A Pigeon's Tale

by S.A. Mahan

Walter is a homing pigeon living with his parents in a rancher's coop when a deranged wildcat attacks and sends them scrambling for their lives. Barely escaping with his life, Walter finds himself in a city where kindly street pigeons teach him about language, philosophy, and politics.

A venture south to find a human family for the winter sees him face more desperate peril as a flock of snow geese help him finish the journey. Finding solace in a dorm room with two young college students, Walter heads home with one of them to a ranch in Texas where he is adopted by the close-knit family and their quirky pets.

Walter forms a quick bond with the scientist grandfather who spends every day with Walter, working on a project in a mysterious tiny shack behind the house. This secret work soon becomes the center of Walter's life-and his fate-when he is thrust into an epic struggle for survival against cosmic forces that threaten to destroy the world.

For fans of WATERSHIP DOWN and THE SECRET OF NIMH, A PIGEON"S TALE is a mind-bending sci-fi adventure tale about friendship, loyalty, and destiny.

Genres: Fiction, Epic, Ebooks, Book Club

290 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 2015

About the author

S.A. MAHAN lives in the mountains of Colorado with her husband of thirty nine years. She has three children and six grandchildren and is a fiber artist and an avid outdoorswoman. CHRISSIE'S RUN was a 2014 Dante Rosetti finalist, and is a finalist in the 2015 Kindle Book Awards for Young Adult fiction. THE BABY SEA TURTLE was a finalist in the 2015 Colorado Book Awards and won a Bronze Medal in the Readers Favorite Book Awards for the Children's Book category. She is really excited about her latest book, A Pigeon's Tale, which has already received a Blue Ink Star Review and has been chosen as a Blue Ink Best Book of 2016. It is a wonderful story for mid-grade to adult readers.

Reviews

[Johanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Walter is no ordinary pigeon. A direct descendant from the great war hero Cher Ami, he knows he is destined for greatness from the moment he flees his coop to escape from a dangerous wild cat. Now in the “wild”, Walter must team up with the more experienced birds to learn how to survive.

As winter fast approaches, Walter must find a human family to care for him- and as luck would have it, he finds the very best human for the job in a young college student named Kenny. But is it luck, or something more?

Traveling home with Kenny for Christmas break, Walter meets grandpa, the famous Sir Alfred Jerome, who seems to have known that Walter would be coming all along. A faithful student under grandpa, Walter learns a great many new things, including the fact that the world is in great peril. But what can a single scientist and a pigeon do about it? And can Walter do anything to help poor Dottie, Kenny’s little sister who is dying from cancer?

I’m sorry to say I was very disappointed with this book. What started off as a very cute and imaginative story about a pigeon quickly became a tangled mess of new age, eastern mysticism, interfaith, and mythology with a thin veneer of Christianity to slip it under the radar of unsuspecting readers.

This book totally crossed the line for me by saying that the Viking god Odin is another name for the God of the Bible (YHWH). As a person of Norwegian and Viking decent, I think I am somewhat qualified in calling this complete hogwash, but the thing that truly concerns me is knowing that young children will read it and not know any better than to believe it.

The shame is that this book seems to be more about these ideas than the actual plot/storyline, which is why I chose to give it only two stars. The author certainly has the right to believe whatever she wants, but I would advise Christians to keep this book away from their kids unless or until they have a rock solid foundation of Apologetics under their belts.

I have received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Check out this review on my blog: EpicBookQuest.com

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book out loud to my third grade students. While they were on the young side to read it independently, the complexity of the book prompted many thought provoking discussions. The students were completely mesmerized and begged to hear it everyday! This is the review they wrote:

Do you like birds, adventure and science fiction? Then A Pigeon’s Tale by S. A. Mahan is the book for you. It is about a pigeon named Walter who tries to save the world from a terrible storm. It was amazing. It includes so many things and the author has such an imagination! Our favorite part was when Walter and Old Dude were at McDonalds, Old Dude says,“If we’re real lucky, one of ‘em will drop a whole ice cream!” As a class, we highly recommend this book. It has funny dialogue and has things from real life, like McDonald’s, to help you imagine things from the book in your mind.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fanciful story, Walter, an elderly pigeon recalls the major events of his life. S. A. Mahon has stepped outside herself and thought about the adventure and peril a pigeon would face on a daily bases. She has carefully woven interesting facts about what the life of a pigeon would be like in her novel, A Pigeon’s Tale.
Walter loses his family before he was even old enough to live on his own. Fate carried him to town where he meets Old Dude who instructs him in the fundamentals that his parents were unable to teach. Walter is recognized as being a descendant of a royal breed that is destined for greatness.
As Walter flies off to save his human family, he is helped by Old Dude and his great, great, great, great grandfather, Cher Ami the famous homing pigeon.
This story is based off the author’s pet pigeon while she was growing up. She observed first-hand how intelligent and teachable pigeons can be.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know what beat harder, my heart or my wings as I struggled up into the night sky.'

Colorado author S. A. Mahan writes about what she lives - a part of nature in the mountains of Colorado. She raises alpacas, enjoys the fiber arts, and is an avid outdoorswoman, hiking the Rocky Mountain trails gathering ideas for her stories. A wife, mother and grandmother, she believes that `every human life is infinitely valuable, born or unborn, and worth fighting for, that we must listen to God or lose our way, and that good will triumph over evil.' Mahan elects to write this young adult novel in the voice of a pigeon - hence the title of the book. Other writers falter when attempting to take on the form of an animal to relate a story, but in this case the writing is so very natural that we identify with the main character Walter almost immediately.

To introduce the story Mahan offers the following:' He attacked shortly after midnight, when all of the lights at the ranch were turned down, the half-moon had set below the horizon, and all of the dogs were sound asleep. The coop had carried a strange smell all day long. I could not place it, so I asked my mother earlier that afternoon. "Don't worry, little one," she soothed me, "some of the others are just a little nervous. You smell their nerves. They get that way once in a while."But I caught a rare glint in her eye and suddenly realized that she was also on edge. And I realized whatever that strange smell was, the odor that was different from the normal, comfortable pigeon poop pungency of my home. It was the smell of fear! All day, the old flyers whispered the news back and forth to each other with quivering voices. I was still so young that I could barely fly from one end of the coop to the other. Because of my age, I was not included in their conversations. I caught bits and pieces of information, though. Apparently, old Rancher George had run over a wildcat with his truck the night before. George, a kind-hearted old rancher, swerved wildly into the middle of the road and tried to avoid the cat.' And it becomes obvious that the intercommunication between pigeons and their relationship to humans is quite natural.

The story is a fantasy (or is it?) and the plot synopsis is clear as to the direction this adventure will lead us: `The Big One is coming, the end of this age of man, and it is up to a young homing pigeon named Walter to lead his human friends to safety. Join young Walter Pigeon as he escapes the terrible claws of a one-eyed wildcat, flees to the safety of the 'big city' pigeons, flies south for the winter and finds a human family to take him in. And then...The Big One! To survive The Big One, Walter must use everything at his disposal to survive: the vast collective memory of all pigeons of all time, morphic resonance, an instantaneous communication between birds that seems to occur on a sub-quantum level, and his wonderful lineage as a fine homing pigeon with a famous great-great-great grandfather, one of the greatest heroes of all pigeon time! His human friend, Grandpa, or Sir Alfred Jerome, an enlightened man, is the greatest of all scientists, and has found a way to save millions of children from the impending destruction of The Big One. He has built Skynest, a shining city in the sky! But he will need Walter's help, and the help of The Great White Stork to save the one child he loves the most, his little granddaughter Dottie.'

Warm, gentle, smoothly written for young adults to enjoy, THE PIGEON'S TALE has levels of philosophy and spiritual tones that are too often missing in the plethora of YA novels focusing on paranormal creatures - vampires, werewolves, Marvel Comic figures. The book is a fine gift idea for the Young Adults in your life.

[Phil Bolos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is an interesting one. A Pigeon's Tale by S. A. Mahan is the story of a pigeon who goes on a most unusual adventure. The story begins with the pigeon in question letting us know that he is hundreds of years old. Knowing that pigeons really don't have that long of a life span, the reader is then able to figure out that something really amazing is going to happen to this pigeon. The pigeon then starts his story on a farm in his distant past. One night, a wildcats attacked the pigeon coup where the pigeon and his family were sleeping. Being caught, the pigeon escaped through a small hole in the back of the coup and began his first ever flight all by himself. It is not too long after this that pigeon comes across a variety of interesting characters with names such as Hawk-Watcher and Old Dude. The names really do describe exactly what the characters are like, as Hawk-Watcher is missing an eye and always on the look out and Old Dude is...well, old. The characters continue to get more interesting as the book goes on, especially after the pigeon falls in with humans and gets wrapped up in quite an interesting science experiment.
There is no doubt that this is a work of science fiction. The animal characters are personified beautifully and the narrative reads as if you are following human characters on this adventure. It should be pointed out that some readers will have a hard time with this since the main character is a pigeon, but if you can get past that and just focus on the story then it really does become a fun and interesting read. The narrative moves along at a steady pace and the editing was done very well.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the name suggests, humans are not all that important in this story, because the characters are pigeons. The main character goes by a number of names throughout the story, so you can take your pick on what you want to call him. This concept was something I had to get used to, but then I came to enjoy it. The things that birds go through day to day are a little bit different than what humans do, even if some of the things in this book were a bit fictionalized. You are still able to see what the main perils and differences are, as well as appreciate them. I especially liked the character of Old Dude, not only because of how he treated the main character, but also because of his particular style of speaking, which was fun to read. Cozy up to this book when you want to read an eventful tale, which is a bit out of the ordinary, but has no problem entertaining.

[Blueink Review]

In this endearing, quasi-science-fiction book for older children – and their parents – a young pigeon must grow up fast to fulfill his destiny.

The story is told from the point of view of an 800-year-old pigeon named Walter, who is pecking out his life’s story, from his early years living happily with his family in a pigeon coop to his role in saving the world during a natural disaster. Because Walter is remarkably intelligent and descended from a noble line of pigeons, he is able to communicate with humans and birds alike.

S.A. Mahan fills her book with of memorable characters, including Old Dude, a funny, eccentric pigeon who takes Walter under his wing; Margie, a tough-talking pigeon from New York; and humans, such as Grandpa, who had the foresight to build a space capsule able to withstand the cosmic shift of the planet.

The smoothly written story is divided into short chapters and is often funny. Readers will be amused when Old Dude teaches Walter to scrounge for food by following the “little-uns” at a fast food restaurant’s play area because they inevitably drop their food. Or when Margie —who provides hilarious comic relief throughout—shamelessly flirts with a big gray pigeon: “Yo babe, I’m Bruno from Queens,” says the pigeon. “No doubt about it, Handsome!” Margie replies.

The story also features many poignant moments, including a main character’s death. A thin veneer of religion overlays the plot (for instance, Grandpa’s granddaughter, fighting cancer, is saved by being plunged into the sacred red waters of life). But even the saddest moments are infused with hope and any serious elements are over-shadowed by the humor permeating the book.

Young readers ready to tackle more challenging chapter books or parents who want an engaging story for bedtime will find this a perfect choice. And rest assured: after reading A Pigeon’s Tale, anyone who has ever ignored pigeons at a park or plaza will surely look at these birds in a new light.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This young adult tale of a pigeon’s journey from his home to a new one and the dangers he faces even beyond is aimed at older children and teenagers. I think the author did a fantastic job in showcasing each birds’ differences and how they use their unique skills to help Walter our pigeon along his way. Walter himself has an exceptional talent himself: he can communicate with humans. He uses this skill to help figure out what Grandfather is building in the barn, why he is building it and what will come to necessitate such a wondrous contraption.
I like that this story showcases that there are many differences in everyone on this planet but we all can bring something to the table if we are open to accept that we are all also similar in our differences. A smooth flowing tale that brings fantasy and science fiction together and is not technical in ways that would leave its intended audience lost. Very heartwarming tale and worth the read!

[Kay Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, I’m just going to say it: This book is nuts. But in a good way! In order to understand how crazy this is, scroll up and read the description again, but read it outloud, and say it as if you’re a hyperactive nine-year old, and take out all punctuation, and don’t actually yell it outloud, but say it in a voice loud enough to where your mother would tell you to use your inside voice. DOESN’T THAT SOUND CRAZY!? And that is exactly why I enjoyed this book as much as I did.

I can’t figure out a way to talk about this book without sounding overly negative, since I am fairly positive about the book overall. For example: I really enjoy the fact that this book doesn’t get overly bogged down in making sense. Okay, so it’s about a pigeon that is tasked with saving the human race from The Big One, so there’s already a lot of suspension of disbelief. But you will find yourself asking “Wait, why does Walter have access to all of the memories of every pigeon that has ever existed?”, and you will find the book answering “Don’t worry about it!”, and you will be freaked out that the book answered you…. At some point, you will eventually stop asking questions, and enjoy the ride, because the story overall is very entertaining, especially for a book aimed at a younger audience. I think this is one of those books that you could read with your child, and you can both enjoy it.

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walter, a young pigeon, is thrust into a world filled with danger and excitement after fleeing his family nest which is attacked by a wildcat. Following his traumatic departure he finds friendship and support from a flock of city dwelling pigeons. Walter befriends a mentor, named Old Dude, who helps him learn to read (and eventually type), allowing him to talk to humans. When threat of a cataclysmic event arises Walter becomes a critical part of the solution to the world's imminent demise.

Readers will relate to Walter's struggles, and rejoice with him in his successes. The characters have wonderfully engaging personalities and their conversations are simply enchanting. This is truly a wonderful story, one which kids will want to read and re-read. There is humor, love, adventure, drama and excitement. The author introduces scientific concepts in a manner which educates while entertaining young readers. The information presented about pigeons is fascinating. A delightful character, Walter always strives to excel; he is a proud, but humble bird with great determination!

S.A. Mahan's A Pigeon's Tale is highly recommended for home and school libraries and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

[Sdan12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic tale told by a valiant pigeon
Pigeons are not often the subject of praise - they are more often referred to as flying vermin. The author of this book points out that in fact “Pound for pound, Columbia livia (the pigeon) is one of the smartest, most physically adept creatures in the animal kingdom.” It is a very intelligent pigeon who is the hero of this book. He learns how to communicate with humans and is on hand to help humanity as it struggles to survive an apocalyptic event. Walter is an endearing character and I thoroughly enjoyed his musings as he relates his life story to the reader. The book is not just an epic adventure story, a modern day story of Noah’s ark, but also a philosophical treatise, as Walter affirms his belief in the life hereafter. This belief leads him to meet the Great White Stork, god of all birds, and saves the life of one of his human friends. His relationship with humans is one of mutual trust and affection. This is an enchanting book and deserves a wide readership.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walter, a pigeon, finds out he is from a line of very famous and brave pigeons. He goes on a series of adventures and eventually meets up with an incredibly intelligent scientist named Grandpa. This meeting was his destiny. Grandpa and Walter work together on a century's long plan to save the world!

Opinion:
This is the most original story I have read in a while!

The title, ​A Pigeon's Tale, is perfect since it's a tale told by a pigeon named Walter.

Some of the vocabulary and science terms were above me. Even though I didn't fully understand them, it did not interfere with my overall understanding and enjoyment of the story.

Readers of all ages will like this story. This tale evokes almost every emotion imaginable! As Walter tells the story of his long life (hundreds of years long) the reader will cry, laugh, gasp, and celebrate.

Reviewed by a LitPick Student Book Reviewer Age:10

[LyndaVee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I note that the author of this book specialises in stories for children and young adults but, make no mistake, this is a book that will appeal to adults too. It is a beautifully written story about the life of a very special pigeon. Squeaker loses his family and friends to a wild cat attack and must find his way alone as a very tiny hatchling. What keeps him going is the knowledge that he is descended from a valiant homing pigeon, called Cher Ami, whose brave actions saved the lives of many American soldiers during World War ll. Squeaker may be fictional but Cher Ami really did exist and won medals for his gallantry. Squeaker is called upon to play his part in saving mankind from a cataclysmic event. Without spoiling the ending, I must say that this book moved me to tears. The voice of the narrator, Squeaker, (renamed by his human family as Walter) is consistent throughout, and you cannot help but be swept along as he relates his tale of valour and self-sacrifice.

[Richard Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiction. Fantasy. History. Nature. Sci-Fi. 'A Pigeon's Tale' contains all these categories, and to top it off, it's also ENTERTAINING, which is what a story is supposed to be to keep the reader's interest . Two Thumbs up for S.A. Mahan, who wrote about the central character, Walter the Pigeon, from his humble beginnings of survival to being a part of a family involved in saving the future of mankind. This is the 'Charlotte's Web' of Science Fiction, where animals speak to each other and learn how to communicate with good humans. Likeable characters. Animals. Humans. Starships. The end of an Age. Earth's Realignment. The book description said it was for ages 12-17, but I'm 58 and I enjoyed it and can recommend it to all ages, from 5 to 102 ! Get this KINDLE version, and look for the PRINTED copy in the near future. Enjoy !

[Dex Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As that wise old pigeon sage Old Dude would say, "This story is fantabulous!!" Starting out like so many animal stories, i. e. WATERSHIP DOWN, and other great books, S. A. Mahan rapidly takes this story to new, surprising levels. It is a wonderful, epic mix of science, fantasy, love and kindness, heroism and bravery in the face of impossible odds, and above all, a sweet humor that pervades the entire tale. Best suited for readers ages 8 thru 108! A must read!!!

[Phil Mahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!! Very entertaining, just a wholelotta fun to read!! Love the characters! Great story!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, entertaining book for all ages!

[Angie Fiack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read!

[Diane Hamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it...so different and so fun!!!

[Cindie Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt tale of a Walter Pigeon, finding his way in the world facing challenges and life in general. Excellent read for kids and adults alike! Loved it!

[Abdull0]

I read Walter the Pigeon instead but it cannot be found online.
It took 15 minutes and was not a super great book