Nightjar
As seen:
By Katya Balen, and and, Richard Johnson
avg rating
15 reviews
Carnegie Medal-winner Katya Balen returns with a stunning tale about a fractured bond between father and son – and the injured bird that helps to heal it.
When Noah’s dad visits from New York, he and Noah come across an injured nightjar during a walk in the countryside. Noah is determined to save the bird, but his dad believes they should leave it alone to let nature take its course. As father and son argue, it becomes clear that Noah is angry about more than just the bird. He feels abandoned and misunderstood by his dad, who has moved to the US and started a new family there that doesn’t seem to have room for Noah. Can they find a way to build a new relationship and rediscover the common ground between them? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8. TweetReviews
okay
If it had been longer and more descriptive then I probably given it 5 stars. I found it a bit bland but it was a good first draft
Short. Entertaining but definitely short
Recommended by a lecturer at university. Really enjoyed it and found it very easy to read (I think in part at least because of the font and page colour)
Short but perfectly written. A sweet story about an imperfect father- son relationship, that is mended through saving a nightjar.
Iliked this book I recommend other people to read it i liked the book because it was very interesting and I was really curious about it when I started reading the book and the reason I was interested in it was because it had some interesting birds in the book and some fascinating pupils in it
andrea.strachan@manorlodgeschool.com
A beautiful short read.
I found this book really rather calming. You can get carried along in the description of Noah’s life, both at home with his mum and out in the fresh air, following his passion for nature. I really enjoyed the weaving of the two storylines; the repairing of Noah’s relationship with his dad and recovery of the injured nightjar they find.
Another beautiful story about the restoring and healing power of nature. Nightjar revisits the story of Noah, from Katya Balen’s Birdsong, and we learn more about him and his family. Noah’s dad lives in New York and they don’t have a close relationship. The story explores this further when Noah’s dad comes to England for his Bar-mitzvah and they get to spend some time together. A walk in the countryside leads to Noah finding a sick Nightjar, which he brings home to save, but his dad thinks this is the wrong decision and that he should leave it in nature to either live or die. The story very gently explores fractured relationships and how they can, given the right treatment, be repaired. It is Noah’s mum who challenges him to see that things are not always simply black or white; right or wrong. All Katya’s characters are written with such love and care and each word and sentence has been carefully chosen and placed to have the most impact. Such a joy to read to my 11yo, who loves Katya’s books and loves nature. Perfect length for a quick bedtime read.
I like how noah took the bird home and helped it
A beautiful story of nature-loving Noah and how he negotiates the challenges posed by a visit from his estranged father.
Noah seeks solace in wildlife and particularly birds. On a hike with his Dad, Noah 'rescues' an orphaned and injured Nightjar chick, much to his father's chagrin. This incident, and the emotional fallout between father and son, is told with sensitivity and beauty.
This highly accessible novella from Katya Balen, published by Barrington Stoke, builds upon the characters and setting first introduced in 'Birdsong.'
A beautiful tale that explores a difficult father son relationship. A father who loves sport and lives in the US. A son who loves birdwatching and lives in the UK. Beautiful and full of nature and important messaging. Upper KS2.
Such a lovely story, beautifully told. I love this author: her writing is so lyrical but never overdone or fussy. As with Birdsong, the nature theme really appealed - perfect for new class members who I know have this interest!
Beautiful story. Gorgeous illustrations. A story of acceptance.
A superb follow up to last year’s Birdsong featuring Noah’s story as he is reunited with his estranged father and they fall into a conflict over an injured bird.
Previously, Noah has been a bird rescuer, a protector of creatures that would otherwise be left to nature’s way. With his friend Annie away at music school, Noah is navigating his forthcoming Bar Mitzvah, a Jewish coming of age ceremony, and the arrival of his father from New York.
Having driven with his father to the countryside for a walk, ever observant Noah spots a diseased and wounded nightjar, a rare bird that nests on the ground. His father believes they should leave the animal to its fate and not interfere but Noah, has other ideas. Their disagreement unearths a deeper layer of misunderstanding between them.
Katya Balen’s penmanship is lyrical and fluid, orchestrating the story with her beautiful prose. Her portrayal of the awkward relationship between father and son is pitch perfect. Long silences hang in the air between them. Stilted back and forths punctuate the text.
The resolution is fitting. Neither Noah or his Dad is entirely right in their way of thinking yet by listening at last to each other, they realise that life isn’t black and white; it’s a complicated mess of everything in between. The book raises interesting questions to discuss about our own responses to injured creatures.
This novella is published by Barrington Stoke and is structured in short chapters. At only 78 pages long, it encourages reluctant readers to reach the end. It’s also printed on dyslexic friendly paper with a readable font. Richard Johnson’s masterful illustrations sit at ease with the words of the story to reveal Noah’s world.
