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Original Essays | April 29, 2013

Edward Lee: IMG How to Clarify Butter: A Writer's Tale

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Chefs don't have time to write. While I was working on Smoke and Pickles, I was running a restaurant — a daily regimen of testing recipes,... Continue »
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1 Local Warehouse Children's- Science Fiction and Fantasy

Swordbird

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Swordbird Cover

ISBN13: 9780061130991
ISBN10: 0061130990
Condition: Standard
Dustjacket: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The blue jays and cardinals of Stone-Run Forest have turned against each other. According to legend, only Swordbird, son of the Great Spirit, has the power to conquer evil and restore peace to the land. But is he real or just a myth? Can Swordbird arrive in time to save the forest...or will it be too late?

Twelve-year-old author Nancy Yi Fan has woven a captivating tale about the birds of Stone-Run Forest and the heroism, courage, and resourcefulness in their quest for peace.

Review:

"Yi Fan's tightly woven story delivers a manifest message promoting peace and freedom. Starring woodland bird characters, the saga pits the tyrannical hawk Turnatt, captor of 'slavebirds' whom he shackles and puts to work building his fortress, against the cardinals and blue jays. Though once friendly, these two benign flocks are now at war: Turnatt's soldiers have stolen eggs and food from each flock (the hawk eats a purloined egg daily, believing this will 'keep death away'), and have led each camp to believe the other is responsible for the thefts. One of the slavebirds, a robin named Miltin, escapes to tell Aska, a brave young jay, about Turnatt's evil doings and his plan to enslave all the local woodbirds. Blue jays and cardinals join forces to vanquish the despot, a mission that entails several diverting twists, including a search for the necessary elements to summon the Swordbird, the 'mystical white bird, the son of the Great Spirit.' The author occasionally relieves the tale's ample tension with snippets of humor. While feasting with a traveling troupe of winged thespians, for instance, the cardinals and blue jays drive away Turnatt's marauding forces by bombarding them with bean soup and raspberry pies. Experienced readers will recognize the familiar allegory here, but the book will likely appeal to Redwall fans, and this young writer is worth watching. Ages 8-12. (Feb.) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Mark Zug's black-and-white drawings repeat strategically, offering a visual underpinning to the characters and story line." Children's Literature

Review:

"Aficionados of Jacques's Redwall series should enjoy this new offering to the anthropomorphized animal genre." VOYA

Review:

"The greatest credit should be given to the illustrator, who took the author's imagery and made it believable as well as attractive." School Library Journal

Review:

"It will appeal to fans of the Mistmantle Chronicles and other animal fantasies-then lead them onward to Redwall Abbey." Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis:

Written by the author when she was in the fifth grade, this extraordinary fantasy — inspired by a dream and her complicated feelings about terrorism after September 11th — portrays a world of warfare, deception, bravery, and freedom.
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About the Author

Nancy Yi Fan spent the first part of her childhood in China, where she was born in 1993. When she was seven years old, Nancy moved with her parents to the United States and attended American schools through fifth grade. Birds, a lifelong passion of the author's, provided the inspiration for Swordbird. After awaking from a vivid dream about birds at war while simultaneously wrestling with her feelings about terrorism and September 11, Nancy wrote Swordbird as a way to convey her message of peace to the world. She currently lives in Florida with her parents.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 4 comments:
OATSMOM, September 9, 2011 (view all comments by OATSMOM)
Amazing, exciting, very captivating story...beautifully simple yet mesmerizing illustrations.
My 9 & 6 yr old sons were completely absorbed with the story and unique & varied personalities of the "characters". The underlying message of peacekeeping was truly heartwarming...we loved rooting for the "good" birds!
We were all especially impressed and inspired when we learned author was only 11 when she wrote&illustrated this book. We have recommended this book to many friends & teachers. Eager to read the sequel. YOU WILL FEEL TRULY TOUCHED AFTER READ
ING THIS BEAUTIFUL TAIL.
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scionjb, January 9, 2009 (view all comments by scionjb)
It was a great book... It had action, adventure, and tons of other good things!!!
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fans, November 25, 2007 (view all comments by fans)
Peace and freedom, filial piety, bravery and more
The biggest theme of Swordbird is peace and freedom. There are also themes of filial piety, bravery and selflessness. I just did a project on Swordbird and I found many readers’ reviews were so cool. I think it’s so meaningful to share some quotes with new readers:

At age 13, Nancy Yi Fan may be HarperCollins’s youngest author, but her fantasy novel about warring birds and their struggle for freedom is getting some adult-sized attention. ---Publishers Weekly
Fresh, vivid, compelling, full of fun and morals… Swordbird not only has the elements of a great story, but also contains the rich imagination and hopes of a child. --- A Jia
The book moves swiftly from chapter to chapter with help from sheer brevity, copious action scenes, and illustrations. --- Angelica Delgado
The story is full of suspense and the characters are all birds. --- Sharon
There are some lovely details and some remarkable use of language. --- Professornana
Swordbird is terrific and I was amazed that someone that young was capable of writing a really original and different book that always kept you interested. --- Laskaris
Swordbird was just fabulous! I cannot believe how well it was written, and how well every charactor was explained in it. ---Jenny
I think you will be the most famous author in the world, next to Charles Dickens and J. K. Rowling. --- Kim
Isn’t it just amazing to think that such an original story such as Swordbird can come from someone of this age. --- Russell
I was struck by the richness of your vocabulary, especially your descriptions of the forest and the names of the birds. When Turnatt appeared, your language became suitably ‘dark’. Your explanation of the way in which the Reds and Blues became enemies was believable - and meaningful for the world today. And you built up the suspense well near the end when Miltin was so brave.--- Dr. Barr
Your book was absolutely amazing. I have never had a book that I can read twice in a row and still love, but yours I can read multiple times and still not want to leave it. --- Alex
You have been a BIG inspiration to me. --- Olivia
A fantasy in the vein of the Redwall series, Fan’s precocious first book (the author’s only thirteen-years old) is enchanting and action-packed. --- Norwood School’s library, MD
Swordbird was a fantastic book for children and adults, it made you feel warm inside to know that such a little girl has gone this far to make such a wonderful book. --- Jackie
I think that swordbird is a marvelous book; the discriptions of the scenes were amazing, the characters WERE described very well, especially Turnatt. --- Vix
There are many messages carried inside Swordbird. The message of peace, of course, that is prevailing throughout the book; I respect this greatly because it is a hard feat to keep that message sailing whenever times are looking tough. I respect peace. It is a beautiful thing. And there is the outside message, which I believe will give hope and courage to generations of young writers to come. --- Duffy
You should be very proud that you have such a profound positive influence on kids. — Mrs. Barnello
It’s a wonderfully created novel rich in volume and depth. --- Jade
Great book. Keep me up on my toes, wanting to read more. --- Brooke
I think the book is fanciful, captivating. --- Carrie
You’ve inspired me so much, and this was like a kickstart! --- Grace.
Swordbird is a beautiful piece sparking the meanings of peace and war. --- Megan
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780061130991
Author:
Nancy Yi Fan and Mark Zug
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
Illustrator:
Zug, Mark
Author:
Fan, Nancy Yi
Author:
Zug, Nancy Yi Fan and Mark
Author:
by Nancy Yi Fan
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General
Subject:
Animals - Birds
Subject:
Birds
Subject:
War
Subject:
General Juvenile Fiction
Subject:
Children's writings, American
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Subject:
Fantasy
Copyright:
2007
Series:
Swordbird
Publication Date:
February 2007
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
Children/juvenile
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
219
Dimensions:
8.52x5.84x.86 in. .78 lbs.
Age Level:
08-12
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Related Subjects

Children's » Featured Titles
Children's » Middle Readers » General
Children's » Science Fiction and Fantasy » General

Swordbird Used Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$2.48 In Stock
Product details 219 pages HarperCollins Publishers - English 9780061130991 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Yi Fan's tightly woven story delivers a manifest message promoting peace and freedom. Starring woodland bird characters, the saga pits the tyrannical hawk Turnatt, captor of 'slavebirds' whom he shackles and puts to work building his fortress, against the cardinals and blue jays. Though once friendly, these two benign flocks are now at war: Turnatt's soldiers have stolen eggs and food from each flock (the hawk eats a purloined egg daily, believing this will 'keep death away'), and have led each camp to believe the other is responsible for the thefts. One of the slavebirds, a robin named Miltin, escapes to tell Aska, a brave young jay, about Turnatt's evil doings and his plan to enslave all the local woodbirds. Blue jays and cardinals join forces to vanquish the despot, a mission that entails several diverting twists, including a search for the necessary elements to summon the Swordbird, the 'mystical white bird, the son of the Great Spirit.' The author occasionally relieves the tale's ample tension with snippets of humor. While feasting with a traveling troupe of winged thespians, for instance, the cardinals and blue jays drive away Turnatt's marauding forces by bombarding them with bean soup and raspberry pies. Experienced readers will recognize the familiar allegory here, but the book will likely appeal to Redwall fans, and this young writer is worth watching. Ages 8-12. (Feb.) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "Mark Zug's black-and-white drawings repeat strategically, offering a visual underpinning to the characters and story line."
"Review" by , "Aficionados of Jacques's Redwall series should enjoy this new offering to the anthropomorphized animal genre."
"Review" by , "The greatest credit should be given to the illustrator, who took the author's imagery and made it believable as well as attractive."
"Review" by , "It will appeal to fans of the Mistmantle Chronicles and other animal fantasies-then lead them onward to Redwall Abbey."
"Synopsis" by , Written by the author when she was in the fifth grade, this extraordinary fantasy — inspired by a dream and her complicated feelings about terrorism after September 11th — portrays a world of warfare, deception, bravery, and freedom.
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