LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
Radiant with the restorative power of nature, not least the magic of birds, Catherine Bruton’s Bird Boy tells the moving, empathetic story of eleven-year-old Will, who’s sent to stay with his taciturn uncle following the tragic loss of his mother.
Though his uncle’s home in the mountains is a far cry from his former flat, here Will maintains a bond with his beloved bird-loving mother when he spies an osprey’s nest, replete with two tiny chicks. This is remarkable — they’re one of the most endangered species in the country and haven’t been seen in this valley. But when Will sees ”the little one with the snow-tipped wings and forget-me-not blue eyes”, he’s reminded of Mum.
With his new friend for support — Omar, an effervescent refugee from Afghanistan — Will keeps a close eye on the chicks. After forming an especially close protective bond with the little one, he finds himself doing everything in his power to save her.
Superb at evoking the wonder of the wild and portraying the kind of friendship that gives you wings and the strength to soar, Bird Boy also explores migration, and how hard it is to grapple with grief. Heart-wrenchingly honest, it’s also a story of healing — of “learning to let people in, to ask for help, to trust”.
Joanne Owen
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About
Bird Boy Synopsis
“Where could you go from here? If you kept going, would you just fall off – into nothing? Or could you fly off into the distance, like the birds he could see hovering over the grey waves – fly off and leave all of this behind? If only Will had wings…”
From the multi-award-winning author of No Ballet Shoes in Syria, comes a story of migration, conservation, healing and hope as a grieving boy forms an unbreakable bond with an injured bird.
After the tragic death of his mother, eleven year old Will is sent to temporarily stay with his uncle in the mountains. After years trapped in a high-rise flat, with only birds for company, Will doesn't know how he'll survive a place like this, but he soon finds solace in the woods, when he's surrounded by birdsong.
With his new friend Omar - a refugee from Afghanistan - Will discovers an osprey nest, with two small chicks inside. He forms an unbreakable bond with the birds, especially the smallest chick, who they name Whitetip. But when tragedy almost strikes again one stormy night, and Whitetip is knocked out of the nest - breaking a wing, Will is determined to save her. Smuggling her down from the mountain, he finds a way to keep her alive. As Will helps Whitetip to grow and to heal, he finds a strength inside himself that he never knew he had. Maybe, finally, Will can find a way to take flight too...
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781839946493 |
| Publication date: |
9th May 2024 |
| Author: |
Catherine Bruton |
| Publisher: |
Nosy Crow |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
291 pages |
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Press Reviews
Catherine Bruton Press Reviews
'Vivid and deeply empathetic, Catherine is a wonderful storyteller.' - Phil Earle
'A wonderfully moving story about the healing power of nature, perfect for fans of Phil Earle and Katya Balen' - Anthony McGowan
'Unputdownable.A gift to nature loving young people' - Hilary McKay
'A heart-felt story about the healing power of nature.Moving and powerful, I loved it' - Gill Lewis
Author
About Catherine Bruton
Catherine Bruton studied English at Oxford University and has been juggling life as a teacher, children’s author and mum for the past fifteen years. As an English teacher at King Edward’s School, Bath, she sees first-hand the impact stories can have on young readers – opening their eyes, expanding their horizons, making them ask questions and see the world differently.
Her books tackle some of the big issues faced by young people today – terrorism, immigration, the cult of celebrity, the refugee crisis – in ways that are heart-breaking, often hilarious, but invariably hopeful.
Her multi-award nominated debut, We Can Be Heroes was recently made into a film starring Alison Steadman and Phil Davies and, as an ‘extra’ on the film set, Catherine got to realise her a lifelong dream when she actually got to spend a day living in one of her own stories!
No Ballet Shoes in Syria received much acclaim on publication in 2019, was nominated for the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal, featured as a BBC Bitesize text and was selected as The Times Children’s Book of the Week as well as sweeping the reviews pages of most national newspapers.
She is also the author of I Predict a Riot and Pop! And as her alter-ego Cate Shearwater, she is the author of the much-loved Somersaults and Dreams series.
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Editor’s Comment:
“A captivating classic in the making from the pen of the exceptional Catherine Bruton. Bird Boy will lift spirits and help them soar!"
