Thought for the Day:
Gifts for My Writer Friends:
We have been having a wonderful few days in Cedar City, Utah with our grandchildren visiting our daughter, Maggie, who is an on-stage musician at the Utah Shakespeare Festival playing for Twelfth Night. It’s a terrific production and it was fun to see her in a different kind of role than we usually see her. We also saw Comedy of Errors, a very fun production set in the old West. 
Jewel never had the chance to know her brother. His real name was John, but everyone called him Bird, a name given him by his grandfather. The day Jewel was born, Bird tried to fly from a high cliff near their home. Jewel’s father and grandfather, Jamaicans, believed a bad spirit called a duppy had caused Bird to believe he could fly, ending in his death. Jewel had lived all her twelve years in the shadow of this lost brother. Grandpa never spoke again. Her parents were both, it seemed, eternally and deeply sad and angry.
A new boy shows up during the summer. He is visiting his uncle and he and
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| Crystal Chan |
Jewel immediately become fast friends. Friends have been in short supply for Jewel. The boy’s name is John and when Jewel introduces him to her family, they all struggle with this strange visitor who looks like he could be Jewel’s brother. Grandpa believes he is a duppy and Jewel needs to be protected from him. He goes through many strange rituals to protect his granddaughter. Her parents react in strange ways and John’s presence threatens to shatter this family. When the truth of John starts to come out, it threatens Jewel’s very existence.
Crystal Chan has written a story of love and friendship, of lies and truths, of dreams and hopes, of growing up and of running for cover. The characters are well-rounded and very believable. This is a rich and complex story, beautifully written, and one that will haunt your memories for a long time.
When I won Bird, I received a signed hardback of the UK version. I am going to share that with one of you. All you need do is have a US address, be either a subscriber or follower (if you aren’t yet, please check the right hand column to sign up), and leave a comment. If you would like extra chances in the drawing, please post this link on Facebook or your blog or Tweet about the giveaway or something like that. Let me know you’ve done that in your comment, and I will give you extra chances.
Don’t forget to check out Shannon Messenger’s wonderful blog for more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and some giveaways. You can find it by clicking HERE.
Rosi Hollinbeck 