Birdbrain

by Kelli Anne Hawkins

The funny, whimsical and quirky new adventure from Australian rising star Kelli Anne Hawkins.When seven strangers arrive at a small Australian caravan park to tell Hadley Boggs that her dad is the long-lost heir to the kingdom of Ludrovia, she can hardly believe it.Her dad -- the world's most indecisive man, a man who takes the advice of their pet budgie, a man named BARRY -- is king?!Soon, Hadley jets off to an exciting new life, where she meets dancing goats, learns of an ancient Ludrovian prophecy and comes face to face with the country's hair-obsessed president.Hadley quickly falls in love with her quirky adopted home, so when she and her new friends discover the president's secret deal to sell the country to a cheese-loving billionaire, she knows they must act.But can the Birdbrain prophecy help them save Ludrovia before everything turns to fondue?

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2022

Reviews

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

This was a really fun story with friendship, a bit of adventure, a bit of danger, children uncovering a dastardly plot, humour, a father-daughter relationship, and a bird (I do have a soft spot for birds :) ).

When it started out, I was a little skeptical as it sounded too much like Princess Diaries (ordinary girl get surprise visitor and - surprise! You're actually a princess in a tiny foreign land no one has heard of). Bit of an eye-roll for me.

It did get better, though, and I tried to read it thinking about how a child would take in the story, without all my adult cynicism. Overall verdict: I'll pass this one on to my niece :)

[Brit McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdbrain is a little bit funny, a bit silly, and a bit unbelievable - but you will go along with this adventure anyway! I think the middle grade reader will probably dive into this without second thought, or if they do it won't impact their enjoyment at all.

Hadley is almost 12 years old, lives in a caravan with her dad and her budgie Mr Beaks and suddenly finds herself plucked from her normal, boring life - with the discovery that her dad is the heir to a kingdom of a European country that she's never heard of. It's like Princess Diaries, without any of the people who help Princess Mia be a princess or are generally useful at all.

Never mind that I have no idea how Ludrovia is successfully governed, because it sounds like a bit of a mess! But it's fine because dancing goats??

Hadley is inquisitive, loves learning and is fiercely protective of her dad and her new friends. She also develops courage and a sense of adventure. I think young readers will enjoy this wild romp - it would also make a great movie as it has some super vivid imagery ... I just don't know how they would do the dancing goats (maybe CGI?).

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Representation: No LGBT representation. There is a child who has a physical disability. He is not excluded and the only person who is not accepting is the antagonist.

Content warning (cw):

Violence: The antagonist arranged for the entire royal family to be blown up.
They were not actually on the boat, and all survived. The main antagonist plans to basically enslave all of the people of Ludrovia and make them work 18 hour days. Those who won’t or can’t work for him will be killed. He has an obsession with perfection in people and there is a description of him looking at a disabled child in a hostile way. The main antagonist dangles Hadley over a balcony and threatens to let her drop unless the president signs a document which sells Ludrovia to him. She doesn’t get dropped.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Aussie middle-grade came out last year and I’ve only just been able to read it.

It’s so quirky and cute, an Aussie ‘Princess Diaries’ by Meg Cabot, with the logline: “When seven strangers arrive at a small Australian caravan park to tell Hadley Boggs that her dad is the long-lost heir to the kingdom of Ludrovia, she can hardly believe it.”

Hawkins is giving us some whimsical Australian larrikin laughs in an MG that I was very impressed with, and keen to read more! It was giving me 'Lockie Leonard' 1990s feels but with modern twirls, and I really dug that.

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by 12yr old:
I really liked this book. The twist was clever and unexpected (although now you may expect it, sorry about that). I enjoyed how the girl character was inquisitive, clever and stood up for what she knew was write.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd, funny, imaginative book that year 3-4s would especially enjoy.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for PRC. Great, inventive little story with fun, mystery and heart. Very enjoyable.