By Tanya Landman (author)
"Written to satisfy the needs of seriously struggling readers, this pithy retelling of a notable Welsh legend teems with tension and a killer twist."
Paperback Temporarily Out Of Stock £6.99 £6.29
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Interest Age 11+ Reading Age 6
Specifically written for seriously struggling readers, Tanya Landman’s Killer is an involving work of super-short fiction that re-tells the tragic story of Gelert, the loyal royal dog of Welsh folklore.
Boasting a terrifically tantalising opening (“Stones mark an old grave. An important one. Who’s buried there? A prince? A king? Read on. The answer may surprise you”) that’s all but impossible to put aside, the scene is set when readers are drawn into a cold, grey winter ahead of a bright spring that sees a prince saddle his horses and summon his hounds to go hunting with his lady, leaving his trusted dog Gelert to watch over their baby.
When the couple return, they’re greeted by a horrifyingly bloody scene. The prince’s “red hot anger” and “ice cold hate” explode when he sees Gelert, “fur soaked with blood. Teeth dripping with blood. Whose blood?” When the baby can’t be found, the prince assumes the worst and kills Gelert with a sudden blow of his sword — a hasty act that leaves him with “a sadness that would never fade”.
Pitched for 11+-year-olds with a reading age of six, re-tellings of legends have rarely been so accessible and arresting.
The courage of a loyal dog is tragically mistaken for violence in this gripping quick read for seriously struggling readers from award-winning author Tanya Landman.
Read the full description
When the prince and his lady go out hunting, they leave their baby in the care of their faithful wolfhound, Gelert.
But when they return, their baby is missing, and a horrific attack has taken place. What has happened and who will pay the price?
Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 6.
Tanya Landman is renowned for her prize-winning novels including the beautifully “deft and dark”, Carnegie Medal winning Buffalo Soldier . In 2019 she won the Scottish Teenage Book Prize for her critically acclaimed novella One Shot .
Tanya says that she loves how writing allows her to daydream – something she was always in trouble for at school!
Read more about the author here .
A Guide for Readers with Dyslexia from Barrington Stoke
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The courage of a loyal dog is tragically mistaken for violence in this gripping quick read for seriously struggling readers from award-winning author Tanya Landman. When the prince and his lady go out hunting, they leave their baby in the care of their faithful wolfhound, Gelert.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Killer and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-12 years old
Killer features in the following genres: Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Stories about Family and Friends, Horror & Ghost Stories, Animal Stories, Short Stories, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Interest age 11+, Dyslexia Friendly Books for Teens, Books to Motivate Reluctant Readers age 11+, Books to Motivate Teenage Reluctant Readers, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £6.29, down from the £6.99 cover price. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
Killer was written by Tanya Landman and published by Barrington Stoke an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
£6.29, reduced from £6.99. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
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