A Secret of Birds & Bone (paperback)
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By Kiran Millwood Hargrave
avg rating
18 reviews
A spellbinding story from the Sunday Times-bestselling author of The Girl of Ink & Stars, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. ’A story bursting with imagination, sparkle and tender heart … I adored it!’ JASBINDER BILAN ’Both souful poetry and thrilling adventure; powerful and delicate, chilling and comforting’ SOPHIE ANDERSON ’Ripping propulsive plot, gorgeous imagery, floating fairytale prose … absolutely loved it’ ROSS MONTGOMERY In an Italian city ravaged by plague, Sofia’s mother carves beautiful mementoes from the bones of loved ones. But one day, she doesn’t return home. Did her work lead her into danger? Sofia and her little brother Ermin are sent to the convent orphanage but soon escape, led by an enigmatic new friend and their pet crow, Corvith. Together they cross the city underground, following clues in bones up to the towers of Siena, where – circled by magpies – the children find the terrible truth … The fourth children’s novel by Times number one bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year From the author of The Island at the End of Everything, The Way Past Winter, Julia and the Shark and The Mercies – chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club A darkly beautiful historical novel featuring Kiran’s trademark magical realism and an enthralling mystery, presented as a gorgeous flapped paperback with stunning cover foil Longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2021 Tweet
Reviews
I thought this book was brilliant and as soon as I started I couldn't put it down. It was magical and right from the start I knew that anything could happen!
This book is really good. It's about a girl called Sofia who's mother makes things out of bones. One day her mother gets kidnapped and her and her brother have to go on a journey to find her. My favourite characters are Sofia and Ermin.
This was unfortunately a bit of a miss for me. It felt as if it was written as a film script - and I think it would make a much better film. I would have appreciated more character nuance.
Sofia is a determined character and she truly care about her brother Ermin and her mother. S he went out of her way to save her mother from the wicked queen who only cared about herself and used children as test monkeys. I also love Sofia crow Corvith, he really helped them in most of there adventure. I at first did not like the guy who used to sneak around stealing things in the orphanage,until i found out he was also a victim of the sickness that killed the king and also the sickness that the queen was trying to cure.That was also the sickness Sofia cured when her brother was sick but she did not know she was the one that cured the sickness util her mother told her. I was funny when the people heard everything about the queen and how they sent her out of the kingdom.
I didn’t really enjoy this book. I didn’t really like any of the characters. I wouldn’t recommend this to book to other fantasy readers.
Gut wrenchingly exiting very suspencefull
I liked Carmela best because she helped Sofia and ermine escape
It's intended me because the story takes place in Italy
I would recommend this book to 9or10yr Old's because it can get quite scary
It was very good.
My favourite character was Sophia.
I would recommend it to my friends because I think she like this.
It is a thrilling book by the same author of The girl of Ink and Stars
Stunning adventure
#I love reading
This is a great book about a girl called Sofia and her little brother Ermin. There mother is a bone builder and the are whisked into an adventure on Sofia’s Birthday! I would recommend this book to people that like adventure with a little bit of magic…
I thought this book was very original and beautiful. My favourite part is the bone skeleton key.
A Secret of Bird & Bone was a really enjoyable book filled with mystery and secrets.My favourite character was Sofia as she managed to put an end to what the Duchessa was up to and save all the orphans.
A great book about a girl who gets put in an orphanage after her mother gets taken away and finds out terrible secrets about the city. I would recommend it to anyone who loves adventure books. I couldn’t put it down!
I thought this book was really enchanting and gripping. My favourite character was Corvith because he was very intelligent. I would recommend it if you like His Dark Materials and the Cogheart series.
This is my favourite children's author at the moment. It is like reading prose poetry, nuanced and captivating. The opening is stunningly original and the characters take on life from the very first page.
Set in Italy, I would like to recommend this book to a Year 6 class as a topic linked class text.
A beautiful creation! this book was incredible.
Set in historic Siena, Italy. When their Mamma is taken by the duchessa's men, Sofia and Ermin end up in an orphanage where they meet Ghino, who lives in the tunnels under the city.
Another captivating tale from one of my fave authors. A strong female, central character, lots of mystery and some unexpected twists. A couple of thoroughly nasty villains too. The bone carving was a bit gruesome at first but also fascinating and reminded me of The House with Chicken Legs (Sophie Anderson) and the author's note about charnel houses made me want to learn more. I love everything KMH writes and her books always stay with me after the final chapter. Would recommend to Year 6.
