Frozen Billy

Book Description

‘I hate Frozen Billy – his painted, staring wooden eyes, the way his eyelids click when Uncle Len pulls a string, his long thin legs and his bright red wooden mouth . . . ‘

Clarrie and Will live with their Uncle Len – a brilliant ventriloquist in the nearby music hall. But though Len loves his act almost as much as he loves his beer, Top Billing is out of his grasp until Will thinks up a way to double the drama with a new act and some extraordinary new patter that he and Frozen Billy can share on stage.

It’s a grand idea, hatched in hope and excitement. But, to Clarrie’s horror, soon it begins to turn terribly sour . . .

Anne Fine’s novel combines her trademark humour, engaging characters and flawless prose to produce a spooky adventure set in the late-Victorian world of the music hall.

Amazon Review
Mining the myriad of rich and atmospheric story themes that spring from the colourful heyday of the old Victorian music halls, Anne Fine’s latest novel is a visual and eerily spooky treat that more than lives up her reputation as one of the country’s finest writers for children. The award-winning author of Flour Babies and Goggle-Eyes, Fine has recently been the Children’s Laureate and is consistently original and witty and entertaining in all of her work. Many a recent author of children’s books could learn a thing or two about writing and narrative by reading Fine’s extensive backlist.

Here, her story concerns the fate of brother and sister, Clarrie and Will, whose misfortunes lead them into residing with their Uncle Len. While their father is in Australia trying to secure a job and a brighter future for his family, their mother, in Ireland for a funeral, is trapped there–wrongly accused of stealing a basket of food. Len’s brilliance as a ventriloquist is matched only by his special ability to destroy his career by the consumption of beer.

Then one of Will’s seemingly perfect ideas saves the day. He suggests that he dresses up as the twin of Len’s dummy, Frozen Billy, to form a new act. Carrie is severely unnerved by Len’s life-like dummy and becomes even more so when Will’s personality begins to change and distort when their double act is a success. Carrie thinks this new stage act has the power to destroy her whole family and she must act fast to save everybody.

Fine’s unsettling narrative is different from her trademark domestic dramas–but it is equally as powerful. It’s a chilling tale, with hints of the supernatural that nevertheless has charm and excitement. And, as with all of Fine’s novels, is has the requisite happy ending. (Age 10 and over) –John McLay –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
“Fine’s genius for storytelling reaches new heights: simple, direct and with a subtle period feel to the narrative and dialogue” (Independent)

“Unsettling and atmospheric, this story of a young brother and sister boldly making their own fates is told in the voice of the girl with lightness and simplicity but covers dark and complex territory before reaching its happy ending” (The Sunday Times)

“Full of terrific characters and deceptions and intrigues” (TES)