Nightjar

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.