Nancy Yi Fan, 12, tells the story of how two warring bird tribes put aside their differences to fight for peace. The book starts as former allies, the cardinals and the bluejays, battle over territory and supplies. Meanwhile, in Fortress Glooming, the evil hawk Turnatt plots to enslave all birds and force them to finish constructing his fortress.
Divided, the cardinals and bluejays will be easy targets for Turnatt’s squadron of crows and ravens. But when the woodbirds learn of Turnatt’s plans, they unite. A bloody battle ensues. The woodbirds fight off Turnatt’s army, but just barely. They decide to call on the mythical Swordbird for help.
This fast-paced tale will draw in fans of Brian Jacques and the Warriors series with its realistic animal characters and action. Themes of peace and freedom play an important role in this story written in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th. An amazing effort for such a young author. I’m sure we’ll see a lot more from Fan in the future.
DweebMeter: 3/5
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