How to Make a Golem (and Terrify People)
“You think you’re a fairy godmother or something?” I asked.
“Or something,” Michael agreed.
Edda is tired of her nickname, “Mouse”, and wants to be braver. But when her house is burgled on her twelfth birthday, Edda is more afraid than ever. That is until new boy Michael Scot starts school.
There’s something peculiar — and very annoying — about know-it-all Michael. He claims to be a great alchemist who can help Edda overcome her fears by teaching her to build a golem. But surely they can’t bring a giant mud monster to life? Can they?
You can read the first chapter here and if you like it, you can order the book.
Winner of the Kelpies Prize 2011.
Author: Alette J.Willis
Paperback | ISBN : 9780863158407 | 240 Pages
Paperback £5.99
HOW TO BUY A GOLEM (and Make Someone Happy)
Praise for “How to Make a Golem”
“Alette Willis has written a truly gothic story. It is suffused with the scary and the mystical. But it never gets nasty or genuinely horrific…The story has a redemptive and transformative element to it which warms the heart. And with a thorough dash of psychology, science and biology mixed in, this books makes for a very gripping and interesting read. Lots of things are hinted at which (young) adults might like to explore further and which give it the right authenticity to keep young teenagers engaged.” Anna Phillips, New View Magazine (Winter 2011/12)
Author Daniela Sacerdoti writes: “I enjoyed this book very, very much, for a few different reasons. First of all, the writing style: careful, deliberate, full of detail. Then, the plot: I came to really care for little Edda, and so did my son Sorley, with whom I’ve been reading it. Third, the message: for me it was an invitation to let go of your fear…My verdict? Read it, it’s a brilliant book for both children and their parents, perfect bedtime story material, if you enjoy reading a novel a chapter a night like we do.”
Shannon O’Donnell of Book Dreaming writes “I enjoyed the voice of this book from the get-go. The characters were alive, the storyline was perfectly paced–with the PERFECT amount of spine tingles and creepiness thrown in–and the ending worked perfectly…I wholeheartedly recommend this one. It was an absolute pleasure!”
On the “Word Up, Nerd Up” blog: “Willis does a nice job of making Edda the “everyman” for kids. She touches on childhood fears felt across the world, everything from bullies to what might be lurking in the dark…My verdict: Read it…It would be a wonderful choice to read with a child who is experiencing their own fears, or with a group of children, as it does address how to overcome fear without actually creating a magical mud monster.”
Contributor Sharon Schmidt Tyler writes on Yahoo! Voices: “How to Make a Golem and Terrify People is a very well written and well-paced book. The dialogue and actions of the characters are realistic, even when strange things happen. The setting, in Scotland, might be an added draw for some readers since they would think it unusual compared to other things that they read. However, I found that the setting just made it more obvious that certain struggles and emotions are universal, regardless of location, age, or gender. I highly recommend this novel to children ten and older, with nothing stopping younger readers from enjoying this story. I think teachers, parents and any adult that enjoys children’s literature will enjoy this novel as well.”
Five-star review from one of Amazon.com’s top reviewers, J Prather: “The author does a great job of combining genuine suspense, classic folklore elements, and strong characters into a story that will charm young readers and still provide some spooky thrills…I felt that this story was incredibly well written. It’s authentic dialogue and brilliant pacing guarantee it to be a fast read. What was perhaps most surprising is that it still holds on to such a level of emotional depth and meaning. It’s a great coming of age story that presents some valuable lessons on friendship, trust, and believing in yourself. American readers will likely find the Scottish setting a bit exotic, but will also find that the problems of growing up are indeed universal. A fantastic read for ages 10 and up.”
Award winning Scottish children’s author Gill Arbuthnott blogs about How To Make A Golem And Terrify People, that she “...loved it! Funny, quirky, genuinely creepy in bits, and with unexpected twists to the plot. I’m already looking forward to whatever Alette Willis writes next.”
Suse Coon of Lothian Life Magazine writes “this is a thoroughly attractive story and a worthy winner of the 2011 Kelpies prize.” You can read the full review here, but be warned that there are spoilers.
December 2011, Children’s Book of the Month at The Scottish Book Trust
December 2011, Book Choice for Children at Books from Scotland
