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Birdlands: Shortlisted for the Children's Wainwright Prize 2026
From Carnegie-winning author Anthony McGowan comes another thrilling and heartbreaking animal adventure
An unlikely flock. The adventure of a lifetime.
Life can be tough when you’re a bird, especially for Beaky, Herman and Pidge. With the young jackdaw’s twisted beak, the crow’s broken wing and the pigeon’s fear of flying, survival seems impossible. Until, that is, they band together.
The trio set out into the wild, leaving the city far behind. But danger lurks at every turn… Will the three birds ever find a place they can call home?
An unlikely flock. The adventure of a lifetime.
Life can be tough when you’re a bird, especially for Beaky, Herman and Pidge. With the young jackdaw’s twisted beak, the crow’s broken wing and the pigeon’s fear of flying, survival seems impossible. Until, that is, they band together.
The trio set out into the wild, leaving the city far behind. But danger lurks at every turn… Will the three birds ever find a place they can call home?
171 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2026
About the author
Anthony McGowan
98 books88 followersAnthony John McGowan is an English author of books for children, teenagers and adults. He is the winner of the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal for Lark. In addition to his 2020 win, he has been twice longlisted (for The Knife That Killed Me in 2008 and Brock in 2014) and once shortlisted (for Rook in 2018) for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and is the winner of the 2006 Booktrust Teenage Prize for Henry Tumour.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 27, 2026
Brutal, brisk and brief. Watership Down for birds.
I've loved McGowan's short novels over the last few years, he fits deep themes and harsh truths in clipped running times. Here is no different. It's nature as it really is - not happy, not fairy tale - kill or be killed, find food or die, strong prey on the weak.
Three birds, first named by a boy who takes pity on the scruffy lot and who tries to feed them, band together to make their way to the 'promised land' of The Dump.
Beaky the jackdaw has never had a straight beak. Herman the crow was once strong and proud but now can't fly with a broken wing. And who knows why Pidge is refusing to get off the ground?
With philosophical discussions, repeating jokes, some great interplay and conversations the threesome help each other over rivers, away from predators, and onward from one starvation meal to the next.
How a fictional book about three birds made me cry, I can't quite put into words. But I did. It's not all doom and gloom, I definitely laughed at Pidge, I admired the courage and friendship the three show each other, the reveal of their sad backstories, the Richard Adams-like tone of the plot.
Mature writing, it's not too graphic for upper primary readers but may upset. This title shows you don't need bells, whistles and f@rt jokes to make a compelling read for children, and it also makes you look at the birds around you with a little more compassion. Excuse me while I go and put out some mealworms.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
I've loved McGowan's short novels over the last few years, he fits deep themes and harsh truths in clipped running times. Here is no different. It's nature as it really is - not happy, not fairy tale - kill or be killed, find food or die, strong prey on the weak.
Three birds, first named by a boy who takes pity on the scruffy lot and who tries to feed them, band together to make their way to the 'promised land' of The Dump.
Beaky the jackdaw has never had a straight beak. Herman the crow was once strong and proud but now can't fly with a broken wing. And who knows why Pidge is refusing to get off the ground?
With philosophical discussions, repeating jokes, some great interplay and conversations the threesome help each other over rivers, away from predators, and onward from one starvation meal to the next.
How a fictional book about three birds made me cry, I can't quite put into words. But I did. It's not all doom and gloom, I definitely laughed at Pidge, I admired the courage and friendship the three show each other, the reveal of their sad backstories, the Richard Adams-like tone of the plot.
Mature writing, it's not too graphic for upper primary readers but may upset. This title shows you don't need bells, whistles and f@rt jokes to make a compelling read for children, and it also makes you look at the birds around you with a little more compassion. Excuse me while I go and put out some mealworms.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
May 11, 2026
Birdlands may be short but it is so full of life and emotion. The journey is a thrilling ride and I loved the connection to humans and how this was interwoven. The characters are well imagined, with pieces of art sprinkled throughout to add even more to the scene. How grief, resilience and determination pack into this story is beautiful. There’s this overarching theme of hope and how powerful this is. Overall a fantastic read about friends and the support they offer. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
May 1, 2026
Absolutely brilliant book for anyone aged 9 to 90. You can read my full review here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Here, three hard-done-by birds, a crow with a damaged wing, a starving jackdaw and a pigeon with two gammy feet, combine on a trek overland to the mythical Dump. They're a motley crew, gathered at a remote train station (so remote the doors still have opening windows), but when they realise there's nothing there for them but a weak ending, they decide to fight for something stronger. But they'll have to fight a lot on the way, for this is not a gentle world…
This was really compelling stuff – short chapters, presented very smartly with the heading art and other illustrations dropped in, and a piece of high drama. It's somehow both really poetic and at the same time completely determined to show the dog-eat-dog nature of life, with woundings, oaths and everyone's body at risk at some point or other. "And now I will slaughter you and tear out your soft insides, and you will see them there beside you before you die." Indeed.
To me this was a lot more successful than Dogs of the Deadlands, his previous (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), with its contrived plot and inability to focus on one age for its audience. This, as I say, is full of the wild's darkness and gore, to a certain tween-friendly extent, but also heart-warming, a found family saga that seems to nail the birds' character as strongly as any nature documentary, or Ted Hughes poem. Of course it relies on our love of the underdog, but it has a smart story, and an ending to stay with you. Four and a half stars.
This was really compelling stuff – short chapters, presented very smartly with the heading art and other illustrations dropped in, and a piece of high drama. It's somehow both really poetic and at the same time completely determined to show the dog-eat-dog nature of life, with woundings, oaths and everyone's body at risk at some point or other. "And now I will slaughter you and tear out your soft insides, and you will see them there beside you before you die." Indeed.
To me this was a lot more successful than Dogs of the Deadlands, his previous (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), with its contrived plot and inability to focus on one age for its audience. This, as I say, is full of the wild's darkness and gore, to a certain tween-friendly extent, but also heart-warming, a found family saga that seems to nail the birds' character as strongly as any nature documentary, or Ted Hughes poem. Of course it relies on our love of the underdog, but it has a smart story, and an ending to stay with you. Four and a half stars.
June 23, 2026
Birdlands is a beautifully written animal adventure that combines excitement, heart, and emotional depth into a story that lingers long after the final page.
Anthony McGowan has a gift for creating animal characters that feel vivid, authentic, and deeply relatable, and Beaky, Herman, and Pidge are no exception. Each faces a challenge that makes survival difficult, yet their friendship becomes a source of strength as they embark on an extraordinary journey into the wild.
What makes the story particularly effective is the balance between adventure and emotion. The dangers are real, the stakes feel high, and the journey is filled with moments of tension and uncertainty. At the same time, the novel explores themes of friendship, courage, belonging, and self-acceptance with remarkable sensitivity.
The characters’ differences are never treated simply as obstacles to overcome; instead, they become an essential part of who they are. This gives the story an uplifting message about resilience and finding value in oneself, even when the world seems unforgiving.
McGowan’s prose is accessible for younger readers while retaining a depth that will resonate with older readers as well. The result is a moving, memorable adventure that works on multiple levels
A heartfelt and compelling animal adventure filled with courage, friendship, and hope.
Anthony McGowan has a gift for creating animal characters that feel vivid, authentic, and deeply relatable, and Beaky, Herman, and Pidge are no exception. Each faces a challenge that makes survival difficult, yet their friendship becomes a source of strength as they embark on an extraordinary journey into the wild.
What makes the story particularly effective is the balance between adventure and emotion. The dangers are real, the stakes feel high, and the journey is filled with moments of tension and uncertainty. At the same time, the novel explores themes of friendship, courage, belonging, and self-acceptance with remarkable sensitivity.
The characters’ differences are never treated simply as obstacles to overcome; instead, they become an essential part of who they are. This gives the story an uplifting message about resilience and finding value in oneself, even when the world seems unforgiving.
McGowan’s prose is accessible for younger readers while retaining a depth that will resonate with older readers as well. The result is a moving, memorable adventure that works on multiple levels
A heartfelt and compelling animal adventure filled with courage, friendship, and hope.
July 18, 2026
🐦⬛ Birdlands written by Anthony McGowan and illustrated by Keith Robinson 🐦⬛
🐦⬛ What a deeply profound and expertly written book. Imagine Watership Down intensity, but with birds. I couldn’t stop reading. The illustrations were stunning too.
🚊 The story follows three unlikely friends: Beaky, Herman and Pidge. Each has a physical disability, due to previous trauma, which prevents them from flying. They end up thrown together at a train station after a young boy, Jordie, tries to feed them.
🗑️ The trio reluctantly embark on a perilous mission to find Dump: a refuge for these injured birds. Herman, the crow, remembers his mother telling him of this safe haven. Along the way, they encounter many near death experiences, but they begin to form a close bond as they begin to care for one another and share their stories.
🦅 There are many shocking parts within this book and some of the bird behaviour made me shudder. But, I loved the rawness and felt it true to the bird’s nature. I could tell the author is a bird lover and I could really imagine each bird.
🐦 A story of friendship, hope, loss, second chances and love. A truly unique story.
🐦⬛ What a deeply profound and expertly written book. Imagine Watership Down intensity, but with birds. I couldn’t stop reading. The illustrations were stunning too.
🚊 The story follows three unlikely friends: Beaky, Herman and Pidge. Each has a physical disability, due to previous trauma, which prevents them from flying. They end up thrown together at a train station after a young boy, Jordie, tries to feed them.
🗑️ The trio reluctantly embark on a perilous mission to find Dump: a refuge for these injured birds. Herman, the crow, remembers his mother telling him of this safe haven. Along the way, they encounter many near death experiences, but they begin to form a close bond as they begin to care for one another and share their stories.
🦅 There are many shocking parts within this book and some of the bird behaviour made me shudder. But, I loved the rawness and felt it true to the bird’s nature. I could tell the author is a bird lover and I could really imagine each bird.
🐦 A story of friendship, hope, loss, second chances and love. A truly unique story.
July 22, 2026
It's not bad, the plot is okay and the ending was pretty interesting, but a huge issue for me was the characters. I wasn't particularly fond of or endeared by any of these three protagonists. The crow is pretty annoying, the jackdaw and the pigeon just feel bland and forgettable. And because I wasn't didn't care about the characters, their bond didn't feel that genuine to me, and the ending didn't hit me emotionally like it was clearly supposed to.
So yeah, I don't know, I didn't hate it or anything, but it wasn't my favorite book I've recently read. I prefer Dogs of the Deadlands by the same author.
So yeah, I don't know, I didn't hate it or anything, but it wasn't my favorite book I've recently read. I prefer Dogs of the Deadlands by the same author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thoroughly enjoyed this tale of friendship, bravery, and resilience of these 3 birds. It was quite an adventure, somewhat emotional at times! It also shows that having courage can get you through some tough times with support from friends.
This is the first book I've read by Anthony McGowan, which I would recommend to both children and adults.
This is the first book I've read by Anthony McGowan, which I would recommend to both children and adults.
July 16, 2026
I can't believe a middle grade story about three damaged birds on a journey by foot made me cry. I must be overtired. That's the only possible explanation. Except for the fact that the author clearly has a big heart and a love of nature that made Birdlands an especially moving read. I will definitely seek out more books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews