"Flying could take you farther and faster than running along the ground.
Too far for a squirrel was probably an easy distance for a crow. Happiness
bubbled up inside her. The happy feeling wanted to bubble out, because
of the way Toaff didn't understand the difference between traveling through
the air and traveling along the ground."
When Little Bird makes a journey that has been discouraged by older members of her crow family, she also makes a difficult but meaningful bid for independence. Up until making the decision to begin a quest for lost treasure, she has been relegated to mostly menial tasks having to do with the fledgelings. When one is dragged away from the nest, Little Bird has failed in her duties. Along with the tiny crow, "Our Luck", their symbol of protection, is also taken. Chaos reigns.
Ashamed that she was in charge and responsible for the losses, Little Bird decides she will find "Our Luck" and bring it back. As happens in fantasy stories, Little Bird is able to understand the language of other animals. The only animal who understands crow speech is a wise goat. Little Bird takes guidance from the goat, communicates with a squirrel and lives in another community of crows. Little Bird hears what other animals say; she does not always get the full meaning of the conversation.
As she travels further afield, she understands less about life beyond her own territory. Each new experience offers a chance to learn more about who she is and what she wants following her adventure. The knowledge she has gleaned from the animals she has met, and the difficulties she has endured help her make the decision to move beyond the limited territory of her own crow family an easy one. She will not be held back.
This is such a great story, as Cynthia Voigt is an accomplisher writer. I have long admired her books, and am happy to share this new one with middle grade readers who love reading fantasy and stories about animals. They will enjoy the dialogue and the comforting humor found in many of its scenes. It is filled with adventure, exposes Little Bird to some terror, and offers a satisfying end to Little Bird's quest for knowledge and independence.
No comments:
Post a Comment