The presence of the past
The children of Stoneygate have a strong connection to the past, due to the mining history of the town, and the devastation that the closure of the mines under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Due to this, many people lost their jobs, and many of the families struggle to find income. This rich history has an impact on the children of Stoneygate, especially Kit and John Askew. The latter creates a frightening game, which represents how he has become obsessed with the darkness of the past. Kit channels his connection to the past in a healthier way, through his storytelling.
The presence of the past in the text is symbolized in different ways, including the tale of Silky. Kit's grandfather tells him the tale of Silky at the beginning of the novel, and Silky's presence recurs throughout the text. He occurs in Kit's dreams and also inspires a short story that he reads out in class, which represents how the past has a presence in Kit's life.
Storytelling
The theme of storytelling is introduced by Kit's grandfather, who tells fascinating stories about the mines. One of these stories is about Silky, the little ghost-boy who alluded capture and used to run through the mines. Inspired by this, Kit writes a story about Silky, which he shares with his class. This provokes an interesting debate about whether the story really belongs to Kit, as it is his grandfather's tale. The teacher concludes that "All writers write down stories they've heard. Writers have always done it... It's how stories work. They move from person to person, get passed down through the generations. And each time they're written down they're a little different." This introduces the idea that stories evolve through history, in the same way that living things do.
Almond also shows the ability of stories to impact people's lives. Askew is in a very dark place throughout the novel and is consumed by the darkness of his past. However, Kit writes him a positive story, representing him through the brave and kind character, Lak. As such, Askew begins to see himself in a different light and understands his potential.
Friendship
In this novel, we see the power of friendship. Askew is a troubled character, and invites the other children to take part in his frightening game, "a game called death." He struggles to reconcile the troubling past of his family and Stoneygate, with his present. Kit helps Askew, offering kindness and help, and Askew eventually sees the light. This is partly due to a story Kit writes, inspired by Askew. He presents Askew as being a brave and positive character, which inspires Askew to embody these qualities in real life. As such, we see how Askew's friendship with Kit has changed his life for the better, and has helped him to deal with the darkness of the past.
Family
The relationship between Kit and his grandfather is heartwarming. They have a strong friendship, and Kit appreciates his grandfather's tales about his past. This being said, family is not entirely positive in the text. Askew is shown to be influenced by the bitterness of his father, which leads to his inability to process the past.
Family is a key theme in Kit's story about Lak, a caveman who saves his sister. This character shows extreme bravery and strength, which inspires Askew to look after his own family and take responsibility. After reading the story, Askew decides to deal with the past through artwork and has a more positive relationship with his own family.
