The Bone Sparrow

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By Zana Fraillon
avg rating
23 reviews
Winner of the CILIP Amnesty Honour 2017.
Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017.
Perfect for fans of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS. This is a beautiful, vivid and deeply moving story about a refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre. This novel reminds us all of the importance of freedom, hope, and the power of a story to speak for anyone who’s ever struggled to find a safe home.
‘…a special book’ – Morris Gleitzman, author of the acclaimed ONCE series
Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he’s at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. And one day it brings him Jimmie.
Carrying a notebook that she’s unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck – both talismans of her family’s past and the mother she’s lost – Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence.
As he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie’s family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures.
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I enjoy the part where it was cropped because it was so gory
i didn't really like it very much, i thought it was a little bit boring.
I liked this book because it felt very realistic. My favourite part is the really sad part because usually stories are always cheery and happy but in this one there was something different and actually solid-hard. My favourite character was Queeny because of how realistic she always was, which I really like because although some people think you can just live on hope that might not actually be true. My least favourite character was Harvey because of what he does at the end of the book (I won't spoil but it is related to my favourite part). (By the way, for my favourite part I don't actually like what happens I just find it the most interesting.)
I enjoyed the book and it taught me many of the hardships that refugees go through.
This is one of those life changing books.....
I couldn't put this book down but at the same time I love a happy ending which this does not really provide - very very eye opening and realistic regarding the trauma that refugees go through and based on real life events.
this is also a book that is included in the reading scheme for my school, It is an interesting read and should bring some understanding of a refuges life
What a beautiful book .. 3.7
I loved this book even though the subject matter is pretty harrowing.
Even though she was not in the story for long, I liked Jimmie, I always find it interesting how children are far more comfortable with situations that adults find difficult.
I was reading the book around the same time as there were numerous articles on the news about refugees trying to make it to England by boat, this book helped to make the conditions that refugees live in clearer to me.
Enjoyed the story of Subhi. Reminded me of the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for the relationship with Jimmie.
This book really gripped me and I couldn’t stop reading it. I think I read it in two days. The characters Eli and Jimmie are brilliant. Subhi is so imaginative and Jimmie so brave. Their friendship really does help them both to survive. I was so glad it ended well and that telling the truth is important. The different people in the book like the kind ‘jacket’ Harvey and his friend Eli who looks out for subhi whatever is happening really make you feel like you know them and care for them all. It’s such a hard story to hear. The fact that this is based on true stories is very upsetting. We also need to know this and read these books with our children.
Love this text. Great to build empathy in students. The split narrative worked particularly well.
This was very good anbd was filled with lots off mystery
This is a great book. Some parts are funny, some emotional. I would highly recommend it!
It was a great book to read and I definately recommend it to anyone of any age because it is such a good book.
This is a book about a boy called Subhi who lives in a refugee camp and his newfound friendship with a girl on the other side of the fence called Jimmie. It is sad when the condition everyone lives in are described and how that the men are separated from the women and not even aloud to visit each other. The food is also horrible. It is also a book of suggestion that hints on many things. I would advise reading this book as it makes you think more in depth about life and how most people are lucky to be living as you are. Subhi says that he is waiting for his father to come and help him and his sister and mother and that each night the night sea washes up a different treasure each night. This book could be compared to the boy in the striped pyjamas in its depth and perception.
I really loved this book it was so interesting and towards the end I felt really emotional and nearly cried. I only started reading this because I saw it in my school library and I liked the way the narrator was portraying this story. This book is great for people with a vivid imagination. This book is a fiction book based on factual consequences and terrible incidents. I love this book and would recommend this to teenagers and even to adults. All audience would love this book.
This is a book about life on a refugee camp. It was an emotional rollercoaster and left me in tears. Due to the subjects in the book, I would recommend it specifically for teenagers like myself.
this book had good story but was a little too dark for me.
This is a Excellent book, its is based in a refugee camp but than one night Subhi, the first baby to be born in Za-atari refugee camp, sees something... Is it real or his imagination? Book was very very sad, bring some tissues!
It is sent in a refuge detention centre about a frendship between sibhuni and jimmine.one lives outside the detenion centre and one lives in it.when jimmine get sick sibhuni escapes from the detention centre and help his friend get medical help.and when she is well she gives sibhuni the bone sparrow and it signifyes hope and not death
The book is an amazing tale of a young boy who has no memories except from in a refugee camp, where he was born. The story is his search for freedom, and memories. I fully recommend this book for older readers, ages 11+.
This was a good book, though was about a very sad subject and included deaths. It is about a boy called Subhi who has lived all his live in refugee detention in Australia and he makes friends with a girl who visits him from a local town. They become frends and help each other. It makes you think about issues in the world