Reason for Reading: I was immediately drawn to the story involving a derelict house and a mystery surrounding it. Then I noted the book had been published under the Essential Modern Classics list. This is a list of books chosen by the publisher's UK house and is a collection of outstanding books for children. From looking at the titles I'd say the age range varies anywhere from 8 to 15. Four new titles are to be published in 2010 under the Essential Modern Classics list and I think the authors chosen present a unique collection for North American readers to discover. I intend to be keeping up-to-date with ESM as well as digging into their backlist.This is one of those rare and truly exceptional stories. A book that captures the heart and will live on in memory for ages. The story defies an age group, while not suitable for youngest children, it can be read and enjoyed by juveniles and adults with equal pleasure. There are both a young 13-year-old and a senior citizen character for readers to possibly choose one over the other to identify with, though the book is told from the 13-year old's point of view.As part of the Essential Modern Classics series the book starts with an informative paragraph bio. of the author followed by a short essay entitled "Why You'll Love This Book" written by a famous author, in this case David Almond. This publisher's series also sometimes end with extra material at the back of the book, but this one does not.Robert is the kid who gets picked last for sport teams, is teased relentlessly by the class smart alek and therefore everyone else, and has been nick-named Norbert by the other kids ever since he can remember. Robert joins the Elders' Project which involves working at the local senior's home and partnering with an Elder to create a visual that will sum up the group's experience of what they have learned about each other. Robert is more than surprised when a strange old lady suddenly calls out she doesn't want her partner, she wants him ... and is pointing directly at Robert. Thus begins a life and death relationship that will change who Robert is forever.Robert is directed to a creepy old derelict house where rumour has it a boy about his age once jumped to his death from the top floor apartment thinking he could fly. Robert must race against time to figure out the mystery of the house and learn himself how to truly fly.Heart-warming, funny, with characters who make you like or hate them, this is a beautifully written book. It is a coming of age story for Robert as he has a truly remarkable experience. It is a coming to terms with life story for the old lady, Mrs. Sorrel, as she finds a way to settle the anguish and self-punishment she has put herself through for the past forty years. Out of all this come life for one and death for the other, both good and wonderful things. This is an exceptional story which I am delighted to have read.back-to-books.blogspot.com
a boy named Robert Nobel, aged 12 was selected to participate in the Elders Project, where selected children visit Mayfield Rest Rome, to find out about the elderly residents and interact with them. Robert assigned resident was named Edith sorrel. he found out about her past and how she had a divorced husband that often came to visit. she she had a son also that had died the same age as Robert and in the place where Robert most dreaded visiting. he went on a quest to solve the mystery and find Edith's wisdom in the chance house, her old home, as she asked.Robert grew stronger and more courageous as he visited the chance house. he had a hard time with divorced parents and no friends. he didn't realise that the chance house had made an affect on his future and his being. Mrs Sorrel had got him to make her a feathered jumper, he believed,from the Firebird story that she had told him, that she may not die.'from my point of this story I think you need to have faith in it and to believe in its storyline because it may be a little too far fetched. But other than that I liked the way Robert had the strength and the courage to do anything'
Do You like book Feather Boy (2004)?
I'm 18 now and I read this book when I studied it at school when I was around 11 years old, so you can understand that I don't really remember the story. I got rid of it and bought it a few months ago when I started buying books I read as a child, for memories. Anyway, I remember really enjoying this book. I could relate to the main character (despite the fact that he's a boy and I'm a girl) because he's bullied and I was being bullied at the time. One thing I'd like to warn you about though, is that for a child this book is very creepy.
—Caroline Victoria Murphy (CazzReadsYA)
I first read this novel when I was ten or eleven and it's one of my absolute favourites that I read as a kid. I read so many books in my childhood (and I can't say that I aimed for quality, it was more to just pass the time) that very few of them have stuck with me until this day. This one, however, really stood out and it was just as good when I read it five years ago again.I was very much impressed as a kid by this book and by the realisation of what reading can be at its best and how much of an impact a book can have on me. It was definitely a valuable reading experience in terms of developing my relationship with books.
—Sofia
