"Conjuring a magical realm of mythic firebirds, earthquakes, daemons and witches, this Middle Grade adventure is shot-through with wonder and wanderlust."
Radiant with folklore and the soaring thrills of a refreshingly framed quest, Rowan Foxwood’s Magpie Girl came as a result of the author being unable to stop thinking about the magpie-children of her debut novel, Heartseer: The Tale of Anise Star. The result is a myth-rich offering of magical creatures drawn from the folklore of the author’s native France and Corsica combined with a classic rescue adventure that begins with Lavender Wild’s experience of ridicule as a result of her returning home with wings. To Lavender, her wings were “beautiful, and magical, and different”. To her father, they were a painful reminder of the time she’d vanished. To her peers, they were a strange novelty to mock and tug. To her fellow villagers, they were a thing to fear, not least, to Madam Nebby’s mind, as a result of Lavender’s “flighty” mother leaving her father “to raise her greedy little chick himself!”
Beyond having wings, Lavender can also talk to birds, and possesses an uncanny knack for finding lost things. She’s also at odds with her former best friend Kit, but finds a way through their falling out when his father, Lord Noble, vanishes while performing an annual ritual to appease the Firebird that lives in an apparently dormant volcano. Longing for adventure, Lavender is only happy to leave sleepy Redvine on a quest to find Lord Noble, accompanied by Kit, with whom she encounters a dizzying bedazzlement of dangers.
The dynamic between the duo is a highlight of the story, as is Lavender’s palpable desire for freedom. Speaking of soaring Firebirds, and soaring hearts, and the nature of memory, Magpie Girl will be relished by readers who adore being in the thrall of magical quests.
Beware the firebird who grants wishes...they come at a terrible price.
Lavender Wild is a magpie girl - she grows feathers, talks to birds and has a talent for finding lost things. But stuck in her tiny village, she wishes for freedom.
So when her ex-friend Kit realises his dad has gone missing on the deadly firebird's mountain, Lavender seizes the chance to set out with him on a rescue mission.
Faced with earthquakes, daemons and witches, Lavender and Kit must rebuild their friendship to survive. Because the firebird is rising, and only they can save everyone from its flames.
Discover a stunning new voice filled with magic and wonder, for fans of Katherine Rundell and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
Rowan's stunning writing mixes a melting pot of global mythologies and fairy tales with themes of wanderlust, memory and belonging to create an unforgettable magical adventure.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Magpie Girl and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Magpie Girl features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Books of the Month, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Fantasy / Magical, Traditional Tales, Mystery / Mythology, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Children’s / Teenage fiction: Magical realism / Magical fantasy, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Supernatural and mythological creatures, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Relationships (non-family / groups)
Magpie Girl is available in Paperback
Magpie Girl was written by Rowan Foxwood and published by Usborne Publishing Ltd. an imprint of Usborne Publishing
Magpie Girl has 323 pages
£7.19
