LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8
Winner of this year’s Yoto Carnegie Medal, Katya Balen is a lyrical story teller who is gifted at reflecting on difficult situations and emotions and exploring how children can navigate them.
In Birdsong, Annie is slowly recovering from a terrible car crash which has left her with damage to her hand that prevents her from playing her beloved flute. Without access to her natural solace of making music Annie retreats into a silent and all-consuming rage against everything that has caused this to happen, including her mother. Furiously exploring the scruffy scrubland outside her new flat Annie meets Noah who introduces her to the blackbirds’ nest he is protecting.
Gradually Annie begins to take an interest and the blackbirds’ wonderful song reignites her love of music and enables her to express herself through it once more. Katya Balen’s careful and sparing use of words and her eloquent expressions makes this a beautiful as well as a moving book to read.
Julia Eccleshare M.B.E
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About
Birdsong Synopsis
The blackbirds' song uplifts and restores in this captivating novella from one of the most exciting voices in children's fiction.
After a devastating car crash, Annie is unable to play her flute and retreats from the music she's always loved. She exists in a world of angry silence - furious with her mum and furious she can't seem to play her beloved flute any more. Then she meets Noah, who shows her the blackbirds' nest hidden in the scrubland near their flats. As their friendship grows, the blackbirds' glorious song reignites Annie's passion for music. But when tragedy strikes again, will her fragile progress be put at risk?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781800900981 |
| Publication date: |
1st July 2022 |
| Author: |
Katya Balen |
| Illustrator: |
Richard Johnson |
| Publisher: |
Barrington Stoke Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
104 pages |
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Press Reviews
Katya Balen Press Reviews
'Word perfect. Note perfect' - Phil Earle
'This is a book to dwell in, letting the story wash over you and settle your soul ... Katya Balen and Barrington Stoke is a wonderful combination' - Kate Heap, Scope for the Imagination
'A beautiful story about friendship, nature, music and recovery' Jo Bowers Just Imagine
Author
About Katya Balen
Katya Balen is an award-winning author of books for children. Katya's debut novel, The Space We’re In, was published in 2019 and was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award. Her second, October, October, won the Yoto Carnegie Medal. Her third novel, The Light in Everything, was published in 2022.
When she’s not writing books, Katya likes to scroll through dog-rescue websites, bake, and attempt to keep all her house plants alive. She lives in London with her partner and their dogs Raffi and Mouse.
More About Katya Balen
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“As someone who has always worked with children and adults who don’t have the easiest path accessing literature, it’s such an honour and a joy to work with Barrington Stoke. Accessibility is built into everything they do, and they centre their readers completely. It was wonderful to write Birdsong and know it could be shared with every child who wanted to read it, the usual barriers removed.” ~ Katya Balen
