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Editorial Content for Stonebird

Book

Stonebird

Reviewer (text)

Brianna Robinson

The best thing about STONEBIRD by Mike Revell is that its size --- a thin book of only 200-something pages --- is not indicative at all of its heart and story. 

Set in England, in a town called Swanbury, STONEBIRD is middle-grade magical realism at its best. It's got a stark and real life-narrative, punctuated by the gritty reality of illness and pain that becomes more and more apparent to young kids as they grow up. But it also has the wonder of childhood, reminiscent of nostalgia and imagination. The combination of the two is hopeful rather than bleak and depressing. It’s as if the book is saying that sometimes, the world that seems so logical can be a little less so. And for Liam, the main character at the heart of STONEBIRD, that makes all the difference. 

You see, Liam's grandmother has been taken over by a demon --- or dementia, as the doctors are calling it --- and it looks like she's only getting worse. That's why his mother moved him and his sister across the country to be closer to her. The dementia is quickly taking everything away from Liam --- his mother spends more time with a wine bottle than her kids, his sister is never home and Liam can't settle in at school because of a bully named Matt. When Liam finds his grandmother's diary and discovers a penchant for telling stories involving the anthropomorphic gargoyle named Stonebird in his backyard, things get a little better, especially when strange things happen in accordance with his tales. As his stories about Stonebird get more elaborate, so does his hope for the future.

The deep layers that Revell writes into the book really make it shine; it is so much more than it seems at first glance.

I love that STONEBIRD doesn’t shy away from discussing tough issues as well as memories --- who will tell your story when you are incapable of doing it yourself? Everything was woven together so seamlessly. Readers are treated to history as well, as Revell takes us back to WWII with Liam's grandma's diary. This new voice helped break up the slow parts of the book. I also really enjoyed the various antagonists and conflicts that the magic of Stonebird helped fix --- tangible things like Matt and his bullying friends and an unkempt lawn and things unseen, like his grandmother's dementia and mom's drinking problem.

But where the story falls short is that Liam is almost a little too self-aware at times for a seven-year-old boy. Also, especially at the beginning, the story crawls along, a bit. However, this book overall was such a delight that I was okay with that. 

All in all, I think STONEBIRD is a treat that needs to be shared. The deep layers that Revell writes into the book really make it shine; it is so much more than it seems at first glance. I hope many young and more experienced readers are able to meet Liam and read his story.  It's a great one.

Teaser

 

When 10-year-old Liam's family moves to be near his grandmother who is suffering from dementia, he's left to navigate his new neighborhood, school and grandmother's illness all by himself. The one place he seems to find solace is a rundown church where he finds an over-sized gargoyle that keeps drawing him in. Shy Liam's only means of confidence during shared story time is to tell tales of the gargoyle. His classmates mock him at first but are soon captivated by his storytelling. As his home life gets harder and the bullies more relentless, the gargoyle seemingly brings Liam's stories to life. But is the old stone bird really alive, or is it just Liam's imagination finding ways to help him through a difficult time?

Promo

When 10-year-old Liam's family moves to be near his grandmother who is suffering from dementia, he's left to navigate his new neighborhood, school and grandmother's illness all by himself. The one place he seems to find solace is a rundown church where he finds an over-sized gargoyle that keeps drawing him in. Shy Liam's only means of confidence during shared story time is to tell tales of the gargoyle. His classmates mock him at first but are soon captivated by his storytelling. As his home life gets harder and the bullies more relentless, the gargoyle seemingly brings Liam's stories to life. But is the old stone bird really alive, or is it just Liam's imagination finding ways to help him through a difficult time?

About the Book

When 10-year-old Liam's family moves to be near his grandmother who is suffering from dementia, he's left to navigate his new neighborhood, school and grandmother's illness all by himself. His mom regularly loses herself in a bottle of wine, and his sister sneaks out to who knows where shortly after "wine o'clock" --- as they've come to call it --- strikes. Life isn't easy.
 
The one place he seems to find solace is a rundown church where he finds an over-sized gargoyle that keeps drawing him in. After learning that they were created to protect people from demons and evil spirits, he can't seem to shake the image of the old stone bird and its presence weaves itself into the stories Liam tells himself and others, so much so that Liam starts to believe that it might be alive.
 
Shy Liam's only means of confidence during shared story time is to tell tales of the gargoyle. His classmates mock him at first but are soon captivated by his storytelling, and his teacher's slight nods of encouragement fuel Liam's belief in the bird and lead him to think that she knows a thing or two about the old bird herself.
 
As his home life gets harder and the bullies more relentless, the gargoyle seemingly brings Liam's stories to life --- swooping in to protect and defend him in the most unexpected ways. But is the old stone bird really alive, or is it just Liam's imagination finding ways to help him through a difficult time?