Bird By Crystal Chan: Tour review & ANZ Giveaway

Bird
Written By Crystal Chan
Published in Australia January 29th 2014
295 Pages
Thank you to Text Publishing
Nothing matters. Only Bird matters. And he flew away.

Jewel never knew her brother Bird, but all her life she has lived in his shadow. Her parents blame Grandpa for the tragedy of their family’s past; they say that Grandpa attracted a malevolent spirit, a duppy, into their home. Grandpa hasn’t spoken a word since. Now Jewel is twelve, and she lives in a house full of secrets.

Jewel is sure that no one will ever love her like they loved Bird, until the night that she meets a mysterious boy in a tree. Grandpa is convinced that the boy is a duppy, but Jewel knows that he is something more. And that maybe the time has come to break through the stagnant silence of the past.

Entrenched secrets, mysterious spirits, and an astonishing friendship weave together in this extraordinary and haunting debut.

Twelve year old Jewel has lived her life in the shadow of her brother Bird, given the name by his grandfather. Bird was only five years old when decided to fly, plunging to his death from a cliff. In a cruel twist of fate, Jewel entered the world on that very same day and has always felt that her family would rather Bird have survived. He's the brother she'll never know, but his choice to fly has stolen her chance to be part of a loving family.

Since Bird died, grandpa hasn't spoken a single word. He spends his days alone in his room, only surfacing for meals. Jewel's father blames him for Bird's death, believing that his name lured evil spirits known as a Duppy, an ancient Jamaican belief. The family live in the small town of Caledonia in Iowa, where nothing is kept a secret and the gossip flows freely. But Jewel has a secret, visiting the very cliff where Bird tried to fly, defying the wishes of her parents. It's there where she first developed her love of geology, the rocks and soil making her feel more at home than she's ever felt. Until she meets John.

Making her way to a neighbouring property, Jewel often climbs the majestic oak tree to escape, when she finds John perched on her favourite branch. John is visiting his uncle's farm and has claimed the tree as his own. Jewel has never found a friend who understands her, and although awkward at times, the two preteens settle into an easy friendship. John wants to become an astronaut, while he teaches Jewel about our galaxy, Jewel in turn teaches John about her love of discovery. But not everyone in Jewel's family approves of her new friendship, none more so than grandpa. Grandpa believes John is a Duppy, something Jewel's mother refutes. Being Mexican, her mother doesn't believe in the same superstitions which is one of several reasons her family are slowly drifting apart.

Jewel knows that her family isn't truly living, but there is a fate worse than being ignored and the last thing she wants to do is upset her mother. Her mother who no longer has a reason to smile, her grandpa who doesn't have a reason to speak and her father, who Jewel is desperate to make him proud of her. Something has to give, before Jewel wants to follow Bird and fly away.

My Thoughts


Bird was a beautifully haunting and poignant story about love, loss and how sometimes a family needs to fall apart before we can put it back together. Jewel is an intelligent and empathetic young lady, who deserves to be seen, to be nurtured and to be loved. Her parents may not have intentionally placed expectations upon Jewel, but Jewel certainly has. She sees herself as the replacement child for her brother Bird. Where Bird had the best of her family, now Jewel getting only what remains. Her story is incredibly sad, until John enters the picture. John shares his name with Bird, his real name that is, and may even be a mirror of what Bird may have looked like at the same age. The family believe it may be a sign, whether one of evil or not is yet to be seen.

Unbelievably, this is a debut novel. Crystal Chan is a storyteller who paints a vivid picture for her readers, and fills it with indepth characters that will take your emotions to the limits. I absolutely loved Jewel's character. She may be only twelve, but she felt like an old soul that deserves more than what life has given her. Her parents weren't cruel, but too busy grieving for Bird, that even twelve years later they can't find the strength to provide a life for their living child. With no one to talk to, Jewel finds solace in the earth. Each grievance is placed upon a stone and buried, using it as a coping mechanism as she's scared to upset her parents any further. It takes her grandpa who begins to form a relationship with Jewel to see how special this young lady truly is. Her journey was heartbreaking, often leaving me highly emotional which for me is the sign of a brilliant author. As the story built and reached a crescendo, I found myself quietly sobbing, smiling and sighing.

Bird is the middle grade equivalent to The Fault in our Stars.

The lovely people at Text Publishing have kindly donated copy of Bird to giveaway to one lucky winner. This competition is only open to Australian and New Zealand residents.

Giveaway


19 comments

  1. I've been hearing quite a lot about Bird recently and really want to read it - it sounds amazing! I'll definitely be looking out for a copy, and thanks for the lovely review!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Maya. Bird is incredible, you definitely won't be disappointed. It's now among my favourite reads.

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  2. Bird sounds interesting. I'll definitely add it to my to read list.

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  3. If I were able to fly the first place I'd fly to would be Canada to visit my sister.

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    1. That sounds as good a place as any Nic, be sure to rug up though. Those temperatures in the U.S at the moment sound mighty chilly.

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  4. Oh this is such a hard question. I think I'd fly to the US and go on an adventure. Maybe to BEA?! Thank you for the awesome giveaway. I've seen so much about this one from all the Aussie bloggers. :D

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    1. Laura, you'll love this one. I guarantee it. If you're heading to BEA, I'll be hitching a ride on your back. How would we carry all our goodies home though?

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  5. If I could fly, I'd probably wouldn't fly to anywhere in particular. I'd fly as high as I could, and just look at the world below me and see how vast and beautiful it is.

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    1. I love it Jess, like a real time Google Earth. Brilliant.

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  6. Lovely review Kelly, I am reading this at the moment and it is amazing. I'm surprised by how sad and emotional it is, it packs a punch in a few words.

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    1. Thanks Jeann, and I'm thrilled you're enjoying it too. It's one of the most emotional books I've read and the writing is so beautifully simplistic. My heart was breaking for Jewel. Can't wait to read your thoughts.

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  7. Oh maaan, so many places! Why would you make me choose just one?! :P

    I guess if I did have to be picky, I'd probably fly to the top of Machu Picchu so I don't pass out on the way up that crazy mountain! I've always wanted to visit.

    Bird looks like an amazing read, thank you for the lovely review and giveaway Kelly xx

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    1. Lovely to see you again Joy. Imagine if you flew all the way there, puffing and panting with your little wings about ready to give...

      And realised you had left your camera at home. Good luck Joy and thanks for entering.

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  8. This book...awmygawsh. I JUST LOVED IT. I loved how unique and deep Jewel's character was. I was tossing up whether this felt more YA than MG, but, hey. Why can't MG books be deep and meaningful too? I wouldn't have quite labelled it an MG TFiOS but I can see what you mean. ;) EEEK. I'm so glad you liked it too!!

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    1. Ohhh me too Cait. The premise looked good, but I didn't expect it to be that incredible. I was blown away. And can you believe Crystal Chan is a debut author! That's like say WHHHAAAT. I just loved it wholly. Awesome review by the way.

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  9. I've heard so much about BIRD! Thanks for the giveaway, and hopefully I can acquire it somehow (don't tell anyone about my book-buying ban!). Great review :)

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    1. Oh no, your secret is safe with me. Thanks for entering and good luck! It really is awesome.

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  10. Wow, this book sounds absolutely beautiful! It wasn't on my radar before (MY AUSSIE FRIENDS HAVE FAILED ME), but I'm definitely adding it to my list. Thank you for the beautiful review.

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. Lovely to see you again Wendy. This book is simply brilliant, you won't be disappointed. There is an amazing amount of beautifully written middle grade novels being brought out lately, much more so than young adult it seems.

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