Carnegie Medal-winner Katya Balen returns with a stunning tale about a fractured bond between father and son – and the injured bird that helps to heal it.
When Noah’s dad visits from New York, he and Noah come across an injured nightjar during a walk in the countryside. Noah is determined to save the bird, but his dad believes they should leave it alone to let nature take its course. As father and son argue, it becomes clear that Noah is angry about more than just the bird. He feels abandoned and misunderstood by his dad, who has moved to the US and started a new family there that doesn’t seem to have room for Noah. Can they find a way to build a new relationship and rediscover the common ground between them?
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
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Katya Balen read English at university and then completed an MPhil researching the impact of stories on autistic children's behaviour. She has worked in a variety of special-needs schools as a teaching assistant, and more recently co-founded Mainspring Arts - a not-for-profit organisation that provides mentoring and creative opportunities for neurodivergent
More about Katya BalenRichard Johnson works from his studio with his partner, situated on the edge of a large wood in Lincolnshire, England. He is a professional freelance illustrator with 18 years experience working within the industry. He specialises in Children's Book illustration but has also developed illustrations for Advertisement Campaigns and Newspapers and Magazines. He
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