The weight of invisibility. Stone cold, a novel by Robert Swindells

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to  suddenly  lose your home, your security and almost  everything you  know?

This is exactly what happens in Stone cold by Robert Swindells, published in 1993 by Heinemann: a disturbing and unforgettable novel about homelessness, the loneliness that comes with it and the dangers of trusting people too quickly due to our own desperate desire to be seen and helped. Swindells was a British writer who became famous for his work that’s deeply tied to serious social problems. Stone cold recieved the prestigious Carnegie Medal and is Swindell’s most succesful novel.

But what is this book actually about? The story follows Link, a seventeen-year-old boy whose life completely changes when he becomes homeless. He leaves his hometown, Bradford, and travels to London, hoping to find work and finally manage to keep a roof above hs head. Unfortunally, after a short period of time, he’s back on the sidewalk. Life on the streets is much harder than he imagined: he faces hunger, freezing nights, loneliness and the cruel attitude of people around him who show no empathy. Luckly he meets other homeless people who help him survive. At the same time we follow the POV of another mysterious character called Shelter, who’s watching the homeless from a very different point of view. As the story develops, Link discovers that the disappearance of homeless people might be tied to a dangerous serial-killer.

Let’s see how Link describes his world: 

«I thought about calling for help.

There were plenty of people passing by, but I guess it would do no good». 

It’s his terrifying awareness that nobody’s coming, that he could die and everyone would simply move on without noticing, that shocks us the most. 

I believe that this novel is a must in everyone’s library. It shows us, no sugar-coating, that we always walk by people’s lives without glancing really. The novel describes society’s cruel tendency to ignore people who are suffering.

It’s shocking, but also eye-opening and meaningful. Once you turn the first page you definitely won’t be able to put it dowm. 

One important note is that the language can be quite hard for a non-native speaker. It often uses British slang to portray Link’s charater in the most realistic way. However, it shouldn’t hold us back: seeing a glimpse of English outside of textbooks is incredibly valuable in the real world.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this novel because it’s not only entertaining and suspensful, but also enlightening and emotional.

Ilaria Zanisi 3DL

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