Stoneheart

infobox Book |
name = Stoneheart


image_caption =
author = Charlie Fletcher
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Children's
publisher = Hodder
pub_date = 19 October 2006
pages = 496 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0340911624
preceded_by =
followed_by = Iron Hand

"Stoneheart" is a children's novel by Charlie Fletcher, published in 2006. When George Chapman accidentally damages a stone dragon at the Natural History Museum, he is plunged into an alternate London where the statues are alive.

The novel was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and longlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. [ [http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/General/Press/Press%202007/press2007shortli.html Branford Boase Award press release - 2007 shortlist] ] [ [http://books.guardian.co.uk/childrensfictionprize2007/ The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize] ] It has also been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. [ [http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/ The CILIP Carnegie Medal & Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards] ]

Responses to the book were mixed. Several critics praised the central concept, calling it an "intriguing premise"cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6441102.html |title=Children's Book Reviews: Week of 5/14/2007 |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2007-05-14|publisher=Publishers Weekly] and an "ingenious idea".cite web |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article620097.ece |title=Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher: Children's book of the week |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2006-11-05|publisher=The Times] The Scotsman said the book was "thrilling stuff", [cite web |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/books/Winter-wonderland.2831620.jp |title=Winter wonderland |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2006-12-02 |publisher=The Scotsman] and The Times was highly positive, describing it as "intelligently and elegantly written, with pace and suspense, varied and convincing dialogue, and big themes of loyalty, sacrifice and emotional growth." However some reviewers felt that it was "tedious and longer than necessary" [http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=5739454 Kirkus review, archived at Waterstones.com] ] and that the "the execution is flat". In particular, Kirkus Reviews criticised the action for being "disappointingly dry" and Publishers Weekly said it had a "protagonist who doesn't ring true."

The film rights were purchased by Paramount months before the book was even released. [cite web |url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/article/21030603.php |title=Paramount gets "Stoneheart" |accessdate=2008-03-27 |date=2006-03-21 |publisher=The Hollywood News]

References