Igor De Amicis,  Paola Luciani

Down the Mine

Adventure

Tunnels, carts, caves and coal.

Fulvio is fascinated by the Marcinelle mine, but his father is very clear… it’s not a place for kids. But Fulvio is no longer a boy, he’s thirteen and has a great desire for adventure. He and his friends, the reckless band of Les italiens, are in constant rivalry with the Belgian boys, the potato-eaters, captained by the very blonde Paulette. Between jokes, ambushes and chases they’ll compete for the streets of the Belgian town of Marcinelle, until the last big challenge… descending into the coal mine, into the bowels of the earth, in search of the ghost miner’s treasure. But a danger far worse than a ghost awaits them, the mine is on fire and together they’ll have to find an escape route in the endless underground tunnels, putting aside rivalries and prejudices.

  • A tale of friendship, immigration and solidarity, inspired by the Marcinelle tragedy.

  • A book that will touch your heart.

Publisher: Einaudi Ragazzi (Italy)
Target: 12+
Year: 2016
Author
Igor De Amicis

Igor De Amicis was born in Rome in 1976. Chief Commissioner of the Penitentiary Police, he shares his passion for writing with his wife Paola Luciani. Together they have written Giù nella miniera (Down the Mine), selected for the Bancarellino Prize 2017 reading project and winner of the Special Children’s Prize at the Parco Majella Prize 2017. Also for Einaudi Ragazzi, they have written Fugees Football Club, Igor Trocchia. A calcio al razzismo (Igor Trocchia. A Kick to Racism), Roberto Mancini nella terra dei fuochi (Roberto Mancini in the Ground of the Fires), L’ultima verità (The Ultimate Truth) and various titles of the Classicini, Grandissimi and Che storia! series. For Il Battello a Vapore, they have published Il mistero delle lettere senza nome (The Mystery of the Nameless Letters). Igor has also published several noir novels for adults, including La settima lapide (Dea Planeta), O’ Regno (Salani) and Gioventù criminale (Criminal Youth), Piemme. Paola has also published several essays and monographs on the world of education. The pair’s books have been translated in several countries (Greece, Spain, Poland, South America, Japan, Germany, etc.)

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Author
Paola Luciani

Paola Luciani was born in Pescara in 1980. A support teacher in primary schools, she invents, imagines and writes her stories together with her husband Igor De Amicis. Together they have written Giù nella miniera (Down the Mine), selected for the Bancarellino Prize 2017 reading project and winner of the Special Children’s Prize at the Parco Majella Prize 2017. Also for Einaudi Ragazzi, they have written Fugees Football Club, Igor Trocchia. A calcio al razzismo (Igor Trocchia. A Kick to Racism), Roberto Mancini nella terra dei fuochi (Roberto Mancini in the Ground of the Fires), L’ultima verità (The Ultimate Truth) and various titles of the Classicini, Grandissimi and Che storia! series. For Il Battello a Vapore, they have published Il mistero delle lettere senza nome (The Mystery of the Nameless Letters). Igor has also published several noir novels for adults, including La settima lapide (Dea Planeta), O’ Regno (Salani) and Gioventù criminale (Criminal Youth), Piemme. Paola has also published several essays and monographs on the world of education. The pair’s books have been translated in several countries (Greece, Spain, Poland, South America, Japan, Germany, etc.)

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