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A Gift from the Birds
Birds can save people’s lives. You may think that’s a strange thing to say. How can a small animal with wings save a person? But I know they can. It happened to me.
When Millie was nine years old her mum got sick, very sick. And now, on the night of Millie’s tenth birthday party, things are getting serious. Millie sits on the back step of her house, worried and upset, and two shiny black crows fly into the yard, catching her attention.
Do they just want some of the cheeseburger she’s attempting to eat? Or are they visiting for some other reason?
Before long Millie starts to find mysterious objects in the garden. And the crows are often there when she comes home from school.
What are they trying to tell her? And can they help her as she faces losing her mum?
Caroline Stills’s debut novel, A Gift from the Birds, is a sensitive, heartfelt story about loss and grief, and finding comfort in unexpected places.
Caroline Stills is the author of a number of acclaimed picture books for children. She won the 2024 Text Prize for A Gift from the Birds, her first novel for middle grade readers. Caroline lives in the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne, with her family.
carolinestills.com
When Millie was nine years old her mum got sick, very sick. And now, on the night of Millie’s tenth birthday party, things are getting serious. Millie sits on the back step of her house, worried and upset, and two shiny black crows fly into the yard, catching her attention.
Do they just want some of the cheeseburger she’s attempting to eat? Or are they visiting for some other reason?
Before long Millie starts to find mysterious objects in the garden. And the crows are often there when she comes home from school.
What are they trying to tell her? And can they help her as she faces losing her mum?
Caroline Stills’s debut novel, A Gift from the Birds, is a sensitive, heartfelt story about loss and grief, and finding comfort in unexpected places.
Caroline Stills is the author of a number of acclaimed picture books for children. She won the 2024 Text Prize for A Gift from the Birds, her first novel for middle grade readers. Caroline lives in the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne, with her family.
carolinestills.com
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 5, 2025
Let me be up front: I’m a big Australian raven/crow fan.
When I saw the latest ‘Text Prize’ winner online, I noted down ‘A gift from the birds’ by Caroline Stills.
Being school holidays now, I just read it in one sitting.
What a thoughtful, well-crafted and important story to bring into the world for confident readers aged +6 years old.
We’ve all known someone to pass away, but sometimes we just don’t know what to do next.
The art club and library at school were great sanctuaries for Millie (aged 10 years old), but socialising and being in the world aren’t the same after.
This is a great book to read and share when thinking about giving others space to think, grieve and return when they are ready.
Life changes, but the gift of nature and making new memories are special.
Great work, Caroline Stills and Text Publishing.
Lastly, the artwork of the front cover is brilliant.
When I saw the latest ‘Text Prize’ winner online, I noted down ‘A gift from the birds’ by Caroline Stills.
Being school holidays now, I just read it in one sitting.
What a thoughtful, well-crafted and important story to bring into the world for confident readers aged +6 years old.
We’ve all known someone to pass away, but sometimes we just don’t know what to do next.
The art club and library at school were great sanctuaries for Millie (aged 10 years old), but socialising and being in the world aren’t the same after.
This is a great book to read and share when thinking about giving others space to think, grieve and return when they are ready.
Life changes, but the gift of nature and making new memories are special.
Great work, Caroline Stills and Text Publishing.
Lastly, the artwork of the front cover is brilliant.
September 17, 2025
Writing about death and grief is hard, and I really needed the birds to give me some hope in this story. Whilst commentary was provided on Amelia’s friendships, this story was very much a single voice of immense suffering. At times I felt the author overstepped the child’s perspective, with adult rationale and platitudes in the mouth of young Amelia, when less would have been enough. It stands as a powerful story.
As a librarian, I’m not sure to whom I would offer this book since it really does weigh heavy on the heart and some young hearts might not be up to the challenge. The story needs to be read but to get the interest of young readers, I feel the beginning needs more energy. The ending however feels optimistic and just right.
As a librarian, I’m not sure to whom I would offer this book since it really does weigh heavy on the heart and some young hearts might not be up to the challenge. The story needs to be read but to get the interest of young readers, I feel the beginning needs more energy. The ending however feels optimistic and just right.
November 5, 2025
A Gift from the Birds is an uplifting gift of hope that shows the possibility of enjoyment at a time of great sadness.
Coping with loss is difficult at any age, as ten year old Millie knows too well.
As we follow her journey, we experience her worry, and sadness when her mother is in hospital. We see her confused by her father’s absence as he deals with his own grief (off the page), leaving Millie feeling alone and sad.
I was brought to tears at one point, but the story is so worth the read, because of what happens next.
Millie finds unexpected comfort from a relationship that develops after her first curious observation of a crow in her garden that is also watching her.
The author, Caroline Stills, has written the story so well that we feel Millie’s sadness move to growing delight as their relationship blossoms and gives her something to look forward to each day.
Through the friendship, of the crows Millie and her dad find a way to reconnect and move through their grief together.
Caroline’s masterly storytelling tugged at my heartstrings but also made me smile despite the sadness.
I thoroughly recommend this book, to be read alone at any time or perhaps to be read together as a natural way to start a conversation about grief.
Coping with loss is difficult at any age, as ten year old Millie knows too well.
As we follow her journey, we experience her worry, and sadness when her mother is in hospital. We see her confused by her father’s absence as he deals with his own grief (off the page), leaving Millie feeling alone and sad.
I was brought to tears at one point, but the story is so worth the read, because of what happens next.
Millie finds unexpected comfort from a relationship that develops after her first curious observation of a crow in her garden that is also watching her.
The author, Caroline Stills, has written the story so well that we feel Millie’s sadness move to growing delight as their relationship blossoms and gives her something to look forward to each day.
Through the friendship, of the crows Millie and her dad find a way to reconnect and move through their grief together.
Caroline’s masterly storytelling tugged at my heartstrings but also made me smile despite the sadness.
I thoroughly recommend this book, to be read alone at any time or perhaps to be read together as a natural way to start a conversation about grief.
September 26, 2025
This is a beautifully written book about a child's experience coming to terms with grief following the death of her mother. Written from the point of view of ten year old Millie, the author gives voice to a child's inner thoughts too difficult to share with others. Raw and honest, the story doesn't hold back on describing the father's grief and the difficult journey of how father and daughter navigate their grief separately then come together over their experience with the gifts from the birds. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it and found the ending so heart warming and uplifting. As a teacher of Primary age children I would read this to Middle Primary and expect some important sharing and comments from my class. It would also be a great book for small group Literature Circles in Upper Primary. I think this is a really important book, but also a well crafted satisfying story.
November 3, 2025
A Gift from the Birds by Caroline Stills, is a sensitive and thoughtful narrative of a young girl's experience of personal loss and grief.
Skillfully written and with much attention to detail, this is a work that explores difficult subject matter head-on: terminal illness and death.
As a children's author myself, who has written about the 'difficult stuff' for children, I commend Caroline for her courage in also doing so.
Adults often shy away from talking about grief and death in the belief they will say the wrong thing and/or add to a child's distress.
Research however, has shown that honest and age-appropriate conversations help children make sense of their difficult emotions.
I believe this 'magical' book would be best read with an adult's guidance and categorised as a wonderful resource to start meaningful and sensitive conversations.
Michelle Write, children's author
Skillfully written and with much attention to detail, this is a work that explores difficult subject matter head-on: terminal illness and death.
As a children's author myself, who has written about the 'difficult stuff' for children, I commend Caroline for her courage in also doing so.
Adults often shy away from talking about grief and death in the belief they will say the wrong thing and/or add to a child's distress.
Research however, has shown that honest and age-appropriate conversations help children make sense of their difficult emotions.
I believe this 'magical' book would be best read with an adult's guidance and categorised as a wonderful resource to start meaningful and sensitive conversations.
Michelle Write, children's author
October 14, 2025
A worthy winner of the 2024 Text Prize.
It's rare to find a book that captures the internal monlogue of a 10 year old child using language appropriate to their age (and without being patronising), but A Gift from the Birds does just that. It also captures Millie's feelings of guilt, anger and loss whilst managing to be uplifting as well.
It's a beautifully written book that should be read by those who are supporting children through loss and by the children themselves who will hopefully recognise their own feelings and realise that these feelings are normal.
It's rare to find a book that captures the internal monlogue of a 10 year old child using language appropriate to their age (and without being patronising), but A Gift from the Birds does just that. It also captures Millie's feelings of guilt, anger and loss whilst managing to be uplifting as well.
It's a beautifully written book that should be read by those who are supporting children through loss and by the children themselves who will hopefully recognise their own feelings and realise that these feelings are normal.
October 20, 2025
This is a good novel from the winner of the Text Prize. Maisie is turning ten and her mother is very ill. It is a story of grief and loss, and the crows who leave her gifts. Maisie is helped by the birds, as well as her community (family, friends, teachers) and her painting.
A gentle story, the author's first for 'middle school readers'. It would be a good one for parents and their children to read together.
A gentle story, the author's first for 'middle school readers'. It would be a good one for parents and their children to read together.
December 3, 2025
A beautiful story about loss, grief and ultimately hope - written from the perspective of a ten year old girl. Author Caroline Stills has managed to capture such heart wrenching truth in a gentle yet emotive way that I'm not surprised this book is a Text Prize Winner. Well deserved too.
Having a ten year old daughter myself, and having also lost my mother - A Gift From the Birds put a lump in my throat and a twist in my stomach. Recommend it highly.
Having a ten year old daughter myself, and having also lost my mother - A Gift From the Birds put a lump in my throat and a twist in my stomach. Recommend it highly.
October 5, 2025
I thought this was such a gentle and thoughtful story about the of young girl experiencing devastating grief and loss . It talks about being lost in a crowd of friends and not being able to navigate your way until by chance a quiet magic happens and a healing journey begins
I wonderful book to read with your grandchildren
I wonderful book to read with your grandchildren
September 27, 2025
A beautiful book, well written from the heart. Caroline has written about a sad subject with so much empathy, just the right amount of humour to take the edge off the total devastion that Millie was feeling. I will recommend it to everyone, a must read book. Diana Filipek
October 12, 2025
A beautifully written novel about the hardest emotional journey a young girl could go through. A sensitive story of loss and grief, family and relationships.
October 8, 2025
I do not recommend reading A Gift From the Birds by Caroline Stills in public, especially if you’re a crier like me. I read the whole thing in one train trip, unable to look up from the pages or make eye contact with my fellow travellers, and then needed to reapply my makeup when I arrived at my destination.
This is a genuine tear-jerker, and a beautiful one at that. It had an especially gut-wrenching impact on me, as someone who lost their mum to cancer just last year. I keep coming back to this one paragraph over and over, wondering how a 10-year-old could sum up my exact feelings so well, and so simply:
"As I walked towards the school gate, mums were dropping their children off from cars, mums were walking their children to the school crossing, and mums with little children were walking them all the way into the school grounds. There were mums everywhere. But not mine."
This is me every week, wrangling my toddler in shopping centres and playgrounds, and desperately looking around at the other women my age who are doing the same, but all seem to have their mums with them to help.
This tiny line also cut through:
"I feel jealous of everyone and their happy ordinary lives."
When you’re experiencing grief, at no matter what age, it can feel incredibly lonely and isolating. It’s so hard to understand how everyone is carrying on as normal when your whole world has shattered, and will never be the same again.
I didn’t lose my mum when I was ten. I would never compare my loss to going through that devastating ordeal as a small child. But through Millie’s eyes, we get to walk in those very painful shoes. It is heartbreaking, and also in its own way, a gift. The story carefully guides the reader through the experience. It doesn’t shy away from the heartache, but does so in a very age-appropriate way. A Gift from the Birds respects its readers. But it offers them hope, too. The visiting crows give Millie (and her dad) reason to keep going, and illustrates the way nature can be a gentle balm in the worst of times. The ending is perfectly bittersweet—and just predictable enough that when the crows’ gifting talents come into play in a meaningful final swoop, your heart can’t help but swell.
A Gift From the Birds would be such a good resource for any young person in the aftermath of loss, and I think almost more so for a young person who has someone in their life experiencing grief, and isn’t sure what to say or do. It would be exceptional for empathy development and understanding. It’s also just a really lovely, emotional read. Make sure to have a hanky on hand before you crack the spine on this one.
Review from my Substack: https://karysmcewen.substack.com/
This is a genuine tear-jerker, and a beautiful one at that. It had an especially gut-wrenching impact on me, as someone who lost their mum to cancer just last year. I keep coming back to this one paragraph over and over, wondering how a 10-year-old could sum up my exact feelings so well, and so simply:
"As I walked towards the school gate, mums were dropping their children off from cars, mums were walking their children to the school crossing, and mums with little children were walking them all the way into the school grounds. There were mums everywhere. But not mine."
This is me every week, wrangling my toddler in shopping centres and playgrounds, and desperately looking around at the other women my age who are doing the same, but all seem to have their mums with them to help.
This tiny line also cut through:
"I feel jealous of everyone and their happy ordinary lives."
When you’re experiencing grief, at no matter what age, it can feel incredibly lonely and isolating. It’s so hard to understand how everyone is carrying on as normal when your whole world has shattered, and will never be the same again.
I didn’t lose my mum when I was ten. I would never compare my loss to going through that devastating ordeal as a small child. But through Millie’s eyes, we get to walk in those very painful shoes. It is heartbreaking, and also in its own way, a gift. The story carefully guides the reader through the experience. It doesn’t shy away from the heartache, but does so in a very age-appropriate way. A Gift from the Birds respects its readers. But it offers them hope, too. The visiting crows give Millie (and her dad) reason to keep going, and illustrates the way nature can be a gentle balm in the worst of times. The ending is perfectly bittersweet—and just predictable enough that when the crows’ gifting talents come into play in a meaningful final swoop, your heart can’t help but swell.
A Gift From the Birds would be such a good resource for any young person in the aftermath of loss, and I think almost more so for a young person who has someone in their life experiencing grief, and isn’t sure what to say or do. It would be exceptional for empathy development and understanding. It’s also just a really lovely, emotional read. Make sure to have a hanky on hand before you crack the spine on this one.
Review from my Substack: https://karysmcewen.substack.com/
Read
October 3, 2025The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing, the publisher of A Gift from the Birds.
‘… a good book to read with your child to discuss themes of death, grief and loss, as well as the natural world.’
Good Reading
‘A Gift from the Birds is a raw and tender exploration of grief, friendship and the healing power of nature, for children aged 8+’
Readings Monthly
‘Kind and gentle. It’s important for young readers to meet characters like Millie who are navigating the unthinkable, the loss of a mum.’
Karen Foxlee, author of Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
‘A beautifully told story, full of hope, courage and optimism.’
Ingrid Laguna, author of Songbird
‘Beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful.’
Judith Rossell, author of The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls
‘A gentle, hopeful book grounded in courage, love and the healing presence of the natural world…It sits alongside Karen Foxlee’s Lenny’s Book of Everything and Aleesh Darlison’s Grace the Amazing.’
Books+Publishing
‘This is a really lovely text, and is well balanced in its exploration of loss, grief and hope.’
SA English Teachers Association
‘… a good book to read with your child to discuss themes of death, grief and loss, as well as the natural world.’
Good Reading
‘A Gift from the Birds is a raw and tender exploration of grief, friendship and the healing power of nature, for children aged 8+’
Readings Monthly
‘Kind and gentle. It’s important for young readers to meet characters like Millie who are navigating the unthinkable, the loss of a mum.’
Karen Foxlee, author of Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
‘A beautifully told story, full of hope, courage and optimism.’
Ingrid Laguna, author of Songbird
‘Beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful.’
Judith Rossell, author of The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls
‘A gentle, hopeful book grounded in courage, love and the healing presence of the natural world…It sits alongside Karen Foxlee’s Lenny’s Book of Everything and Aleesh Darlison’s Grace the Amazing.’
Books+Publishing
‘This is a really lovely text, and is well balanced in its exploration of loss, grief and hope.’
SA English Teachers Association
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews