Stone Cold

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1993

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-10

Chapters 11-20

Chapters 21-31

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Background

Authorial Context: Robert Swindells

English author Robert E. Swindells is renowned for his children’s and young adult fiction. Swindells was born in 1939 in Bradford, Yorkshire, the same town as Link, the protagonist of Stone Cold.

Swindells is known for his commitment to tackling social issues in his writing. He uses Stone Cold to shed light on the plight of individuals who are unhoused, combining a realistic portrayal of street life with a suspenseful thriller element. The novel follows Link, a young boy who finds himself unhoused in London, and Shelter, a former soldier who harbors a dark obsession with clearing the streets of unhoused individuals. Through this story, Swindells explores the physical and emotional challenges of living unhoused, including cold, hunger, and psychological despair.

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Swindells’ writing reflects his deep awareness of social injustices. In an interview with Young Writer magazine, he stated:

I am constantly aware of the presence of injustice in the world, and try to point up various manifestations of injustice, structural violence and so forth which exist in our society, and their effects on victims. Sometimes I suggest possible solutions (“Interview with Robert Swindells.” Young Writer).

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During his career, Swindell won the Red House Children’s Book Award in 1984 for his novel Brother in the Land, and won three more Red House awards for Room 13 (1989), Nightmare Stairs (1998), and Blitzed (2003). For Stone Cold (1993), Swindells was awarded the Carnegie Medal by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Cultural Context: Unhoused Living in the UK

Stone Cold addresses the societal neglect and vulnerability of individuals who are unhoused, reflecting broader discussions about social safety nets and public policy regarding unhoused living in urban areas.

Unhoused living is a significant issue in the UK, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. As of 2025, the combined pressures of the cost-of-living crisis and the housing crisis have exacerbated the situation, pushing more individuals and families into unhoused living. According to John Glenton, executive director of care and support at Riverside housing association, “The UK tops the global league table with by far the highest rate of homelessness in the developed world, with one in 200 households living in emergency temporary housing.” (Geraghty, Liam. “Homelessness Facts and Stats: The Damning Numbers You Need to Know.” Big Issue, 2025).

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London has seen a particularly significant rise in unhoused people. According to The Guardian, it reached its highest level in a decade in 2024 (Booth, Robert. “Rough Sleeping in London Hits Highest Level in a Decade.” The Guardian, 2024). The number of new unhoused people seen by outreach workers between April 2023 and March 2024 surged by 25%. Nearly one in 10 unhoused individuals was 25 or younger. London’s high cost of living, coupled with a shortage of affordable housing, has contributed to this increase. The stark contrast between the wealth displayed in London and the harsh reality facing its unhoused population highlights the inequalities present in urban centers. Swindells’ Stone Cold deals with precisely these issues: Unable to find a job or pay rent, Link experiences the indifference and isolation that accompanies living unhoused in a bustling city like London.