Pages: 212 pages
Book Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2007
For readers: Ages 8-12
Blog Star Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: (taken from book jacket)
The blue jays and cardinals of Stone-Run Forest have turned against each other. According to legend, only Swordbird, son of the Great Spirit, has the power to conquer evil and restore peace to the land. But is he real or just a myth? Can Swordbird arrive in time to save the forest... or will it be too late?Review:
What I liked the most about this book is how the teenage author managed to weave the complicated themes of war and peace, and good and evil, into a novel like this one. Yes, there are frightening times. Yes, there is suspense. And yes, there's that comforting everything-will-be-okay we all need. And the main characters of the books are birds, did I mention that? How she managed to pull it together is amazing.
The main plot is about how the tribes of Stone-Run (the blue jays and the cardinals) are fighting against each other, and it was caused by the evil Turnatt and his troops. However, they do not know this. Thanks to the heroism of several characters, and to Swordbird, peace is restored.
The vocabulary, voice, and writing are fairly simple, even though the storyline is far from it. That doesn't limit the power of the tale, though; and even makes it accessible to younger readers. The characters are strongly developed and have nice names (Turnatt, Aska, etc.).
Overall, this is a powerful and simple novel that hold the themes of war, peace, and hope within 212 pages.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (Great)
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