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Secret Heart
Joe Maloney is out of place in this world. His mother wants him to be a man, and he can't be that yet. His only friend, Stanny Mole, wants to teach him how to kill, and Joe can't learn that. Joe's mind is always somewhere else: on the weird creatures he sees in the distant sky, the songs he hears in the air around him, the vibrations of life he feels everywhere. Everybody laughs at Joe Maloney.
And then a tattered circus comes to town, and a tiger comes for him. It leads him out into the night, and nothing in Joe Maloney's world is ever the same again.
The transformative power of imagination and beauty flows through this story of a boy who walks where others wouldn't dare to go, a boy with the heart of a tiger, an unlikely hero who knows that sometimes the most important things are the most mysterious.
—From the hardcover edition.
And then a tattered circus comes to town, and a tiger comes for him. It leads him out into the night, and nothing in Joe Maloney's world is ever the same again.
The transformative power of imagination and beauty flows through this story of a boy who walks where others wouldn't dare to go, a boy with the heart of a tiger, an unlikely hero who knows that sometimes the most important things are the most mysterious.
—From the hardcover edition.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 15, 2001
6 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
David Almond
121 books823 followersDavid Almond is a British children's writer who has penned several novels, each one to critical acclaim. He was born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia. When he was young, he found his love of writing when some short stories of his were published in a local magazine. He started out as an author of adult fiction before finding his niche writing literature for young adults.
His first children's novel, Skellig (1998), set in Newcastle, won the Whitbread Children's Novel of the Year Award and also the Carnegie Medal. His subsequent novels are: Kit's Wilderness (1999), Heaven Eyes (2000), Secret Heart (2001), The Fire Eaters (2003) and Clay (2005). His first play aimed at adolescents, Wild Girl, Wild Boy, toured in 2001 and was published in 2002.
His works are highly philosophical and thus appeal to children and adults alike. Recurring themes throughout include the complex relationships between apparent opposites (such as life and death, reality and fiction, past and future); forms of education; growing up and adapting to change; the nature of 'the self'. He has been greatly influenced by the works of the English Romantic poet William Blake.
He is an author often suggested on National Curriculum reading lists in the United Kingdom and has attracted the attention of academics who specialise in the study of children's literature.
Almond currently lives with his family in Northumberland, England.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2010).
His first children's novel, Skellig (1998), set in Newcastle, won the Whitbread Children's Novel of the Year Award and also the Carnegie Medal. His subsequent novels are: Kit's Wilderness (1999), Heaven Eyes (2000), Secret Heart (2001), The Fire Eaters (2003) and Clay (2005). His first play aimed at adolescents, Wild Girl, Wild Boy, toured in 2001 and was published in 2002.
His works are highly philosophical and thus appeal to children and adults alike. Recurring themes throughout include the complex relationships between apparent opposites (such as life and death, reality and fiction, past and future); forms of education; growing up and adapting to change; the nature of 'the self'. He has been greatly influenced by the works of the English Romantic poet William Blake.
He is an author often suggested on National Curriculum reading lists in the United Kingdom and has attracted the attention of academics who specialise in the study of children's literature.
Almond currently lives with his family in Northumberland, England.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2010).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 27, 2014
I should finish my second reading of this amazing book today.
David Almond is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of--if not the top of my list--my favorite novels of his. The emotional tone is simply astounding. And he shows how beautiful writing can be, even without sentence variety. He starts so many sentences with "Noun verb blah blah blah." Normally, this writing style gets old, but in Almond's hands it's nothing short of gorgeous. If you read only one of his books, most should probably sitck with Skellig, but this is the one I'd recommend.
THIRD READ:
Apparently, I had already read this twice. No wonder it seemed so familiar. However, it's no less beautiful. Almond's words are the best kind of simple: gorgeous and clear. You're never lost. You're never confused. And you're always enchanted.
Please, if you haven't read a David Almond book, do yourself a favor and pick one up. You'll be hard pressed to go wrong.
David Almond is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of--if not the top of my list--my favorite novels of his. The emotional tone is simply astounding. And he shows how beautiful writing can be, even without sentence variety. He starts so many sentences with "Noun verb blah blah blah." Normally, this writing style gets old, but in Almond's hands it's nothing short of gorgeous. If you read only one of his books, most should probably sitck with Skellig, but this is the one I'd recommend.
THIRD READ:
Apparently, I had already read this twice. No wonder it seemed so familiar. However, it's no less beautiful. Almond's words are the best kind of simple: gorgeous and clear. You're never lost. You're never confused. And you're always enchanted.
Please, if you haven't read a David Almond book, do yourself a favor and pick one up. You'll be hard pressed to go wrong.
June 24, 2021
Wonderful fable told with warmth and tenderness and an understanding of how it feels to be the odd one out.
September 21, 2014
I guess I didn't get it.
May 19, 2019
A book of magic. A story so beautiful, you'll cry.
August 22, 2023
The circus arrives at the small northern town of Helmouth. The name is a little red herring as nothing wicked that way comes. It doesn't have to, it's already there in the form of petty crime and bullying and one idiot adult who likes killing animals. The circus is really quite benign if a little ethereal and that matches the main character, Joe. If one sees Joe as autistic, in some way different, or living next door to the faery world is down to personal choice.
Joe dreams and inhabits his dream-world which is dominated by the beauty of nature and the natural world's beasts and creatures. The other children can't understand him and the bullies among them follow the way of their kind with taunts and threats. Only Stanny comes close and he is under the influence of the animal killer Joff, who wants to “make a man” of Joe and climb into bed with the boy's mother.
The circus proves itself to be full of eccentrics, or perhaps people touched by the supernatural, and they provide Joe with a respite from the town. Hackenschmidt the wrestling champion of the world, Wilfred and his little performing dogs, Charley Caruso the knife-thrower who lost his son and now calls every boy he sees his Tomasso, Nanty Solo fortune-teller and half blind white witch, and especially young Corinna the trapeze artist and tightrope walker, they all offer Joe their friendship. Or are they a part of Joe's nature world, a world he reveres almost religiously? It is they who house the tiger's memory and it is the tiger that haunts Joe and that forms Joe's quest. In the real world all that is left of the tiger is the striped skin but Joe must take the tiger back to the wild to give it life and freedom again.
The story is beautifully written, I suppose in the form of a folk tale with spikes of reality poking through its skin every now and again. With Corinna Joe finds his first girl friend and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief that he is growing up. Or is that the case? It is not absolutely certain that either Joe or Corinna are truly human beings. The only people who come through as solidly like us are the not very good folk of Helmouth. But why does the author have to make them all appear as unintelligent, idle, vicious working class layabouts? Only Joe's mother and the one schoolteacher who is mentioned, a deeply unpleasant man, seem to have jobs and for Joe's mother that is working in an off-licence (I don't know the American equivalent but it is a shop that sells alcohol and cigarettes). Perhaps there is an understory there from Mr. Almond's own upbringing.
I was waiting for the happy ending but even that was wafting away like a piece of thistledown.
“He gazed into Corinna's dark eyes. With everyone in the garden, he began to sleep. The world beneath them turned towards the day. The tiger crossed the wasteland. It padded back towards the forest through the night.”
Well, so much for that, I thought. Goodnight, Joe. Pleasant dreams. They are all you've ever had and it looks as if things aren't changing.
Joe dreams and inhabits his dream-world which is dominated by the beauty of nature and the natural world's beasts and creatures. The other children can't understand him and the bullies among them follow the way of their kind with taunts and threats. Only Stanny comes close and he is under the influence of the animal killer Joff, who wants to “make a man” of Joe and climb into bed with the boy's mother.
The circus proves itself to be full of eccentrics, or perhaps people touched by the supernatural, and they provide Joe with a respite from the town. Hackenschmidt the wrestling champion of the world, Wilfred and his little performing dogs, Charley Caruso the knife-thrower who lost his son and now calls every boy he sees his Tomasso, Nanty Solo fortune-teller and half blind white witch, and especially young Corinna the trapeze artist and tightrope walker, they all offer Joe their friendship. Or are they a part of Joe's nature world, a world he reveres almost religiously? It is they who house the tiger's memory and it is the tiger that haunts Joe and that forms Joe's quest. In the real world all that is left of the tiger is the striped skin but Joe must take the tiger back to the wild to give it life and freedom again.
The story is beautifully written, I suppose in the form of a folk tale with spikes of reality poking through its skin every now and again. With Corinna Joe finds his first girl friend and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief that he is growing up. Or is that the case? It is not absolutely certain that either Joe or Corinna are truly human beings. The only people who come through as solidly like us are the not very good folk of Helmouth. But why does the author have to make them all appear as unintelligent, idle, vicious working class layabouts? Only Joe's mother and the one schoolteacher who is mentioned, a deeply unpleasant man, seem to have jobs and for Joe's mother that is working in an off-licence (I don't know the American equivalent but it is a shop that sells alcohol and cigarettes). Perhaps there is an understory there from Mr. Almond's own upbringing.
I was waiting for the happy ending but even that was wafting away like a piece of thistledown.
“He gazed into Corinna's dark eyes. With everyone in the garden, he began to sleep. The world beneath them turned towards the day. The tiger crossed the wasteland. It padded back towards the forest through the night.”
Well, so much for that, I thought. Goodnight, Joe. Pleasant dreams. They are all you've ever had and it looks as if things aren't changing.
June 3, 2018
This story is about a boy named Joe Maloney. Who lives more inside his head than outside. He is not a very good student at the school. He has trouble with his speech. He sees things, creatures, just on the edge of eyesight that other people don't. Joe lives with his mother in Hellmouth. His days are spent trying to evade the demands of school and the taunts of the local bullies. Joe’s friend, Stanny, insists that Joe must toughen up, become a survivor – and he is adamant that a weekend in the wilderness with Stanny and his Uncle Jeff will do the trick. She tells Joe, ‘In the circus, there is a secret heart’ – a place of contained wildness where the barriers between the human and animal world are fluid. And indeed, Joe’s dreams are already stalked by a tiger, so real that his skin and its pelt begin to feel as one Into Joe’s unhappy world comes Hackenschmidt Circus and with it the strangely familiar Corinna.
Throughout the book, there is a power of imagination and beauty of a boy who has a heart like that of the tiger. He walks on the way where everyone don’t dare. He also understands that the most important things are mysterious.
Throughout the book, there is a power of imagination and beauty of a boy who has a heart like that of the tiger. He walks on the way where everyone don’t dare. He also understands that the most important things are mysterious.
April 8, 2020
Once again David Almond writes a story that is at once accessible and profound. Once again his prose blurs the distinctions between the real and the imagined, and we enter into a world which feels real and yet has a hint of the magical about it.
Joe Malone is a loner. He prefers teh open countryside to being cramped in school. He is surrounded by people trying to make him fit with their definition of what a man should be.
When a small and dying circus comes to town, he finds a kindred spirit. In particular he finds someone who understands the reality of his secret heart.
This is not a long book. Had it been longer the adults might be more fleshed out and less inclined to just induce conflict. But the book works as it is, and the conflicts of societies expectations and our own desires, and so much more are all explored here in another wonderful tale by this first rate author.
Joe Malone is a loner. He prefers teh open countryside to being cramped in school. He is surrounded by people trying to make him fit with their definition of what a man should be.
When a small and dying circus comes to town, he finds a kindred spirit. In particular he finds someone who understands the reality of his secret heart.
This is not a long book. Had it been longer the adults might be more fleshed out and less inclined to just induce conflict. But the book works as it is, and the conflicts of societies expectations and our own desires, and so much more are all explored here in another wonderful tale by this first rate author.
May 14, 2025
Lovely and mysterious. A boy, loved and doted on by his mother, but a confused boy, an outcast boy, a boy who sees what others don't see, including a tiger roaming through the night. That boy encounters an old, failing, circus and a girl who he seems to know, who feels she knows him, though they have never met.
That encounter takes on a life of its own, and that boy and girl embark on a small adventure, that will change that boys life. Think running away to be with the circus, except there is a circus that is somehow expecting him to change their situation.
Told in lovely language, there is a overarching mystery feel to this novel. A language and feel that I truly enjoyed, even though at the end I was not sure I knew what happened, except a new connection between lost souls.
That encounter takes on a life of its own, and that boy and girl embark on a small adventure, that will change that boys life. Think running away to be with the circus, except there is a circus that is somehow expecting him to change their situation.
Told in lovely language, there is a overarching mystery feel to this novel. A language and feel that I truly enjoyed, even though at the end I was not sure I knew what happened, except a new connection between lost souls.
April 4, 2022
When I was reading the book all I could imagine was the film The Greatest Showman. The tents, trapeze, and posters and all circus paraphernalias. But in this verse, the circus is finally in its final days or, perhaps, in its early stages and starting anew.
The prose was highly explored in the book.
I guess it was a story of adventure for Joe and a fun adevnture indeed.
The book explores the perspective of a shy and creative child whom despises none and would make dreams into a reality. One day, a group of circus performers went to Helmouth(Joe's hometown) to perform their act in a tent. As to Joe's journey started to find his secret heart when that same night he dreamt of a tiger, and explored the wonders of the circus with a sweet companion.
The prose was highly explored in the book.
I guess it was a story of adventure for Joe and a fun adevnture indeed.
The book explores the perspective of a shy and creative child whom despises none and would make dreams into a reality. One day, a group of circus performers went to Helmouth(Joe's hometown) to perform their act in a tent. As to Joe's journey started to find his secret heart when that same night he dreamt of a tiger, and explored the wonders of the circus with a sweet companion.
July 4, 2020
Magical realism in a modern-day setting. The writing is superb as the author takes the reader through three days in the life of a young boy named Joe Maloney. Joe is different and lives in a world of his own, so he is bullied. Then a dying circus comes to town and his life changes. Full of quirky characters and vivid descriptions, this is a book to savour.
August 24, 2021
A lovely novel about a misfit boy and his inner life. Or perhaps it is about his reality, one that others are too distracted and busy to recognize? Either way, it is a hymn to creative thinking, and the lure of the imagination. By turns comic, thoughtful and deeply moving, this story will connect you with your inner truth. A great read.
March 18, 2017
You know when you were a little kid and the world was full of wonder. Grasslands became forests. Cats became tigers. And so forth. Kind of an ethereal, interconnecting dream world. That's what David Almond has produced with this little book about Joe, a dreamer kid who meets a bunch of circus performers when they visit his town.
It's about growing up and deciding who you want to be, and about the existence of magic and bad people, as well as inspirational ones too.
I liked the story, but the kind of feral stream-of-consciousness approach David took with this book was a little off-putting at times: just a bit too much of an ethereal, vague quality that could have done with a bit more nailing down.
And, if I'm honest, some of the adults' behaviours didn't really ring true for me either.
However, I love David's style of writing, it is unique, so it was still enjoyable to be in a world of magical realism.
It's about growing up and deciding who you want to be, and about the existence of magic and bad people, as well as inspirational ones too.
I liked the story, but the kind of feral stream-of-consciousness approach David took with this book was a little off-putting at times: just a bit too much of an ethereal, vague quality that could have done with a bit more nailing down.
And, if I'm honest, some of the adults' behaviours didn't really ring true for me either.
However, I love David's style of writing, it is unique, so it was still enjoyable to be in a world of magical realism.
June 29, 2020
it can be done in a couple of hours really,,but I have no idea what I just read, it gave me the feeling of 'the ocean at the end of the lane' by Neil Gaiman, that kind of weird magic and imagination invollved. but it has less of that pronounced magic in it. it was...nice..in a way, I guess.
July 25, 2020
A beautiful, dark novel told in beautiful poetic prose.
Visceral and heart warming. I pined for the characters to be real, so that I could actually meet them.
David Almond certainly stands out in terms of his writing. there is nobody else quite like him.
Absolutely adored this book.
Visceral and heart warming. I pined for the characters to be real, so that I could actually meet them.
David Almond certainly stands out in terms of his writing. there is nobody else quite like him.
Absolutely adored this book.
September 17, 2023
I didn't like this book at all - It was boring, I had no idea what was going on and it was just all over the place. And the ending felt rushed and boring. The idea was great but it just didn't do it for me.
September 19, 2019
Very good book. A bit confusing.
October 30, 2015
A ninth grade boy named Joe Maloney feels out of place. He feels out of place because he sees and hears things other people can not. Everybody picks on him because of how strange he is. Other kids call him only Maloney lalala…. Then a circus come to Helmouth where Joe lives. He met a trapeze artist named Corinna and they became friends. After knowing Corinna a tiger comes for him.
“Joe’s mind is always somewhere else: on the weird creatures he sees in the distant sky, the songs he hears in the air around him, the vibrations of life he feels everywhere.” Joe sees and hears many different things but what constantly comes for him is the tiger. Joe was probably a tiger in his past life or may still be one in his mind. When he meets Nanty Solo (part of the circus) she says he was (is) a tiger and tells him to eat a tiger bone and then “transforms” into a tiger. Nanty said to him that he has trouble with words (a stutter) because he is meant to be a tiger.
Later in the book him and Corinna went through the Black Bone Crags into the woods (the Silver Forest) in search for something. The tiger; that came to them in the night and wanted them to follow. When they are in the woods they notice a dead panther with no head. They find out it was Joff and Stanny Mole (Joe’s “friend”) who killed the panther so they scared them off with the tiger. Joff and Stanny could hear the tiger but could not see it, then they ran off into the woods.
When they get back to Helmouth they see Stanny and he asked what happened and if it was real. Joe then said it was not a dream. Stanny made it back but Joff was still lost in the woods. Joe and Corinna then went to where the circus was because it was the last day and then it would be gone. The kids were yelling at Joe and Corinna picking on them but they did not even do anything about it. They did not care anymore.
Joe did not care that they were picking on him because he finally realized that he matters (gifted). Corinna taught him to believe in himself and that he did matter. At the end Joe’s mom sees them outside of the circus tent and then they all go to Joe’s house (Joe, his mom, Corinna, Nanty Solo, Hackenschmidt, and the rest of the circus people). They all sat in the garden when they got there, to eat and talk. Even Stanny went there. That is how the last day of the circus ended, and the book.
This book is full of magical imagery and beautiful lyricism. The author also uses mysticism and realism. Imagination and beauty flows through this book. Joe is a boy who walks where others wouldn’t dare to go, and has a heart of a tiger. He is an unlikely hero who knows that sometimes the most important things are the most mysterious.
Quotes important to the book/story
1- “They were secret, things that grew from his secret heart.” (pg.66)
2- “The heart is beating in you as it should, then far beyond it is the secret one, like some creature panting in a deep dark cave.” (pg.87)
3- “Deep in the circus there’s a secret heart.” “In the circus, and in yourself. That’s what we’re moving toward.” (pg.118)
4- “It prowled only in our dreams, only in the hidden corners of our minds. It roared deep inside our secret hearts.” (pg.144)
5- “The tiger has chosen you to carry it out of the glowing blue tent and into the forest again.” (pg.147)
6- “He felt the heart, his tiger heart, drumming in his chest.” (pg.150)
7- “....Felt the tiger prowling through the forest of his mind, knew the tiger would prowl in him forevermore.” (pg. 176)
8- “You must keep your secret places for yourselves.” (pg.183)
“Joe’s mind is always somewhere else: on the weird creatures he sees in the distant sky, the songs he hears in the air around him, the vibrations of life he feels everywhere.” Joe sees and hears many different things but what constantly comes for him is the tiger. Joe was probably a tiger in his past life or may still be one in his mind. When he meets Nanty Solo (part of the circus) she says he was (is) a tiger and tells him to eat a tiger bone and then “transforms” into a tiger. Nanty said to him that he has trouble with words (a stutter) because he is meant to be a tiger.
Later in the book him and Corinna went through the Black Bone Crags into the woods (the Silver Forest) in search for something. The tiger; that came to them in the night and wanted them to follow. When they are in the woods they notice a dead panther with no head. They find out it was Joff and Stanny Mole (Joe’s “friend”) who killed the panther so they scared them off with the tiger. Joff and Stanny could hear the tiger but could not see it, then they ran off into the woods.
When they get back to Helmouth they see Stanny and he asked what happened and if it was real. Joe then said it was not a dream. Stanny made it back but Joff was still lost in the woods. Joe and Corinna then went to where the circus was because it was the last day and then it would be gone. The kids were yelling at Joe and Corinna picking on them but they did not even do anything about it. They did not care anymore.
Joe did not care that they were picking on him because he finally realized that he matters (gifted). Corinna taught him to believe in himself and that he did matter. At the end Joe’s mom sees them outside of the circus tent and then they all go to Joe’s house (Joe, his mom, Corinna, Nanty Solo, Hackenschmidt, and the rest of the circus people). They all sat in the garden when they got there, to eat and talk. Even Stanny went there. That is how the last day of the circus ended, and the book.
This book is full of magical imagery and beautiful lyricism. The author also uses mysticism and realism. Imagination and beauty flows through this book. Joe is a boy who walks where others wouldn’t dare to go, and has a heart of a tiger. He is an unlikely hero who knows that sometimes the most important things are the most mysterious.
Quotes important to the book/story
1- “They were secret, things that grew from his secret heart.” (pg.66)
2- “The heart is beating in you as it should, then far beyond it is the secret one, like some creature panting in a deep dark cave.” (pg.87)
3- “Deep in the circus there’s a secret heart.” “In the circus, and in yourself. That’s what we’re moving toward.” (pg.118)
4- “It prowled only in our dreams, only in the hidden corners of our minds. It roared deep inside our secret hearts.” (pg.144)
5- “The tiger has chosen you to carry it out of the glowing blue tent and into the forest again.” (pg.147)
6- “He felt the heart, his tiger heart, drumming in his chest.” (pg.150)
7- “....Felt the tiger prowling through the forest of his mind, knew the tiger would prowl in him forevermore.” (pg. 176)
8- “You must keep your secret places for yourselves.” (pg.183)
January 18, 2016
"He glides unfelt into their secret hearts"
'Absalom and Achitophel', by John Dryden
I really like this book, its style, its sense of imagination and scope, its strange characters, its beautiful descriptions plus the opening chapters were just magical.
My only point of complaint is that I expected more based on all the praises I had read for 'Secret Heart'... 1)This gripping book will enrich your soul and fire your imagination, 2) His best book yet and 3) Almond is a master novelist and this book is a triumph to add to the list. Although I do agree in part, for man Almond really knows how to write, I do think that it is exaggerated especially when one considers the wealth of children's literature available nowadays.
I have read some reviews that pointed out that Almond has written a lot of books, his best outshining 'Secret Heart'. I am definitely intrigued and excited to try more books penned by this fantastic author for they are proving themselves to be as unique as productive Iraq-USA peace talk. Despite not being 5/5 standard, I would also recommend 'Secret Heart', especially if it is available from your local library. It is a short book, quite simple too, but it is worth reading from beginning to end.
Not much more to say really, other than that this book has made me remember what style is all about.
'Absalom and Achitophel', by John Dryden
I really like this book, its style, its sense of imagination and scope, its strange characters, its beautiful descriptions plus the opening chapters were just magical.
My only point of complaint is that I expected more based on all the praises I had read for 'Secret Heart'... 1)This gripping book will enrich your soul and fire your imagination, 2) His best book yet and 3) Almond is a master novelist and this book is a triumph to add to the list. Although I do agree in part, for man Almond really knows how to write, I do think that it is exaggerated especially when one considers the wealth of children's literature available nowadays.
I have read some reviews that pointed out that Almond has written a lot of books, his best outshining 'Secret Heart'. I am definitely intrigued and excited to try more books penned by this fantastic author for they are proving themselves to be as unique as productive Iraq-USA peace talk. Despite not being 5/5 standard, I would also recommend 'Secret Heart', especially if it is available from your local library. It is a short book, quite simple too, but it is worth reading from beginning to end.
Not much more to say really, other than that this book has made me remember what style is all about.
November 30, 2014
Young Joe Maloney does not fit. He stutters, is constantly bullied by the children of the bleak suburbanan town of Helmouth and cannot seem to stop truanting. Alone he wanders the wastelands around the nearby motorway, he sees things others do not and though his mother, raising him alone, his carney father gone before he was born, she worries for him.
Then one night he dreams of a tiger, Almond's description weaving its rank smell and the feel of its fur and awesome power thorough our minds. He wakes to find Hackenschmidt's Circus in town on its final tour, but there are no tigers at this circus. There are no animals of any kind, only a threadbare sky blue tent, gaudy paintings washed out and acts well past their prime. Joe is drawn to trapeze artist Corinna, a parentless girl his own age, and she takes his hand and guides him through his part in a lyrical wake for the dying circus.
An achingly beautiful story about difference, and how sometimes when you are different it is not you who are 'wrong', but the world itself. Joe rises beyond the stunted grey life of the aptly named Helmouth and enters into a world of colour and imagination. As always with Almond, we cannot be sure of what we witness, it is ineffable, but of the highest value.
Then one night he dreams of a tiger, Almond's description weaving its rank smell and the feel of its fur and awesome power thorough our minds. He wakes to find Hackenschmidt's Circus in town on its final tour, but there are no tigers at this circus. There are no animals of any kind, only a threadbare sky blue tent, gaudy paintings washed out and acts well past their prime. Joe is drawn to trapeze artist Corinna, a parentless girl his own age, and she takes his hand and guides him through his part in a lyrical wake for the dying circus.
An achingly beautiful story about difference, and how sometimes when you are different it is not you who are 'wrong', but the world itself. Joe rises beyond the stunted grey life of the aptly named Helmouth and enters into a world of colour and imagination. As always with Almond, we cannot be sure of what we witness, it is ineffable, but of the highest value.
December 10, 2014
I have recently read a book titled Secret Heart by David Almond. This book is very interesting for all of you readers that love adventure books and how it is solved. Well this is what this book is all about. The main character is named Joe Manoly and one day he thought of a great idea. “I really want to go on a adventure” Joe muttered. Joe thought of the idea a little bit longer when he finally figured out on where he wanted to go for the adventure.
I loved this book because of all of the choices that Joe had to make in his life. Either he wanted a girlfriend or to just go ahead and take the long adventure all alone. For me there are many experiments outside in the world. Kids my age should be reading about all of the experiments out in the world, even if you are older than a high schooler, you can still read this book. Practically any age you are you can read this book. Characters like Joe need some excitement in their lives.
So if you come across this book read the inside and see what it is about. 50 50 chance you will love the book and you will keep reading the books over and over again.
This has been Breanna Gilmore and thanks for tuning in with this book.
I loved this book because of all of the choices that Joe had to make in his life. Either he wanted a girlfriend or to just go ahead and take the long adventure all alone. For me there are many experiments outside in the world. Kids my age should be reading about all of the experiments out in the world, even if you are older than a high schooler, you can still read this book. Practically any age you are you can read this book. Characters like Joe need some excitement in their lives.
So if you come across this book read the inside and see what it is about. 50 50 chance you will love the book and you will keep reading the books over and over again.
This has been Breanna Gilmore and thanks for tuning in with this book.
June 7, 2009
3 1/2 stars.
It had good character development and was interesting like all of David Almond's books, but I didn't feel it was as gripping as Clay or Heaven Eyes, or even Skellig. There were some parts that were a bit disturbing (like the part with the unicorns, which is sort of brushed off as if it wasn't abusive to those animals), and some other smaller things I can't quite pinpoint. The main character is certainly interesting, and I thought it was good that he and Corrina weren't paired up together in the end which made it refreshing. It was better than average, for sure, but I wouldn't say it was anywhere near Almond's best.
It had good character development and was interesting like all of David Almond's books, but I didn't feel it was as gripping as Clay or Heaven Eyes, or even Skellig. There were some parts that were a bit disturbing (like the part with the unicorns, which is sort of brushed off as if it wasn't abusive to those animals), and some other smaller things I can't quite pinpoint. The main character is certainly interesting, and I thought it was good that he and Corrina weren't paired up together in the end which made it refreshing. It was better than average, for sure, but I wouldn't say it was anywhere near Almond's best.
September 1, 2009
Yet another notable book by David Almond.
Joe Malone is more backward and different than the scruffy, motely crew existing in Helmouth, a teeny village at the city's tiny edge. He struggles with words; he struggles with school; he struggles with surviving the cruel taunts of the town ruffians.
Blending fantasy with reality, Almond weaves a magical tale as we journey with Joe who is drawn to a rag tag circus group that parks its rusty, tattered carts and tent on the fringe of town. Both the circus "freaks" and Joe experience the nastiness of petty minded, small people in a backward hamlet.
As in other Almond books, the character finds a strong female friend who awakens all that is good and right.
Symbolically Joe hears and sees a powerful tiger at the edge of the wilderness and in a mythological way embraces the spirit and soul of that animal. In battling the tiger and in finding a like spirited group of circus friends, he becomes stronger and embraces his uniqueness.
Joe Malone is more backward and different than the scruffy, motely crew existing in Helmouth, a teeny village at the city's tiny edge. He struggles with words; he struggles with school; he struggles with surviving the cruel taunts of the town ruffians.
Blending fantasy with reality, Almond weaves a magical tale as we journey with Joe who is drawn to a rag tag circus group that parks its rusty, tattered carts and tent on the fringe of town. Both the circus "freaks" and Joe experience the nastiness of petty minded, small people in a backward hamlet.
As in other Almond books, the character finds a strong female friend who awakens all that is good and right.
Symbolically Joe hears and sees a powerful tiger at the edge of the wilderness and in a mythological way embraces the spirit and soul of that animal. In battling the tiger and in finding a like spirited group of circus friends, he becomes stronger and embraces his uniqueness.
March 28, 2008
This book was very interesting, it was about a inocent boy with mental, and verbal problems and many questions about life. His inocence is shown when a circus comes to town and he is drawn to it, but everyone else is on strike because they want the circus to leave and let the animals out. Joe learns that in a cruel world there are people that understand. He gets this weird dream about a tiger visiting him in his room. The answers to his questions are with the people in the circus. he meets this friendly girl, who does stunts, they become friends. She helps him find his destiny. I really enjoyed it, but it was confusing aswell. I do recomend it for experienced readers.
April 19, 2012
David Almond's writing is simply mesmerizing. He doesn't waste words and drown the story in exhaustive description. He uses words sparingly but lovingly. The images are vivid and from the first line you are deep within the story, surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells he conjures. 'Secret Heart' is a beautiful story of finding courage and friendship, belonging and finding your place within the world. He mixes fantasy and reality seamlessly in all his books and this no exception. Almond is a true talent that should be read by adults and children alike.
January 10, 2010
I absolutely loved this book. The fantasy element coupled with the saddness of the main character and all he meets can be felt.
The imagery written into the story is fantastic elegant and extremely gripping. David Almond often shows as I've said the melancholy side to each story and within this one the plight of the circus and the inner soul of a young boy.
Absolutely brilliant. I often had to have tissues handy because some parts are pretty emotional awesome stuff though!
The imagery written into the story is fantastic elegant and extremely gripping. David Almond often shows as I've said the melancholy side to each story and within this one the plight of the circus and the inner soul of a young boy.
Absolutely brilliant. I often had to have tissues handy because some parts are pretty emotional awesome stuff though!
April 24, 2007
A story which is almost too painfully powerful to read, yet simply written. It's as though we are being made privvy to the secret heart of the writer himself.
A tale of outsiders and "freaks" who need to find a place where they belong, to be taken home. The spirit of a beautiful, but terrible tiger haunts and leads them on.
A tale of outsiders and "freaks" who need to find a place where they belong, to be taken home. The spirit of a beautiful, but terrible tiger haunts and leads them on.
July 8, 2009
Alright, alright, so I listened to it as an audiobook, but it was still pretty good. The narrator was very attuned to getting the different voices. The story was a bit strange, and nonchalantly macabre, but it was a wonderfully positive look at circus folk. The stuttering hero with a heart of kindness makes the ending magic stronger.
July 24, 2011
This wasn't boriing at all. I felt bad for Joey because he was always picked on and was called "gyppo scum!". This book is one of my favorites. The details in the book were amazing. It really gave showed me what Joe and his friends were seeing when they went to the circus and the end is so sad. I recommend this book.
August 24, 2016
Set in England, this paranormal story about Joe Maloney and a circus tiger tests the limits of one's mind. Joe and his mom are struggling to survive- her to make ends meet and Joe to survive his adolescence. When a circus comes to town, Joe is drawn to the odd characters especially Corinna, Nanny and Hackenschmidt, who eventually play a role in Joe's transformation from child to man.
February 14, 2008
I liked this book alot. It is about a kid who can't reall read or talk very well. His mom wants him to be a man, but his friends what him to kill. But he wants to think about weird cretures. Everyone laughs a him.A tiger comes and his world is never the same again.
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