The Snake-Stone

James lives with his adoptive parents in Sheffield, England. After receiving a mysterious stone and note from his birth mother on his 15th birthday, he becomes determined to find her. During his search, James forms a connection with a local woman who keeps snakes and begins to learn about handling the creatures. His quest leads him through the Peak District of Derbyshire as he follows clues about his mother's past. The story tracks James's physical and emotional journey as he wrestles with questions of identity and belonging. Through his experiences with both his adoptive and birth families, the novel explores themes of heritage, self-discovery, and what it means to find one's place in the world.

Readers describe this YA novel as a thoughtful exploration of adoption and identity. Many found the protagonist James's search for his birth mother realistic and emotionally resonant. Liked: - Sensitive handling of adoption themes - Authentic teenage voice and emotions - Integration of snake imagery and symbolism - Strong sense of place in the Peak District setting Disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Confusion about intended age range (marketed as YA but reads younger) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (187 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) "The snake metaphors woven throughout added depth without being heavy-handed" - Goodreads reviewer "As an adoptee, I appreciated how it captured the complex emotions of searching for birth parents" - Amazon review "The story drags in parts and younger readers might lose interest" - School Library Journal review

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🌟 "The Snake-Stone" was published in 1995 and won the prestigious Nestlé Smarties Book Prize 💫 Author Berlie Doherty has written over 60 books for children and young adults, including novels, picture books, and plays 🌟 The book explores themes of adoption and identity through its protagonist James, reflecting issues that many adopted children face in their search for biological parents 💫 The snake-stone referenced in the title connects to folklore about fossilized ammonites, which were once believed to be petrified snakes 🌟 The story's setting in the Peak District of England draws from the author's own connection to the area, where she has lived for many years and often uses as inspiration for her work