish her 5000 shell Giant's Necklace of pink cowries before they leave the following day. On their last afternoon at the beach, Cherry stays behind and doesn't see the tide and waves coming in.
The 80 page story moves quickly from scene to scene, as Cherry finds herself sheltering in an underground mine, with a light up ahead...
The story ends very suddenly for the author, with an ending that his usual readers won't be expecting. I did want more detail, in the mines, and in the final pages. It may upset some young readers/listeners not used to such finishes.
As ever, it's a well told tale that has excellent descriptive sections (the waves as white horses) and excitement (as we worry for Cherry in the incoming tides).
A very attractive hardback edition with slip cover, it's also a bit of an old-fashioned morality tale for children, that could act as a warning on how to behave near the sea.
With thanks to Walker books for the sample copy, sent for review purposes.
March 10, 2022
Oh, my gosh, what a shocker. Cherry has spent her holiday in Cornwall making a giant necklace out of thousands of cowrie shells. On the family's last day at their summer cottage they go to a cove. While Cherry hunts for enough shells to make sure her necklace stretches all the way to the toaster, her brothers swim and her parents sunbathe and read.
When it's time to go, Cherry still needs more shells so her parents go off to pack and eventually her brothers leave, as well. Cherry has been reminded that she might be left behind and warned to be careful.
But while she's collecting her shells, she doesn't notice the storm moving in. Long story short, she drowns, meets the ghosts of two miners, and when she finds her way home discovers that no one can hear her. The end. Kind of a shocking and abrupt ending and so sad. I understand the thought that the book could help children deal with death but even though many hints are dropped that she's not alive, it was too sad and startling for me.
I love the illustrations. That's one of the best things about the book.
When it's time to go, Cherry still needs more shells so her parents go off to pack and eventually her brothers leave, as well. Cherry has been reminded that she might be left behind and warned to be careful.
But while she's collecting her shells, she doesn't notice the storm moving in. Long story short, she drowns, meets the ghosts of two miners, and when she finds her way home discovers that no one can hear her. The end. Kind of a shocking and abrupt ending and so sad. I understand the thought that the book could help children deal with death but even though many hints are dropped that she's not alive, it was too sad and startling for me.
I love the illustrations. That's one of the best things about the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2018
I love Briony May Smith's illustrations and picked this up after seeing it mentioned as illustrated by her and written by Michael Morpurgo - what a team! Described as a slightly creepy tale for children, set in Cornwall, I was interested to see where it would go. I loved how Cherry's relationship with her older brother's was described as they constantly needle at each other, but it is never hurtful because they adore each other. This is such a perfect description of sibling relationships in big families! The colours in the illustrations change as Cherry faces being cut off from safety by the incoming tide. I particularly liked the white horses tossing their manes as the surf grew higher. The ending took me a bit by surprise and felt rather abrupt. If your child is sensitive, I would particularly recommend pre-reading!
June 12, 2019
This story is about a beloved, lovable girl and the afterlife. It’s a ghost story gently told, but a bit shocking at the very end when the main character realizes she has passed on. The reader guesses this halfway through the story. Because this story does not reflect my beliefs about eternal life, I don’t particularly find this helpful for children to read; maybe it might be appropriate for an older child to read with me and discuss how many people find this story kind and sweet, but it’s just not what I believe is true. Because it doesn’t reflect truth, I don’t find it helpful. It strongly pulls on imagination and emotion, but it conveys untruth. Maybe it can also springboard a discussion about tricky feelings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2019
Quite often children books are simple and meant for young minds, but all Morpurgo's children stories warm my heart.
Sharing a name with the main characters in this book, I feel unusually attached at times, especially when he describes her stubbornness, fear, and trust in people.
Cherry's encounters and the ending of the story aren't unexpected, really, but the words indulged me so much that I truly felt for her as the various happened.
I'm glad to have discovered this writer when I was just a kid.
Sharing a name with the main characters in this book, I feel unusually attached at times, especially when he describes her stubbornness, fear, and trust in people.
Cherry's encounters and the ending of the story aren't unexpected, really, but the words indulged me so much that I truly felt for her as the various happened.
I'm glad to have discovered this writer when I was just a kid.
January 26, 2024
I read this book as a small girl in class and wrote a report on it and always remembered how much I loved it but could never find it in any library that I went to - fast forward a couple of years later where online shopping becomes a thing and voila! We’re reunited. I read this book again recently and it brought back so many childhood memories for me and I was just as hooked as an adult as I was as a child. Very heartbreaking but gripping story with a twist at the end. I won’t ever not love this story.
November 22, 2017
Without giving anything away... I didn't see that coming! This was a short story about a girl on holiday wanting to complete a necklace she is making out of shells. My book was a Kindle version, and the illustrations came through beautifully in electronic format. I was a little surprised about the abrupt ending of the book, but the story was well written (as would be expected of Michael Morpurgo) and generally endearing.
November 9, 2017
We read this together as a family before bedtime (kids age 6 & 9). It is a beautifully and well written story: beautiful & sad all at the same time with an unexpected twist of a ghost story (but not the scary kind). The illustrations detracted from the twist and helped bring the metaphors to life. We all enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2021
Un album, ou plutôt une nouvelle illustrée, qui respecte très bien les codes du genre: attachement au personnage, indices qui présagent de la chute inexorable de cette tragique histoire, et envie de relire le texte une fois terminé pour comprendre pourquoi on ne s'y attendait pas !
Sans pathos, cette histoire permet de mettre en garde contre les dangers de la mer, de ses marées et tempêtes...
Sans pathos, cette histoire permet de mettre en garde contre les dangers de la mer, de ses marées et tempêtes...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2022
I found it a beautifully written story with gorgeous illustrations. I read it out loud to my 7yro son. He was very interested in the story, until the end. When he realised it was a ghost story, he said he disliked it. Maybe he is a bit too young for this type of book, maybe he is just not a fan of ghost stories. 🤷🏻♀️
February 23, 2023
The last time I read this, I was 10. It’s been almost two decades and somehow I never forgot this story in a collection called “The White Horse of Zennor”. I searched for it for years, and re-reading it again, I marvel at the words and how they embedded themselves into my mind. Certain phrased are exactly as I remembered them, and others came to me like a long-lost friend.
November 4, 2016
Great for middle grade readers who like a twist in the sotry. Cherry is so busy hunting for cowrie shells that she doesnt notice the sea creeping in behind her.
February 28, 2017
4* for the illustrations
2* for the story
2* for the story
August 5, 2017
An absolutely lovely and beautiful book.
August 15, 2019
584 - 2019
October 12, 2019
A beautiful and poignant tale.
December 4, 2019
Wow, this book was not what I thought it would be. Broke my heart and made me cry with my little Nephew.
Read
March 23, 2020Good book very emotional no words to say...
March 26, 2020
I read this as a child and for some reason I've never forgotten it so decided to reread.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews