Puppet by David Almond

What worked:

The book’s tone is reminiscent of old children’s books or fairy tales. An old puppeteer named Silvester donates his old puppets to a museum and thinks back to happy times traveling and performing with his deceased wife Belinda. He makes one last puppet from scrap parts and that’s when the magic slowly begins. The author’s subtle descriptions of the puppet cause Silvester and readers to suspect it might be coming to life. The author uses the story to share thoughts on aging, friendship, and the wonders of imagination.

The puppet, later called Kenneth, provides plenty of fodder for readers to use their imaginations. Kenneth is sometimes unresponsive to Silvester so readers will wonder what’s happening with him. His vocabulary consists of “EO” and “Jam” until he adds two significant words late in the book. Those are the two main sounds Kenneth uses when he chooses to respond to others so readers are left to imagine what he might be trying to say. What does Kenneth think when he's looking at a cat, clouds in the sky, or a car, or when the old man tries to teach him about other music or love? They meet a friendly little girl in the park named Fleur and she quickly befriends Kenneth. Fleur has a revelation midway through the plot that alters the rest of the book.

The most magical aspect of the book is the author’s artful mastery of the English language. The text sounds very simple and basic but the words generate an abundance of deep thinking. Different sentence lengths create suspense, amusement, or thoughtful reflection. A sense of community is felt from the characters' interactions with compassion and caring for one another. Fondness for past memories and experiences gives rise to hope and inspiration for the future.

What didn’t work as well:

Some readers might not like the simplicity of the story or it might make them think too much. I don’t share those concerns and found the whole book very charming.

The final verdict:

This heartwarming tale will touch the full gamut of reader emotions. Silvester finds a new purpose in his life and his positivity is contagious. This book will appeal to lovers of skillful writing and the power of creativity and I highly recommend you give it a shot!