126. Dust

Dust by Arthur Slade


Pages: 168
Finished: Dec. 4, 2007
Reason for Reading: Canadian Challenge. Book Awards Challenge. I saw this on display at the library and was very intrigued.
First Published: 2001
Genre: YA, science fiction
Awards: Governor General's Award, Saskatchewan Book Award, Mr. Christie's Book Award
Rating: 5/5

First Sentence:

Matthew Steelgate had five cents in his pocket and a yearning for chewing gum and licorice.


Comments: When Robert's 7-year old brother disappears from a 1930s Saskatchewan prairie town it is only the first of many strange things that happen. He starts to have strange dreams, his parents seem to forget his brother, the local reverend starts making animal noises and an ivory-skinned man has arrived in town promising to make a rain machine. The first chapter describes the disappearance of the little boy and is utterly chilling. I was hooked at that point and couldn't stop reading. It's a short book and I don't want to give anything away by saying too much so I'll just say Slade has written a book which is a cross between Stephen King and W.O. Mitchell. I was at turns reminded of Who Has Seen the Wind and Needful Things. I will definately be reading others by this author.

Comments

  1. The premise certainly does sound like a Stephen King book. Good find.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I thought this was a wonderful book. Arthur Slade is an interesting author.

    ReplyDelete

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