David Almond's latest effort, CLAY, is an utterly creepy tale
of good versus evil. Set in the English north countryside --- like
Almond's Printz Award-winning novel, KIT'S WILDERNESS, and
Whitbread Award winner THE FIRE-EATERS --- CLAY tells the story of
Davie, a 13-year-old altar boy who finds his faith questioned when
a new boy comes to town who claims he can make a monster out of
clay.

At the beginning of the story, Davie is just your typical
mischievous altar boy who along with his friend Geordie enjoys
stealing the sacramental wine and smoking stolen cigarettes. They
do go to confession each week though to make up for it. Along with
their altar boy antics, Davie and Geordie are enemies with the town
bully, a typically drunken and belligerent Protestant named Martin
Mould, aka Mouldy. They're convinced that Mouldy is out to get
them, and against Mouldy's entourage Davie and Geordie know they
don't stand a chance.

When a mysterious and creepy new kid named Stephen Rose shows up in
town, and Father O'Mahoney encourages them to befriend the troubled
young man, Davie and Geordie think that maybe Stephen is exactly
what they need to win the Mouldy war. But Stephen seems nearly as
crazy as the aunt he lives with, who is known as Crazy Mary from
town. Plus, Stephen has a mysterious past that includes a dead
father, a mother in a mental hospital and an expelling from his
last school.

When Stephen stabs one of Mouldy's chums, Geordie freaks out, but
Davie remains oddly enthralled with the creepy kid and finds
himself spending more and more time alone with him. Then, Stephen
shows Davie what he can do with clay and how he can make it move
and turn to life. When Stephen comes up with a plan to make a
monster out of clay, Davie is caught in the middle. A monster would
help protect him against Martin Mould. But still, does that justify
Davie stealing the body and blood of Christ from the church in
order to give the clay creature a soul?

Things get out of control when the clay creature comes to life and
taunts Davie's thoughts and dreams saying over and over, "I am
here, master. Command me." It's up to Davie to figure out his
feelings about both God and playing God. How will he deal with this
monster named Clay?

David Almond's writing is concise yet hauntingly resonates after
the last page. CLAY is like a reinvented FRANKENSTEIN roaming the
hills of the English countryside. Warning: You might have
nightmares after reading this one.

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