Feather

by Manon Steffan Ros

When Huw's nan calls him Johnny - the name of her never-mentioned brother who disappeared in WWll, he realises things are changing. As Nan slips into dementia, Huw begins to discover things about his family past that he never could have imagined.

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2016

Reviews

[Berengaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ser (English below)

Fy llyfr *gwirioneddol* cyntaf yn Gymraeg (nid ar gyfer dysgwyr!). Mae wedi ysgrifennu'n dda iawn ac yn hwyl i'w darllen. Hanner stori am fachgen ifanc a'i brosect hanes ystod y gwyliau'r haf, hanner stori goruwchnaturiol am heneiddio a chysylltiadau teuluol.

Bydd dysgwyr ar lefel canolradd da gallu darllen heb broblemau anferth. (Cymraeg gogledd)


This is my first *real* book in Welsh (not one for learners!) It's a well-written middle grade work that's fun to read. Half a story about a young boy and his history project over the summer holidays, half a supernatural story about aging and family ties.

Learners at a good intermediate level will be able to read the book without huge problems. (Northern Welsh and some teen slang)

I read this as a part of my Foreign Language Reading Challenge 2023.

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manon Steffan Ros has written an incredibly powerful and moving story .

This is the story of Huw - 12 year old boy who lives with his dad but finds comfort in daily visits to his nan. Things change for him when his nan starts to forget things and starts to refer to Huw as Johnny - her older brother who she hasn't seen since the Second World War.

Huw is given the task of researching a family member's involvement in WWII as part of a summer holiday project and with his friends they start to try and piece together what happened to Johnny whilst at the same time Huw's life crumbles as his nan has to be rehoused and he feels that he and his dad have no connection- especially when Huw could do with a hug.

This is a book that tackles the impact of dementia ; with great sensitivity but without denying realities; the experiences of Huw will be familiar to be many young people and adults.

The exploration of family separation and the impact of war is also a topic that is rarely discussed. Nan's guilt is so sad.

This is an excellent read- the instances where nan struggles are so so moving and her realisation of what is happening and the ' everydayness" of her life of cooking, shopping and listening to ABBA add an additional poignancy.

This would make a great class read for upper key stage 2/lower key stage 3 or a good read for 10-13 year olds

A book that I will be highly recommending to colleagues in primary schools and friends as well.

Superb and important

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one afternoon, and found a single white feather on the floor when I got up to get a cup of tea.

[madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y llyfr cyntaf Cymraeg dwi wedi darllen ers talwm (ysgol lol). Stori lyfli am deulu gydag ychydig o ddirgel wedi'w ychwanegu. Er bod e'n llyfr i blant, roeddwn i wedi'w mwynhau yn fawr a nawr eisiau darllen mwy o straeon Manon Steffan Ros.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving.
Enjoyed it as much as The Blue Book of Nebo.
She’s a great storyteller and can do a lot with a 100 pages.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

selline kena õhuke raamat keskmisele koolieale (või ma ei tea, aga vähemalt tegelased on keskmises koolieas), mis räägib ühe või isegi mitu lugu täiesti piisava põhjalikkusega ära ja jätab mõne õhku rippuma ka.

siin on Huw, kelle armastatud vanaema langeb dementsuse küüsi ja peab minema hooldekodusse. ja on mõistatuslik vanaonu Johnny, kellest keegi midagi ei tea peale selle, et ju ta sõjas surma sai, aga Huw otsustab koolivaheajaks antud ajaloo kodutöö raames välja uurida, kus ja kuidas täpsemalt - vanaema pole elus tahtnud vennast rääkida, aga nüüd hakkab enesetsensuur järele andma, kahjuks jällegi osad asjad on läinud meelest või sassi. need on need lood, mis saavad lahenduse. mida me teada ei saa, on näiteks see, mis sai Huw' enda emast ja miks tema isa on selline, nagu ta on (vanaema minemalibisemine jätab Huw' ellu ikka päris suure tühimiku). ja lastekamba omavaheline dünaamika jääb ka mõnevõrra lahtiseks. ja millegipärast ei tundu kokkuvõttes enamik inimsuhteid selles raamatus mulle väga... usutavatena.

aga päris sümpaatne raamat isegi sellisena, nagu ta on. veidi ootamatu vaade ka kogu sellele sõjavärgile.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving short family story delving into the past.

Loved the author's book that won the Carnegie, so I saw the name and instantly scooped this up. It may be short, but it's a layered story of dementia, isolation in a family and war-time secrets.

Huw loves his grandma, she's warm and caring where his father only seems to have time for his phone. He is devastated when she begins to show signs of dementia, including calling him by her brother's name - Johnny. The name he knows the family has tried to forget, though he doesn't know why.

Encouraged by a school project to investigate a family member in the Second World War, Huw and some friends delve into his family's past, and even help his grandma as she senses herself losing her memories.

Tragic on several levels, there were scenes that had me in tears - between Huw and his dad, Huw and his grandma, and at the end when the whole story is known and seeing what was lost.

Highlighting several points about family, love and bravery in one short novel is no mean feat, and this did it beautifully.

For ages 10-14.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

NGL, this hit home hard, but in a good kind of way. The depiction of the experience of growing up, knowing someone with dementia feels so real and hits so close to home. If you need to explain dementia to a kid without terrifying them, this is the way to do it. Such a beautiful book.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but powerful story, tissues will be needed for the last few chapters!

#Feather is a story about a little boy named Huw who visits his nan every day on the way home from school. One day, she forgets his name and thinks he is her never talked about brother. As the dementia starts to grip the nan, Hew and his friends start to investigate what happened to the brother for his nan.

A beautifully told story that explores themes of friendship, family bonds, and dementia. Perfect for children aged 9+ who might be struggling with a grandparent who has dementia.

Thank you, @NetGalley_UK, for this advance copy. We will be getting a copy for our school library.

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally and utterly fell in love with this book. I always love delving in to different aspects of world war 2! I also loved how the past linked in to similar issues in the present. A great read.

[Milly Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author won the Yoto Carnegie Medal in 2023 and so I wanted to read this on. This is a short, moving story that deals with the effects of dementia as well as loneliness within a family environment. Huw has a special relationship with his nan, she provides the hugs and the love that he feels are lacking in his home life where it is just him and his dad. He seems to have no connection with his dad who, when he is at home, spends his time scrolling on his phone - that is when he isn’t in a grumpy mood. Therefore, Huw often escapes to his nan. The one day, she calls him Johnny - the name of her elder brother who is a person that the family seems to have tried to forget. Huw has never even seen a photograph of him and the family never, ever talk about him. This incident is a sign that his nan is gradually deteriorating until the time comes when she has to leave her house - a really sad part of the book. She asks Huw to find out where her brother went - she wants to know before she forgets forever. The school project that Huw is given for the summer holidays is just what he needs and with his friends, they start the investigation which takes them to the Second World War and even more secrets. This is a moving book, and very relevant for families who are having to cope with an elderly relative who is suffering from dementia. It ias also a story of love, and a story about being brave. A short novel but one that is packed full of emotion

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huw is 12 and lives with his Dad. When he's not at work, Huw's Dad spends most of his time scrolling through his phone, seemingly disinterested in Huw's life. Huw finds solace visiting his Nan, which he does most days. This is until the day Nan calls Huw by the name of her long lost brother Johnny, who she hasn't seen since the Second World War. Huw starts to worry something is really wrong with Nan as it soon becomes apparent this wasn't just a slip of the tongue. The bottom falls out of Huw's world as Nan deteriorates, and needs to be moved into a Care Home. Huw decides to try and find out what happened to Johnny after his Nan tells him she wants to know before she forgets her brother completely.

In amongst the awfulness of a dementia diagnosis it is easy to forget the huge impact this can have on children, when a much loved grandparent becomes a different person. Feather covers this subject with enormous compassion and tenderness in a very age appropriate manner. It is a beautifully written story about love, friendship and an understanding that sometimes being brave is not about heroics, but standing by your beliefs. This would make an ideal class reader for Upper KS2, and a great addition to any school library.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Firefly Press for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Haiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chwip o nofel! Y mae'r stori hon yn dilyn Huw a'i Nain yn bennaf a phlu gwynion sy'n ymddangos o gwmpas y lle o gwmpas Huw. Mae'r Nain yn mynd yn anghofus iawn gan ei bod yn 85 ac mae ganddi ddementia, sy'n ei gwneud i actio yn ffordd wahanol i'w chyffredin.

Yn gyffredinol, mae Manon Steffan Ros yn ysgrifennu straeon prydferth ac nid yw'r nofel hon yn eithriad. Mae'r stori yn delio â phroblemau'r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf, megis y dynion a wnaeth gwrthod mynd i'r rhyfel i'w hymladd a lladd dynion eraill. Brawd y Nain (Hywel) yn ddyn a wnaeth gwrthod mynd i ymladd hefyd a chafodd pluen wen o'i chwaer. Mae'r Nain yn teimlo cywilydd dros hynny ac felly yn medru peidio â siarad am Hywel am hanner canrif.

Mae'r nofel brydferth hon yn canolbwyntio ar gywilydd y dynion a deimlant wrthynt beidio ag amddiffyn eu gwlad dros resymau o gredu yn heddwch ac nid hil-laddiad. Prydferth ond yn llai adnabyddus na Llyfr Glas Nebo yn drist iawn hoffwn weld y llyfr yma cael yr un sylw â llyfrau eraill Manon Steffan Ros.

[Andrew Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book from my favourite author at the moment. The story is about a boy, Huw who is close to his gran, visiting every day but one day she mis-names him as Johnny, her long forgotten older brother. It chronicles Grans descent into dementia, while Huw researches Johnny. Its touching, its thought provoking and it discusses dementia without being matter of fact or preachy. It's a quick read, around 100 pages and took me around 2 hours. I'm pretty sure this book is a translation as the author has witten over 40 books in welsh, and hardly any have been translated into english. An excellent read.

[Vcmc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stori wych wedi'i anelu at blant o 11 i 13. Mae perthynas hyfryd rhwng bachgen ac ei nain, cyfeillgarwch da rhwng criw o blant. Hefyd yn ni'n darganfod bod y nain yn dechrau cael problemau cof. Wedyn mae dirgelwch am frawd y nain- ble mae e a pam dyw hi ddim yn siarad amdano. Stori ragorol sy'n cadw'r sylw oedolion hefyd.

[Kaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a impactful little story. Easily read in a day and so compelling throughout.
Feather is gorgeously tender and genuine and honestly very important. I've been told that Manon Steffan Ros' works are sometimes read in schools and I really hope this is one of them. The messaging of bravery is so perfectly handled.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stori fyr ond hyfryd. Mae'n dweud y stori o safbwynt bachgen ac yn dechrau'n eithaf difrifol, ond yn parhau'n ysgafnach mewn ffordd. Mae'n ddiddorol darllen am ddementia drwy lygaid bachgen.

[Catrin Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nofel deimladwy i arddegwyr sy'n trin a thrafod profiad o ddelio ag anhwylder rhiant cu a'r modd y gall hyn effeithio ar berson ifanc.

[Ki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another nuanced book where everyone can find a connection between the characters and their reality. Excellent Welsh writer, da iawn eto.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

a quick, touching children's book. nicely written.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Firefly for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This sounded so heart-breaking but so heartwarming and sadly familiar to me and I'm sure to an awful lot of older readers.

Dementia and topics like that can be really hard to write convincingly about without making it sound too patronising or too extravagant.

It is really moving. Not only the dementia side of it but also things like ill health, bad memories, war, secrets, courage. It's got a lot in it and it is at time quite heavy, but overall I think it's got a good balance. It's appropriate for the age range but doesn't dumb things down. It shows the difficulties that can come with ageing but shows readers not to be scared.

It's a child narrator which can be hard for adults to write and read, but with Huw, he's completely believable with his schooling and his friends etc. and he's actually a really captivating narrator.

It is subtly done but I love the moral of being brave, about standing up for what you believe, even if that means standing up to your loved ones. I won't spoil it, but in terms of the Nan/Johnny storyline, I wish there had been a bit more as I really wated to get my teeth into, but that would probably bore some younger readers.

There's not a huge amount for adults, but it isn't aimed at us. It's perfect for younger readers who want something to get their teeth into. But from my adult point-of-view, it's a quick book to read. I read it in less than two hours, and yet you never feel bored and nor does it feel too confusing. It's perfectly pitched.

[Emma Murch · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

This is a beautiful and powerful story about a lad named Huw and the wonderful relationship he has with his fun loving nan.

Huw visits his nan every day after school and his story progresses, we learn that his grandma is showing signs of dementia which affects him and his life deeply. He lives with his dad, who is a single parent and is clearly struggling with aspects of being alone himself.

When Huw is given his end of year project, writing about a member of the family who was around in WW2, he learns about his nan’s long lost brother. A young man who no longer figures in his family’s life for reasons that were never discussed.

This is a wonderful story suitable for upper KS2 children, particularly about relationships and communication. It also explains that not all heroes are as historical conventions describe, sometimes it takes a lot more bravery to follow your heart. Beautiful 🪶

I’d like to thank Firefly Press, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 8th April 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This touching story had me giggling by page four and feeling all the emotions from then on! A helpful and insightful read to help any child (age appropriate) understand and come to terms with the changing of grandparents and relatives succumbing to illness. This story does an excellent job of making many sensitive topics and emotions more approachable, giving a child reader the confidence to better cope with the unknown. Our protagonist, Huw, navigates his complex feelings of love, judgement, and guilt felt towards his Nan.

The child narrator is believable and has a friendly voice that balances serious topics with the joy of childhood friendships and adventure, without ever talking down to the reader. Two major mysteries are set up early on, creating a great hook and keeping the reader entertained with fast-paced and easy to digest plot.

With a central theme of lineage and legacy, a helpful commentary on mental illness, and a touching, heart warming ending this story delivers throughout.

[Bookgirl888 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, but powerful story. Huw's Grandmother is a key part of his life as his dad is a single parent who is clearly not coping with life. Early on, we realise that she is suffering with dementia and Huw doesn't know what to do. She starts talking about Johnny and Huw makes it his mission to find out about Johnny before she forgets. In researching Johnny, Huw makes a new friend and realises that his best friend can be more supportive than he gave him credit for. Huw also finds his courage. He talks to his dad, really talks to him. What's lovely is that nothing changes straight away after the conversation. Its a slow, natural process as it would happen in real life. This is a truly believable book with characters that we can all relate too. There are lots of themes squeezed in here as well. Family, friendships, sadness, forgiveness. Such a beautiful book and one that I will be reading again.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry for reviewing this so late. I sort books on shelf by the publication date so that I can review the ones that are about to be published and this one keeps getting pushed back in publication date. When I saw that it is about to be archived, I realised that I had to read this first.

The book gripped me from the first page. There is a note of poignancy that grips me. Huw is so relatable as the kid that thinks he is invisible. And his nan is just so loveable.

Will definitely get this when it is out and will use it in my course probably late next year.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huw is a 12 year old boy who finds joy in visiting his nan. A school project leads him to try to find out about his Nan's brother and why his name is never spoken by his otherwise chatty grandparent. This is a story of love, loss, regret and memories, beautifully written and leaves you with a feeling of hopeful melancholy.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it on the whole but felt a bit too short and therefore things resolved a bit too quickly.

[Lisa Jorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really sensitive handling of a difficult topic. It captured me, and I think my 10yo will love it too.