Deep Water

Pure Dead #5

by Debi Gliori

The Strega-Borgia children are still reeling from the shock of their nanny's disappearance at the end of Deep Trouble. Without Flora to tend to them, the kids are growing up fast. Indeed, Titus is in the throes of a deeply embarrassing and magically accelerated puberty, while all around the usual chaos reigns. Baby Damp is learning to fly under the tutelage of a bat called Vesper, Ffup the dragon is struggling with the Atkins diet and Tarantella the tarantula is trying to teach her daughters the rudiments of mascara. So far, so StregaSchloss, but add in an arrest for murder, a demon intent on revenge and a suicidal deep-frozen ancestor and you have a recipe that could only be cooked up in a Gliori-cauldron.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Comedy, Middle Grade, Paranormal

Paperback

First published June 2, 2005

About the author

Debi Gliori (born 1959) is a Scottish author and illustrator of children's books.
She grew up as an only child in Glasgow, and when young began drawing and writing stories. She started writing children's books in 1976, and attended art school in Edinburgh from 1979 to 1984. She then received a travelling scholarship award to go to Milan, and worked as a freelance from 1984 onwards.
She is the author/illustrator of many books for children including Mr Bear, the winner of a Children's Book Award. She is best known for her black comedy Pure Dead series for older children, which display strong elements of family lives amid dark and fantasy-based plots.

Reviews

[Liz]

A lot darker and less funny than the first trilogy of the series.

[Books And Chocaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was quite possibly the wackiest and most side-splitting one yet. I love the way these already bizarre characters behave when thrown into chaos. I loved reading more about Damp (an unusual sentence out of context) and also how much of Vester I remembered really surprised me. Ffup as ever I find both hilarious and endearingly annoying. Loved it!

[wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

i thought this book would be a bit gloomy, a bit gothic and a lot fun. (plus it's got "batty" in the title.) young readers with a little twist. unfortunately, i didn't much care for it. it reminded me a bit of the "series of unfortunate events" books, of which i've read only one or two. (i didn't care for those either.) i didn't really like reading about the strega-borgia family who lives on the shores of lochnagargoyle in the town of auchenlochtermuchty - i can't imagine a 10 year old being into it.

[Asia · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Mrs McLachlan no longer around things begin to fall apart at StregaSchloss. Damp finds herself with a familiar who is teaching her to fly, Baci is as scatterbrained as ever and accidentaly causes Titus to have a rapid acceleration of puberty, Latch is holding himself together as best as he can, and as for Luciano, well, lets just say his brother Lucifer isn't finished with him yet.
However, despite how bad things may seem, you must remember that Love Will Conquer All.

[Miss Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

A.k.a.: Pure Dead Batty

2.5 stars

This volume is much less amusing and fun, with a much more serious tone and less familial love and affection shown throughout. The jokes are getting a little old, Ffup just plain gets on my nerves and by this point I wanted Titus and Pandora to have been much more substantially developed as characters, which alas, they never are. Alas. Stick to the first three, or four, if you must. They are infinitely better.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just love this series. funny spooky–like the addams family, only maybe more funny and less spooky than them. favorite quote lfrom this one? “the lilac room was for lady guests in cashmere and pearls; ladies for whom sorcery was something you put your teacup down upon; ladies who believed that wicca could be purchased at a local garden center.”

[Kirsty McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Childhood read once again. I picked this up in a bookstore in Scotland when I was around 9. It's part of a series but still quite easy to follow since there are only 2 I've ever read and I still love them. Black comedy for kids. So Scottish. Debi Gliori is wonderful - in name and in skills! 3* stars.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked these books more 7 years ago. maybe I'm finally growing out of children's literature. sticking with the YA though. anyway, can't hurt to finish up the series. I think I really would have liked them 35 years ago. they're well done.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wacky tale in the Pure Dead series, which guarantee to make you smile.

[Alex]

almost done the whole series can't wait to read!!!!

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just amazing. Hilarious adventures, & a portrait of a family that, while very strange indeed, are as close & loving as it is possible to be.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is much the same in tone and even - partially - plot-wise, as every other book in the series, it manages to keep somehow fresh.

[Liz Yardley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many characters with a plot that felt too chaotic. I'm afraid I didn't finish this book.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too quirky for me...

[Dave Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10452762

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

i hope this book is good. cuz it looks good in the cover. LOL;]

[Elevetha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aka. Pure Dead Batty.

[Yenga]

Aka 'Deep Water'

[Angela9600 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sad that there is only one more book to read. This set has been a lot of fun.