Kamo's Escape

Une aventure de Kamo #4

by Daniel Pennac

Kamo won't get on a bike. Not even his friend's grandfather's classic. He says he has a bad feeling - it turns out he was right. As he lies in his hospital bed it seems to his friends that their funny, crazy pal is turning into someone else - someone firece and strong who can escape from anywhere.

Genres: France, Fiction, Childrens, French Literature, Roman, Young Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Daniel Pennac (real name Daniel Pennacchioni) is a French writer. He received the Prix Renaudot in 2007 for his essay Chagrin d'école.

After studying in Nice he became a teacher. He began to write for children and then wrote his book series "La Saga Malaussène", that tells the story of Benjamin Malaussène, a scapegoat, and his family in Belleville, Paris.

His writing style can be humorous and imaginative like in "La Saga Malaussène", but he has also written essays, such as "Comme un roman", a pedagogic essay."La Débauche", written jointly with Jacques Tardi, treats the topic of unemployment, revealing his social preoccupations.

Reviews

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 rounded up, because this is quite extraordinary. Wished I read books 2 and 3 before this (the last one), but turns out it came right in time to my hands; I needed this mellow, strong, audacious story between three friends. Kamo, the lovely, inquisitive kid from book 1 (a likeable, well-written story, nothing more), is such a mythic, larger-than-life character here, mostly because his greatest friend tells the story with such passion. Pennac writes about the camaraderie between young men with brio, longing for a lost, more romantic time, and commanding lyricism. I found the first half of this book entrancing and full of mystery, premonitions, stories-inside-stories; the later half is even better, utterly spendid, all the ways one's family history is inscribed in oneself and may blossom in the most adverse times. Some readers may find all the coincidences and the magical realism and the small miracles jarring, but not me. Everything's wondrous. What a moving story! I wanna kiss Pennac in the forehead!

And, hey, there's an English translation of this volume (and this only). FIND IT! READ IT!

[Alena Gradoboeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Qu’est-ce qu’il est beau ce livre! Et qu’est-ce que j’adore Pennac! C’est toujours comme une bouffée d’air frais, comme une évasion, comme un monde qui t’attends et qui t’invite et qui est accueillant. Mais aussi bouillonnant et accrocheur!

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and adoredEye of the Wolf, I knew that, in terms of prose, I would enjoy Pennac's short story (translated by Sarah Adams (Ardizzone?). I can only guess that nothing is lost in the translation as it reads beautifully and is one in a series of stories about the wonderful Kamo.

I have never quite met a character like him. Kamo hates bikes, he has a fear of them that he cannot explain and even when his friend gifts him with a bite dating back from World War 2 which has the bullet marks to prove its stamp in history, he still is disinterested. Yet when Kamo hears from his travelling mother, he conquers his fear and takes to the wheels. What happens next needs to be read but Kamo's life is changed forever - is it up to his friend and Big Louis to make a difference through the power of listening and belief.

Pennac is extremely talented. Originally a teacher, then involved in French politics, he covets above all, the power that there is to be had in reading. Each of his tales have a fable-like quality and none more than this Kamo story. What the message is at the end is, as any good writer for children will do, open for interpretation. Nothing here is served on the plate yet it remains there for the picking. I loved it.

[Qmike549]

J'ai énormément apprécié ce volume de Daniel Pennac.

Tout d’abord j’ai trouvé ce livre facile à lire et prenant. J’étais dans la peau du narrateur et plongé dans l’histoire. Ensuite ce récit m’a plu car il parle de courage.

Kamo arrive à vaincre sa phobie du vélo pour avoir sa maman au téléphone.

Et puis ce roman était émouvant au moment où les amis de Kamo, inquiets, allaient le voir tous les jour à l’hôpital.

[Şirin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book will haunt till the end of my time.

[Saire Marloz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ese Kamo realmente me cae bien, es muy impredecible, aparte de que es un sabiondo. Me gustó la relación de su aventura con la de su abuelo.





Spoiler!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Wow, si pensé que se nos iba a ir Kamo, pero ese no se va a morir fácil.

[Pertinacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Můj táta Tap nad tím kolem strávil spoustu hodin, speciálně kvůli Kamovi. Byl to fenomenální stroj vyrobený ještě v předválečném Československu, měl tyčové brzdy a chromované blatníky hodné prvotřídní limuzíny. Opravdový poklad...

[Carlo Mayer]

Finiti