Stone Cold (novel)

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"Stone Cold" (1993) is a young adult novel by Robert Swindells. It was the winner of the Carnegie Medal for 1993. [ [http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/ The CILIP Carnegie Medal & Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards] ]

Stone Cold is a novel about homelessness. The main character is called Link, who leaves home to get away from a bullying stepfather, and finds himself on the streets of London. A twisted and bitter ex-sergeant-major who calls himself 'Shelter' stalks the streets, looking for innocent homeless victims.

Meanwhile Link is befriended by Ginger, a street-wise, homeless 'dosser', and learns how to survive on the cold, hard, deadly game that is London. Ginger's age is never specified. When Ginger disappears, Link is distraught, but finds comfort in a mysterious girl named Gail. But other homeless people are going missing, and its up to Link to stop Shelter's murderous ways. The reader also find out towards the end that Gail isn't all she seems and turns out to be a reporter studying homelessness. Link isn't all that happy about it, feeling that she has taken advantage of him and those Shelter had murdered. Their relationship comes to an abrupt end. Shelter is caught in the attempted act, and was put behind bars. Link remains on the streets, but with extra money given to him by "Gail".

In 1997, the novel was adapted for a film of the same title, starring James Gaddas and Elizabeth Rider.

External links

*imdb title|0173255|Stone Cold