Feather Boy
Published on 2. January 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-00-712026-0 (ISBN)
Description
Robert Nobel, the school pariah, triumphs over his own fears and the school bully, in this extraordinary tale of self-empowerment, legend and death. Robert is a boy who can do anything -- or so old Edith Sorrel at the nursing home tells him. Robert doesn't think so, knowing as he does that he is the school geek. But something compels him to do what Edith asks -- to visit old Chance House, where a boy once fell to his death from the top floor flat, to confront his fears and find some answers. Niker the bully thinks this is a great laugh. He challenges Robert to spend the night at Chance House with him -- but there the balance of power changes, and it is Robert who proves to be the stronger. Niker feels threatened by the change -- and when he finds out Robert's secret obsession, to make the dying Edith Sorrel a coat of feathers like in the old legend of the Firebird, he knows just how to wrest his old power back. But just how important is the coat of feathers? Could it really save Edith's life?
Reviews / Votes
"Inventive, original and full of surprises, it's the sort of dazzling debut novel that most publishers would fall over themselves to snap up!" T2 "Feather Boy is the most intelligent book for youngsters I've read for a very long time. Every 12-year-old will see a bit of themself in Robert and won't be able to put this book down until Feather Boy's emotional, thought-provoking climax. Fabulous." Funday Times "Feather Boy is more than just a story about Bullying. It's bigger than that. It's about finding your voice, shouting from the rooftops about something you believe in, refusing to back down, never giving up. It's enormously uplifting." John McLay "Feather Boy is simply fabulous! an emotionally intense suspense novel of the highest order" Michael Thorn, Achuka "If you only read one book this year, choose FEATHER BOY, for its memorable portraits of youth and age, its taut plot and, above all, its emotional ring of truth." Jenny Morris, Lion & Unicorn bookshop "This first children's book is a winner." Publishing News "A joy to read! A fascinating, emotional and captivating book that deserves wide recognition." Sheila Wood, Books for Students "Something unique and special" Tara Stephenson, Waterstone'sMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Target group
Primary & secondary/elementary & high school
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 9 years
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
267 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-712026-0 (9780007120260)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Additional editions
Person
Nicky Singer was born in 1956 and has worked in publishing, the arts and television. She was co-founder and co-director of Performing Arts Labs, a charity dedicated to training new writers for theatre, screen and opera. In 1995 she presented BBC2's highly acclaimed documentary series on women's fertility, "Labours of Eve". In 2000, Nicky was made a board member of the South East Arts Board. Nicky lives in Brighton with her husband and their two young sons and a daughter.