Where Do You Go, Birdy Jones?

by Joanna Nadin

From the author of JOE ALL ALONE - a BAFTA winning and Emmy nominated CBBC series.A story about finding yourself when everything changes and believing that love never runs out. Perfect for fans of A Boy called Hope and Jacqueline Wilson.Eleven-year-old Birdy Jones is all alone. She doesn't belong at school, at home, or even with her dad anymore. The only place she feels like herself is at her grandpa's pigeon loft, where the familiar warmth and birdsong block out the world. It's also where she meets Dogger - her only friend and the one person who really seems to know where she's coming from.Birdy used to be happy, when it was just her and Dad, but now she has a stepmum, a little sister, and another baby on the way. Worse, her growing family needs to move house, but Birdy doesn't believe there'll ever be enough room for her in Dad's busy life - and she can't leave Grandpa and the pigeons. She won't.Birdy dreams of a different family and future, and with Dogger's help she decides to find one - even if it means running away from everything she's ever known. But sometimes you need to fly away to find your way home again . . .

Genres: Childrens

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2018

About the author

Joanna Nadin is an English author of juvenile fiction best known for the Rachel Riley series of teenage novels Based on Nadin's own childhood, the series follows the comedic narration of a 13-year-old girl.

Nadin has also written several books of juvenile fiction. These include two books for the Oxford University Press "Project X" series designed to encourage boys to read.

Nadin previously worked as a policy writer for the Labour Party (UK).In 2001, she became a special adviser to Tony Blair.

As a child I buried myself in books both at home in Essex and at my grandparents’ houses in Cornwall, where I spent a large part of my time, and where many of my stories are now set. Books and later films were an escape not just from where I was but who I was, which, as I saw it, was pretty much a geek. They gave me the freedom to become someone else, from George in the Famous Five to Velvet Brown winning the Grand National to Baby dancing the Chachacha with Johnny Castle.

Reviews

[Susan Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story commences when Birdy, whose real name is Bridie, is sobbing over the news that her step-mother, Sadie, is having a baby. Birdy feels it’s bad enough that she has to share her Dad with Sadie, now she will have to share him with another sibling. Suddenly Dogger appears in Birdy’s grandfather’s loft where, Birdy spends much of her spare time looking after his racing pigeons. Dogger is a great comfort and sounding board for Birdy but there’s something mysterious about him. His hair is odd, his clothes are strange, and he appears and disappears abruptly.

Birdy’s father has experienced a lot of grief with the death of his wife and a son. Now that he has a new wife, he refuses to talk about the past. When Birdy has to write a biographical piece as preparation for secondary school, she finds she has nothing to say.

Birdy has few friends at school, but Manjit takes an interest in her and her grandfather’s pigeons. This friendship helps Birdy as she looks for photos, and information about her childhood. Eventually she runs away from home hoping to find her real father. The story ends well, with Birdy being at peace with her blended family.

Mostly I enjoyed the story. It was a unique way of addressing the issues of grief and loss with a young audience. I did struggle several times with the omniscient point of view, as well as the irregular use of grammar, and misspellings to create an accent. This may have been because the book was set in northern England. However, I found it a distraction, which lessened my enjoyment of an otherwise well-written, well-told story.

[I Read, Therefore I Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna Nadin’s contemporary novel for children aged 9+ is a wonderfully observed story of belonging, friendship, grief and working out who you are. The dialogue really conveys the Leeds location and Nadin does a good job of showing the issues involved with having parents in low paid work without over-emphasising it. The Dogger storyline had a neat magical realist vibe, although I wanted more of a resolution.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong and heart-warming.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and moving read. This one will find a special place in your heart.

[Debbie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, moving story following Birdy as she tries to work out who she is. Set in Leeds and the use of dialect brings Birdy to life on the page.

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous story about family and friendship, with a distinctive voice in Birdy. Lovely!

[Simon Mark Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic story which I used with my year 6 about to transition to secondary school. I even read it with a Yorkshire accent which is tough for someone from Devon.