Framed

Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Illustrated by Steven Lenton

Ages 9 to 11

2005 Nominee

The CILIP Carnegie Medal

2006 Nominee

Whitbread Children's Book Award

21 February 2019
9781529008784
400 pages

Synopsis

The perfect crime – it's a work of art, in Frank Cottrell Boyce's ingenious story, Framed.

Dylan is the only boy living in the tiny Welsh town of Manod. His parents run the Snowdonia Oasis Auto Marvel garage – and when he's not trying to persuade his sisters to play football, Dylan is in charge of the petrol log. And that means he gets to keep track of everyone coming in and out of Manod – what car they drive, what they're called, even their favourite flavour of crisps. But when a mysterious convoy of lorries trundles up the misty mountainside towards an old, disused mine, even Dylan is confounded. Who are these people – and what have they got to hide?

A story inspired by a press cutting describing how, during World War II, the treasured contents of London's National Gallery were stored in Welsh slate mines. Once a month, a morale-boosting masterpiece would be unveiled in the village and then returned to London for viewing. This is a funny and touching exploration of how art – its beauty and its value – touches the life of one little boy and his big family in a very small town.

This edition of Framed includes bonus material and discussion questions from Frank Cottrell Boyce, and illustrations by Steven Lenton.

Heart-warming - a delight
Full of jokes and touching moments
Ingeniously comic