Angel by Cliff McNish

Angel by Cliff McNish is such an unusual book that I wasn’t surprised to find 3 different covers for the book. I believe one is the original UK version, one is the paperback version being released overseas in April and the third is the hardcover edition from Carolrhoda/Lerner Publishing. 

You’ll definitely want to visit author Cliff McNish’s site to hear him talk about his work.  There is even a podcast interview with eminent writer and critic Phil Ardagh.

Librarians seem to be thinking about angels as even the folks on Child_lit have been talking about the many tie-ins. Angels have been on my brain, so I was pleased to curl up with McNish’s newest title. (remember Breathe, The Doomspell Triology, The Silver Sequence?)

Yes, a hit for the older students middle and high school! It surprised me, creeped me out, made me anguish for many of the characters (nice characterizations, Cliff), and it made me dream. Teenage angst throbs through this tale. 

These are no sweet, candy-coated angels bringing religious greetings from greater beings. Nope, these are empathetic light and dark, fallible angels that choose to help humans. The human characters are not black and white characters either. They are relatable and recognizable.

I dare you to read this and not do a double-take at some of your high school students on Monday morning.

Give this to your struggling, non-perfect students so they can relate and chat with you.

Give this to your oh, so-popular-life-is-perfect portraying posturers so they can explore their hidden angst in a safe means and possibly consider opening up to others.