Storm (novella) facts for kids
Cover of new edition (Heinemann, 2001)
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| Author | Kevin Crossley-Holland |
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| Illustrator | Alan Marks |
| Cover artist | Marks |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's supernatural fiction, ghost story |
| Publisher | Heinemann |
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Publication date
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7 August 1985 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 42 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-435-00101-9 |
| OCLC | 12637640 |
| LC Class | PZ7.C88284 St 1989 |
Storm is a short novel and picture book written by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Alan Marks created the illustrations. It was first published by Heinemann in 1985. This was the first children's book that Alan Marks illustrated.
The story is about a family living near a marsh. People say a ghost haunts the marsh. One stormy night, the telephone lines are down. The younger daughter, Annie, must cross the marsh alone. She needs to get help for a family emergency.
In 1985, Storm won the annual Carnegie Medal. This award is given by the Library Association for the best children's book by a British author. In 2007, for the Medal's 70th birthday, Storm was chosen as one of the top ten winning books. People could then vote for their favorite.
Barron's published Storm in the US and Canada in 1989. It kept Alan Marks' original drawings.
Contents
What is Storm About?
This section shares a few short summaries of the book.
Library Summary
A library summary describes the story like this:
- "On a wild, stormy night, Annie is offered a ride by a tall, silent horseman."
- "She overcomes her fear of the ghost who is said to haunt the lonely road and accepts the ride."
- "But who is this mysterious stranger?"
CILIP Summary
The CILIP organization also gave a summary:
- "Annie knows the secrets of the great marsh."
- "She's even heard about its ghost."
- "On a terrible night, when Annie must brave the storm alone, not even she knows what to expect."
Who is Storm For?
This book is enjoyed by different age groups.
Recommended Age
In 2007, British librarians suggested Storm for kids aged six and up. This was younger than most other books on the Carnegie Medal's top ten list. Those books were for ages 6 to 14 and older.
Reading Level
Storm is a chapter book. This means it has pictures, but the words are the most important part. A publisher called Egmont said their "Bananas books," which include Storm, are for kids to read by themselves. Storm is good for children moving from early reading to more advanced reading.
Carnegie Medal and Young Readers
In the 1970s and early 1980s, some librarians felt the Carnegie Medal mostly went to books for teenagers. Giving the award to Storm helped balance this. Storm was part of Heinemann's "Banana Book" series. It is thought to be the first book for younger readers to win the Carnegie Medal.
Why is Storm Important?
Storm is a special book, even though it's for a younger audience.
Simple Words, Deep Meaning
The language in Storm is simple. It does not use difficult words. But the way the words are put together is like poetry. The story's ideas are not simple at all.
A Mix of Stories
Is Storm a ghost story? Is it an old folk legend? Kevin Crossley-Holland knows a lot about folklore. He used parts of folk tales and local legends from East Anglia, where he lived. He wove these elements into this 42-page story about Annie's adventure on a wild, stormy night.
