Slog's Dad Explained

Slog's Dad
Author:	David Almond
Country:	England
Language:	English
Genre:	Young adult fiction
Published In:	So, what kept you?: new stories inspired by Anton Chekhov and Raymond Carver
Publication Type:	anthology
Publisher:	Flambard Press/New Writing North
Media Type:	Paperback
Pub Date:	2006 (short story) 2010 (Graphic novel)

Slog's Dad is a 2006 short story by David Almond and is about a boy called Slog who, sees a man he believes is his father returned from death to visit him. It was originally published in a collection of short stories and subsequently released, in 2010, as a stand-alone graphic novel illustrated by Dave McKean.

Publication history

Slog's Dad appeared in the following publications:

• So, what kept you?: new stories inspired by Anton Chekhov and Raymond Carver, Claire Malcolm and Margaret Wilkinson, Flambard Press/New Writing North 2006, England,, paperback^[1]
• The National Short Story Prize 2007 2007, England, Atlantic, paperback^[2]

before being published as a stand-alone graphic novel:

• Slog's Dad 2010, England, Walker Books, hardback^[3]
• Slog's Dad 2011, USA, Candlewick Press, hardback^[4]

Reception

A Booktrust review of Slog's Dad called it "A poignant and sensitive story of grief and loss".^[5] Publishers Weekly in a starred review wrote "Another haunting and beautiful book from the U.K. team that produced The Savage in 2008." and "The volume is richly and poetically illustrated by McKean."^[6]

It has also been reviewed by Booklist, the School Library Journal, the Horn Book, Voice of Youth Advocates.^[7]

Awards and nominations

• 2007 BBC National Short Story Award - finalist^[8]

• 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal - shortlist^[9]

Notes and References

1. Book: So, what kept you?: new stories inspired by Anton Chekhov and Raymond Carver . worldcat.org . OCLC . 67375493 . 11 December 2016.
2. Book: The National Short Story Prize 2007. . worldcat.org . OCLC . 82672308 . 11 December 2016.
3. Book: Slog's Dad . worldcat.org . OCLC . 796988520 . 11 December 2016.
4. Book: Slog's Dad . worldcat.org . OCLC . 657595228 . 11 December 2016.
5. Web site: Slog's Dad . booktrust.org.uk . 10 December 2016.
6. Web site: Slog's Dad . 7 March 2011 . Publishers Weekly . PWxyz LLC. 10 December 2016.
7. Book: Slog's Dad . kcls.bibliocommons . 9780763649401 . 10 December 2016. Almond . David . 2011 .
8. News: Lea . Richard . 13 April 2007 . Finalists announced for short story prize . The Guardian . 11 December 2016.
9. News: Bishop . Jordan . 28 March 2012 . Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist - in pictures . The Guardian . 11 December 2016.