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When The Birds Wake Up
A powerful verse novel from the 2025 winner of David Fickling Books' Search for a Storyteller competition.
'Jessica's words are life-affirming and validating and will help young people be happy with who they are.' Matt Haig, award-winning and bestselling author
'A tender story of love and loss and hope.' Matt Goodfellow, award-winning author of The Final Year
'A debut of rare beauty and tenderness. Piglet and Pear will make readers' hearts sing.' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, award-winning author of The Girl of Ink and Stars
Ten-year-old Pear is struggling to cope: with her grandma's Alzheimer's, with a new school and with cruel classmates' jibes. Enter Piglet - a scruffy rescue dog, who helps Pear rebuild her sense of self. She remembers what matters most, through music, friendship and the armour of unconditional love.
This unique and important story is beautifully illustrated throughout by Sophie Burrows.
'A poignant story of the connections we can make with family, friends, dogs, and ourselves.' Sarah Lean, author of A Dog Called Homeless
'Boldly beautiful - this book bounced right into my heart.' Donna Ashworth, poet and No.1 Sunday Times bestseller
'Jessica's words are life-affirming and validating and will help young people be happy with who they are.' Matt Haig, award-winning and bestselling author
'A tender story of love and loss and hope.' Matt Goodfellow, award-winning author of The Final Year
'A debut of rare beauty and tenderness. Piglet and Pear will make readers' hearts sing.' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, award-winning author of The Girl of Ink and Stars
Ten-year-old Pear is struggling to cope: with her grandma's Alzheimer's, with a new school and with cruel classmates' jibes. Enter Piglet - a scruffy rescue dog, who helps Pear rebuild her sense of self. She remembers what matters most, through music, friendship and the armour of unconditional love.
This unique and important story is beautifully illustrated throughout by Sophie Burrows.
'A poignant story of the connections we can make with family, friends, dogs, and ourselves.' Sarah Lean, author of A Dog Called Homeless
'Boldly beautiful - this book bounced right into my heart.' Donna Ashworth, poet and No.1 Sunday Times bestseller
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 5, 2026
This was so sweet. 🥺❤️
September 20, 2026
🌙 🎻 When the Birds Wake Up by Jessica Mary Ellis, illustrated by Sophie Burrows and Published by David Fickling Books 🎻 🌙
🌙 I absolutely adore verse novels and poetry. The ability to tell a complex story, so skillfully, in verse, blows my mind. When the Birds Wake Up is an absolutely stunning story of love, healing, family, loss and hope. I woke up so emotional this morning, so for the last two hours I’ve cried my way through this beautiful book. I think it was quite cathartic!
🎻 My ninety-three-year-old Nana has Alzheimer’s with dementia, so this verse novel really resonated with me and moved me. I have such a close bond with her. I adored how Pear’s family coped with Grandma’s Alzheimer’s: they adapted, accepted and adored Grandma, never letting her feel like a burden. From Pear putting her coat on backwards as Grandma had, to the family playing monopoly on ‘Christmas’ day because Grandma thought it was, to Pear telling the story of a girl under the moon playing violin, because Grandma has now forgotten her story - each gorgeous thing tugged on my heartstrings. In the background, you see the parent’s struggle with the decline of their mother and eventually seeking the support of a care home - The Lighthouse (as Pear beautifully calls it). It was really emotional, raw and honest.
👂 Aside from the gorgeous relationship between a grandma and her granddaughter, there are many other themes explored throughout. Loneliness, bullying, self-acceptance, friendship and fostering a pet. Pear learns, with the encouragement of others, to embrace her beauty - particularly her ears. I also enjoyed the letter writing element throughout the book and thought the ending was really clever (I did have an inkling… but no spoilers) Absolutely adored Reece, and Piglet was definitely a healing character, like a guardian angel. I think Pear actually needed Piglet more than Piglet needed Pear and while the ending felt sad, it felt right. (Again no spoilers… you’ll just have to read it!)
💜 Jessica, I commend you for this poignant and profoundly touching story. 💜
🌙 I absolutely adore verse novels and poetry. The ability to tell a complex story, so skillfully, in verse, blows my mind. When the Birds Wake Up is an absolutely stunning story of love, healing, family, loss and hope. I woke up so emotional this morning, so for the last two hours I’ve cried my way through this beautiful book. I think it was quite cathartic!
🎻 My ninety-three-year-old Nana has Alzheimer’s with dementia, so this verse novel really resonated with me and moved me. I have such a close bond with her. I adored how Pear’s family coped with Grandma’s Alzheimer’s: they adapted, accepted and adored Grandma, never letting her feel like a burden. From Pear putting her coat on backwards as Grandma had, to the family playing monopoly on ‘Christmas’ day because Grandma thought it was, to Pear telling the story of a girl under the moon playing violin, because Grandma has now forgotten her story - each gorgeous thing tugged on my heartstrings. In the background, you see the parent’s struggle with the decline of their mother and eventually seeking the support of a care home - The Lighthouse (as Pear beautifully calls it). It was really emotional, raw and honest.
👂 Aside from the gorgeous relationship between a grandma and her granddaughter, there are many other themes explored throughout. Loneliness, bullying, self-acceptance, friendship and fostering a pet. Pear learns, with the encouragement of others, to embrace her beauty - particularly her ears. I also enjoyed the letter writing element throughout the book and thought the ending was really clever (I did have an inkling… but no spoilers) Absolutely adored Reece, and Piglet was definitely a healing character, like a guardian angel. I think Pear actually needed Piglet more than Piglet needed Pear and while the ending felt sad, it felt right. (Again no spoilers… you’ll just have to read it!)
💜 Jessica, I commend you for this poignant and profoundly touching story. 💜
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Written in verse, Jessica Mary Ellis has created poetry surrounding such a heartbreaking and pivotal time in Pears life.
Pear is having to navigate a lot in her life, new school, new house and her grandmothers memories are starting to drift away like the tide. Though in all of this there is light in the form of Piglet, a much beloved scruffy rescue dog, and the letters Pear writes to Annie. In all of this chaos and sadness, maybe Pear can find happiness and hope.
I personally struggle to read poetry or anything constructed in verse, however I could not imagine this story written any other way, and found myself devouring each page as I would any other book, that there is enough to showcase the talent of Jessica Mary Ellis writing. The emotion of Pear struggling with mean girls at school or her grandmother mistaking her for her daughter rather than granddaughter, you are able to keep reading due to the beauty and grace of the writing, you feel the weight of the moment but also comforted to get through it.
It is rare to come across books depicting Alzheimer’s for illness that it is, often told from the perspective of adults and dealing only with the big issues that faces the illness. When the Birds Wake Up shows the small victories or joys in having a loved one lost to this disease, but also the small sadnesses in them no longer remembering their favourite meal or teacup. Many will say this book is only for children to read, aiding them in similar losses and hardships, however it is just as vital that parents pick up a copy. Adults reading with their children or just by themselves, they may well find part of their younger self healing from a loss they suffered or be a guiding light for what the future might be bringing.
A must read if there ever was one.
Thank you once again to Fern at David Fickling Books for recommending and sending me a copy, I will be passing it around and keeping it as a permanent fixture on my bookcase.
Pear is having to navigate a lot in her life, new school, new house and her grandmothers memories are starting to drift away like the tide. Though in all of this there is light in the form of Piglet, a much beloved scruffy rescue dog, and the letters Pear writes to Annie. In all of this chaos and sadness, maybe Pear can find happiness and hope.
I personally struggle to read poetry or anything constructed in verse, however I could not imagine this story written any other way, and found myself devouring each page as I would any other book, that there is enough to showcase the talent of Jessica Mary Ellis writing. The emotion of Pear struggling with mean girls at school or her grandmother mistaking her for her daughter rather than granddaughter, you are able to keep reading due to the beauty and grace of the writing, you feel the weight of the moment but also comforted to get through it.
It is rare to come across books depicting Alzheimer’s for illness that it is, often told from the perspective of adults and dealing only with the big issues that faces the illness. When the Birds Wake Up shows the small victories or joys in having a loved one lost to this disease, but also the small sadnesses in them no longer remembering their favourite meal or teacup. Many will say this book is only for children to read, aiding them in similar losses and hardships, however it is just as vital that parents pick up a copy. Adults reading with their children or just by themselves, they may well find part of their younger self healing from a loss they suffered or be a guiding light for what the future might be bringing.
A must read if there ever was one.
Thank you once again to Fern at David Fickling Books for recommending and sending me a copy, I will be passing it around and keeping it as a permanent fixture on my bookcase.
September 4, 2026
Recently visiting a care home I saw an elderly woman standing frozen and bewildered in the corridor… She sounded frightened, disorientated and had no idea where she was…Her voice was filled with anguish ..This is the landscape of When the Birds Wake Up which is beautifully articulated by ….The story focuses on the relationship between Pear and her Grandmother who has recently received a diagnosis which will change all their lives..In order to care for Grandma, Pear and her family must move house. It means a change of school for Pear; a change which pushes her insecurities to the fore, especially her big ears. She loves playing the violin but loses her confidence in a school assembly..
This book combines Matt Goodfellow’s wizardry with verse format with Katya Balen’s ability to create imagery which can describes tricky emotional landscapes. The combination of the verse format and the brilliant imagery give this story incredible power and convey emotions and ideas which are pretty difficult to articulate particularly to a middle grade audience. The beauty of the violin playing, the love between Pear and her Grandma, the landscape of dementia are all orchestrated so brilliantly. There is so much that is relateable in this story. The teasing, the feeling of inadequacy, the self-consciousness which often centres itself on one physical characteristic. But there is such love and tenderness infusing the pages. There are parents who are caught in the cross current between looking after an elderly parent and a young child - we occasionally hear signs of their tensions, a row, raised voices - who are the very best that they can be. There are teachers who nurture and understand; new friends who have their own physical insecurities and then there is a dog. Oh how I love a dog in a story.
Whilst this is certainly an emotional read, I felt uplifted by it. I was moved by the love and warmth and my heart climbed with the violin in this feeling that, although there are so many awful things in the world, there is also so much beauty.
This book combines Matt Goodfellow’s wizardry with verse format with Katya Balen’s ability to create imagery which can describes tricky emotional landscapes. The combination of the verse format and the brilliant imagery give this story incredible power and convey emotions and ideas which are pretty difficult to articulate particularly to a middle grade audience. The beauty of the violin playing, the love between Pear and her Grandma, the landscape of dementia are all orchestrated so brilliantly. There is so much that is relateable in this story. The teasing, the feeling of inadequacy, the self-consciousness which often centres itself on one physical characteristic. But there is such love and tenderness infusing the pages. There are parents who are caught in the cross current between looking after an elderly parent and a young child - we occasionally hear signs of their tensions, a row, raised voices - who are the very best that they can be. There are teachers who nurture and understand; new friends who have their own physical insecurities and then there is a dog. Oh how I love a dog in a story.
Whilst this is certainly an emotional read, I felt uplifted by it. I was moved by the love and warmth and my heart climbed with the violin in this feeling that, although there are so many awful things in the world, there is also so much beauty.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This one certainly packs an emotional punch, it has brought tears to my eyes so many times. I was in two minds - wanted it to end because it was making me feel so raw but didn’t want it to end because of the sheer beauty of the writing. Themes of friendship, self esteem and Alzheimer’s, the reading between the lines will break you. Utterly, achingly beautiful 😢
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is beautifully written. The way it flows is fantastic. It covers a really tough topic but in such a beautiful way.
Review of advance copy
Absolutely beautiful, hard not to feel tearful. Words I will keep returning back to.
October 2, 2026
Been a long time since I've been floored by a middle grade book - absolutely beautiful
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When the birds wake up
By Jessica Ellis
Published by David Fickling Books
When ten-year-old Pear is told her grandma has Alzheimer's, everything changes - well almost. As a family they have responsibilities: to each other but mostly grandma.
Told in beautiful verse from Pear’s perspective this story is a gift - it will make you think, reflect, laugh and maybe cry but above all it will fill your heart with LOVE.
“Just know she loves you with her whole heart.”
With a new home, a new school, new friends (but not really as the cruel jibes show), Pear’s life is full of sadness and change. Until Piglet arrives - a scruffy rescue dog, who helps Pear rebuild herself and her special moments with her grandma. She grows to understand how memories can be triggered and remembers what matters most, through music, friendship and her unconditional love.
Jessica Ellis has written a tender but powerful story that will help anyone struggling to understand themselves or others with memory loss.
A beautifully written story - I devoured in one day!
A story that shares the love of others.
A story that reflects on their love, carrying it forward each and every day.
A story that reminds us that …
“When the birds wake up, that’s the worlds way of saying we can start again no matter what yesterday didn’t fix.”
A MUST for every classroom, library, family to help those to show love through tenderness, care and compassion - I loved it!! 💕
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery
By Jessica Ellis
Published by David Fickling Books
When ten-year-old Pear is told her grandma has Alzheimer's, everything changes - well almost. As a family they have responsibilities: to each other but mostly grandma.
Told in beautiful verse from Pear’s perspective this story is a gift - it will make you think, reflect, laugh and maybe cry but above all it will fill your heart with LOVE.
“Just know she loves you with her whole heart.”
With a new home, a new school, new friends (but not really as the cruel jibes show), Pear’s life is full of sadness and change. Until Piglet arrives - a scruffy rescue dog, who helps Pear rebuild herself and her special moments with her grandma. She grows to understand how memories can be triggered and remembers what matters most, through music, friendship and her unconditional love.
Jessica Ellis has written a tender but powerful story that will help anyone struggling to understand themselves or others with memory loss.
A beautifully written story - I devoured in one day!
A story that shares the love of others.
A story that reflects on their love, carrying it forward each and every day.
A story that reminds us that …
“When the birds wake up, that’s the worlds way of saying we can start again no matter what yesterday didn’t fix.”
A MUST for every classroom, library, family to help those to show love through tenderness, care and compassion - I loved it!! 💕
Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Really sweet coming of age story
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews