Birdsong - Katya Balen

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Author: Katya Balen

Illustrator: Richard Johnson
Genre: Middle-grade fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars.

A wonderful story about hope and perseverance and the beauty of music.

Annie loves music and finds music all around her. However, after a car crash seven months ago, she has lost the ability to manoeuvre her fingers, thus making her incapable of playing her beloved flute. To add to the woes, her mom has lost her job and they have shifted into a small apartment where the only view from the window is buildings. However, one day, she spots a boy in the little garden below her building. Noah is doing his best to save the little blackbirds’ nest. Annie and Noah bond over this duty and the lovely music of the blackbirds reignites Annie’s passion to give her flute another go. But tragedy strikes again and it is up to Annie to see what she can make of the new situation. The story is written in the first person point of view of Annie.

Annie’s age isn’t mentioned anywhere in the story, and I guess this is a good decision because it opens up the tale to a wider age range. The lyrical writing adds to the charm of the book. It is almost as if it were paying an ode to nature. There are so many ideas that the book raises – the healing power of music, the marvels of nature, the importance of persevering and not giving up hope.

The illustrations are in grayscale and somewhat gloomy, but they match the story well.

The book is suitable for ages 8-12. Definitely recommended.

Trigger warning: There is an animal death. (It is by natural causes but still, better to be aware of this in case your child is sensitive about this.)

My thanks to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for the DRC of “Birdsong”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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