Ben’s Gargoyle is a moving story about family breakdown, hardship, resilience,and finding the strength to overcome adversity. Written and illustrated in a striking modern Gothic style, it uses powerful symbolism to explore one boy’s struggle to reclaim his confidence and hope.
When Ben’s mum moves to France with her new boyfriend, Ben is forced to leave his friends behind and move in with his dad. Suddenly, he’s the new kid at school—an easy target for bullies. At home, things are even worse. His father is angry, unpredictable, and abusive, leaving Ben feeling trapped and alone.
Seeking refuge in his tiny attic bedroom, Ben spends hours gazing out across the rooftops. Then, one night, he sees something impossible: a creature with a twisted monkey’s face, grey snake-like scales, and bat’s wings with jagged spikes. Could it be a gargoyle prowling through the darkness?
Night after night, the gargoyle draws closer. As it does, Ben begins to realise that he is not as alone as he thinks. There are people who care about him and are willing to help. Slowly, he discovers a strength within himself that he never knew he had—the courage to face his fears, stand up to his father, and take control of his own future.
Barrington Stoke can always be relied on to create entertaining, meaningful, empathy-filled stories that are accessible and empowering for readers. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and brings children back for more.
Ben’s Gargoyle would be a fantastic complementary text for Gargoyles: Guardians of the Source by Tamsin Mori or The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival.
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