JUN/JUL 07 - AudioFile
After generations of peaceful coexistence, the blue jays and cardinals are at war. Before they annihilate each other, they discover that a power-hungry hawk has created disharmony to enslave the birds and gain control of the forest. Only Swordbird can restore peace to the forest. Nancy Yi Fan was in fifth grade when, inspired by a vivid dream and her conflicted feelings after 9/11, she wrote this fantasy. Colleen Delany narrates this tale of war and peace, suspicion and trust, cowardliness and bravery. Her narration is concise but lacks life. Battles sound matter-of-fact rather than exciting. Budding young authors may especially enjoy the interview in which Fan discusses her inspiration and plan for getting published. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
The story behind the publication of Nancy Yi Fan's Swordbird is nearly as enthralling as the book itself. A Chinese-born preteen living in New York, Fan channeled her lifelong fascination with birds and her concerns over war and terrorism into an exuberant sword-and-sorcery-styled fantasy two years in the writing. She then emailed the completed manuscript to HarperCollins…and the rest, as they say, is history. This allegorical tale of warring birds and their struggle for freedom has attracted an unusual measure of attention because of the author's young age. But there is nothing childish about Fan's innate gift for pacing, characterization, or storytelling. We predict many more successes for this talented prodigy.
Kirkus Reviews
Turnatt, a corrupt hawk, sets out to take over the Stone Run Forest and all its feathered denizens by drafting crows and ravens to do his dirty work and by using those recruits to enslave and divide the forest's bird communities. With the help of an escaped slave, the jays, cardinals, robins and a hot-air balloon full of traveling birds mount a spirited opposition to the forces of evil in their world. This avian fantasy is an engaging and propulsive read, but as often happens with debut novels, style is not the strong point. Fantasy elements are both derivative and inconsistent, making the narrative into an extended fairytale with a few realistic birdlike trappings. Occasional stilted dialogue, unadorned prose and a derivative plot detract from the unusual use of birds as the focus of the story. Fan, currently a seventh grader in China, began Swordbird when she was ten years old-an extraordinary accomplishment for a young author. It will appeal to fans of the Mistmantle Chronicles and other animal fantasies-then lead them onward to Redwall Abbey. (Fantasy. 9-12)
JUN/ JUL 07 - AudioFile
After generations of peaceful coexistence, the blue jays and cardinals are at war. Before they annihilate each other, they discover that a power-hungry hawk has created disharmony to enslave the birds and gain control of the forest. Only Swordbird can restore peace to the forest. Nancy Yi Fan was in fifth grade when, inspired by a vivid dream and her conflicted feelings after 9/11, she wrote this fantasy. Colleen Delany narrates this tale of war and peace, suspicion and trust, cowardliness and bravery. Her narration is concise but lacks life. Battles sound matter-of-fact rather than exciting. Budding young authors may especially enjoy the interview in which Fan discusses her inspiration and plan for getting published. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
