Question

Read the book “Stone Cold” by Robert Swindells and summarize EACH chapter

Answer 1

Respuesta:

Chapters 1/2: Link describes himself as one of the ‘invisible people’, and explains how

little people care about the homeless. He discusses how he descended

into homelessness, beginning with his dad running off with a receptionist

a couple of years before. Link doesn’t blame his father for his problems

though - Link blames his abusive stepfather: Vince. He explains the

awkwardness of seeing someone you know when you are begging for

money. In Shelter’s first ominous message, he talks of how he will clean

the streets of dossers, turning them into men. He states that he sick of the

‘scruffy blighters’ and has a ‘plot’ to clear the streets of them.

Chapters 3-5: Link realises that his ragged appearance is making him more and more

unemployable. He goes to his sister’s house for Christmas, but is called a

disgrace and a scrounger by Vince, and is bought a sleeping bag by his

mum and sister. Link decides to use the money that he has left to move

to London and make a fresh start. However, after renting a basic room

from ‘Rat-face’, he realises that he has two weeks to find work, or he will

be homeless again. Rat-face comes for the rent 3 days early, which Link

cannot pay. He is forced to move out, and realises he is now homeless.

Meanwhile, Shelter hunts for recruits, pleased by how easily he gets them

to follow him. He kills his first victim: ‘I put him out of his misery.’

Chapters 6-8: Link has a terrible first night on the streets-he is punched by a toilet

attendant, has his place in a doorway stolen by another homeless person,

and is then robbed of his last meaningful possession – a watch that his

mum bought him. After a few uncomfortable nights, Link meets Ginger.

Ginger begins to show Link the ropes. Link describes to the reader the

horrors of being a homeless person. Meanwhile, Shelter’s mental

instability is further revealed as he explains that he has stored the body

under the floorboards. He then kills a 2nd victim, a young homeless girl.

9-11:Ginger and Link spend the last of their change on a bed for the night at

‘Captain Hook’s.’ Link is introduced to Ginger’s friends, who he feels

strangely jealous of. Link feels extremely isolated and disappointed when

Ginger leaves him to meet more friends. Ginger fails to return, and a Big

Issue vendor tells Link that Ginger was seen talking to a man. Link then

meets Gail, who he plans to leave, but she persuades him to help her.

Shelter explains how he targetted Link and Ginger: Laughing Boy 1 and

2. He waited for them to separate, before convincing Ginger that Link

had been hurt in an accident. Back at the flat, he kills, Ginger

12/13: Link begins to fall for Gail, even momentarily stops noticing the cold and

the hunger. Link decides that he wants to find a job to help give a house

to Gail. Shelter redoubles his efforts to get ‘Laughing Boy 2:’ Link. He

knows that Link is now with Gail, so waits for them to separate.

14/15: Shelter explains how fools two prying police officers into believing that he is

harmless. However, Link persists in trying to find out what happened to Ginger –

the police do not seem interested. With Gail, he watches Shelter’s house. When

Gail is gone, Shelter invites him in. Link’s initial complacency dissolves when

Shelter tries to kill him. He is saved at the last moment by the police and Gail.

Gail reveals that she is in fact a TV reporter researching homelessness. Link

laments how, even in prison, Shelter will receive better treatment than him