Ben’s Gargoyle

Ben’s Gargoyle seems leaner than Keith Gray’s previous writing for Barrington Stoke. There is really only a cast of two: Ben and his mean dad. Both of them are suffering from the break-up of Ben’s parents’ marriage. But Ben is suffering most, since his dad’s bitterness and anger is directly mostly at him and he has been relegated to a miserable attic above their down-at-heel flat. Ben is sleeping on the floor because his demoralized and self-absorbed father has been unable even to put Ben’s new flatpack bed together. It is from his bedroom that Ben sees the living gargoyle on a neighbouring roof casually devouring a pigeon. Of course, his dad refuses to listen when Ben tries to tell him about the gargoyle and, as the gargoyle comes ever closer, what its appearance means for Ben himself remains unclear. As usual, Gray makes the best use of the restricted Barrington Stoke brief, making every word count. Dad is dreadful and cruel, but still awfully human. Ben himself is both disturbed and confused. As the gargoyle steps into Ben’s room, it is hard to know what will happen next. Ben, his dad and the menacing gargoyle are nicely captured in Keith Robinson’s illustrations.