Age 7-9 | Paperback | 36 pages | 200 x 150mm
Publication October 2018 | ISBN 9781912654093
Colin lives with his mum and big brother and is in a hurry to grow up. But when his brother gives him an air rifle for his birthday and he shoots a hawk, he soon learns that shooting live creatures is very different to shooting cans on the wall. A powerful tale of growing up and gaining responsibility.
Flying Free is one in a series of six illustrated short stories about young people growing up in the countryside.
Titles in the Country Tales series:
Nicola Davies is an award-winning author whose many books for children include Perfect (2017 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Longlist), The Pond (2018 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Longlist), the Shadows and Light series, The Word Bird, Animal Surprises, Into the Blue and The Secret of the Egg.
Cathy Fisher's first published books with Graffeg include Perfect, followed by The Pond, both written by Nicola Davies. Cathy has been a teacher and practicing artist all her life, living and working in the UK, Seychelles and Australia.
Reviews:
‘Nicola Davies has created another brilliant wildlife story for young readers in this part of a series of six beautifully illustrated books with Cathy Fisher. The story is ideal for upper primary readers, and, as ever, mixes a strong emotional connection with animals with fascinating detail. Anyone reading Flying Free will want to rescue their own hawk and watch them hunt and dive in wide, green fields – and sympathise with Colin’s journey to confidence and happiness.’ BookTrust
‘Colin's big brother gives him an air rifle and he can't wait to start shooting stuff. But shooting a living animal is different to shooting a can. When Colin shoots a hawk his life tilts on an angle and takes him down a new revelatory path. A powerful message about respecting nature and learning all actions have consequences. A short, easily digestible book with finely observed pencil illustrations suitable for reluctant readers as well as nature lovers.’ South Wales Evening Post
'I was surprised by how quickly I was drawn into the story and empathetic towards Colin, our protagonist. Nicola Davies also manages to contrast the harsh conditions of working life in the country carefully with the gentleness of the natural world. [...] The story will appeal to less confident readers for both its length and the accompanying illustrations. I think Flying Free and the rest of the series would work well as a Guided Reading text for readers in KS2 who either haven’t developed the stamina for longer texts or are do not choose reading as an activity of choice. It could link nicely with non-fiction texts about birds and the countryside.' Laura Ovenden, Just Imagine