The Dam, Hardcover

Contributor(s):

• Author: David Almond
• Illustrator: Levi Pinfold

A haunting, stunningly illustrated story of loss, hope, and the power of music from multi-award winners David Almond and Levi Pinfold.

Kielder Water is a wild and beautiful place, rich in folk music and legend. Years ago, before a great dam was built to fill the valley with water, there were farms and homesteads in that valley and musicians who livened their rooms with song. After the village was abandoned and before the waters rushed in, a father and daughter returned there. The girl began to play her fiddle, bringing her tune to one empty house after another -- for this was the last time that music would be heard in that place. With exquisite artwork by Levi Pinfold, David Almond's lyrical narrative -- inspired by a true tale -- pays homage to his friends Mike and Kathryn Tickell and all the musicians of Northumberland, to show that music is ancient and unstoppable, and that dams and lakes cannot overwhelm it.
 
Review citations

• Horn Book Magazine - pg. 58 - 11/01/2018
• Kirkus Reviews / Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended - pg. 104 - 07/01/2018
• Kirkus Reviews / Exceptional Presentation - pg. 104 - 07/01/2018
• Kirkus Reviews / Book Of Special Distinction - pg. 104 - 07/01/2018
• Kirkus Reviews / Top 15 Book Of The Year - pg. 104 - 07/01/2018
• Kirkus Reviews / Highly Recommended - pg. 104 - 07/01/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Best Of The Best/Highly Recommended - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Exceptional Presentation - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Book Of Special Distinction - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Top 15 Book Of The Year - 07/09/2018
• Publishers Weekly / Highly Recommended - 07/09/2018
• Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks - 09/01/2018
• School Library Journal - pg. 84 - 09/01/2018
• BookPage - 09/01/2018
• Booklist - pg. 63 - 09/15/2018