Oooo! New David Almond book!

From the Independent:

It features a young boy, Davie, growing up, as Almond did, in a working-class Catholic family in Felling in the 1960s. As ever in Almond's work, this realistic setting anchors events which spin off in a wild and strange direction. Davie's ordinary daily life - duties as an altar boy, a feud with a local gang and the newly discovered phenomenon of girls - is disrupted when a new child arrives in Felling.

Stephen is charismatic but disturbing, with a special talent for sculpting figures out of the local soil. Drawing Davie into an intense relationship, Stephen persuades him that together they can bring the earth he moulds so nimbly with his fingers to life. The novel subtly shifts register as the two boys succeed in their ambitions and Clay, a lumbering, barely conscious yet living and moving being, is created. The town of Felling has become host to a Frankenstein's monster.

Yipes.  It sounds creepily mysterious.  Or mysteriously creepy.  Of course, it doesn't come out in the States until next JULY, but I'm sure I'll be okay until then.  (I'm being sarcastic.  I HATE waiting.) 

C'mon, publishers!  It's David Almond!  He has fans here, too!  Just move the date up a few (Seven would be good.) months.  I'm sure it'd be worth your while.