Feather Boy

By: Nicky Singer

Narrated by: Philip Franks

“Top flat, Chance House. You can go there. . . . You are the sort of boy who can fly.”

That’s what Edith Sorrell, mysterious resident of Mayfield Rest Home, says when Robert asks her to share a wisdom with him as part of a class project. And even though Robert Nobel, a.k.a Norbert No-Bottle, the perpetually picked-on class squit, is convinced she’s batty, he’s determined to pluck up his courage and go. After all, what does Robert have to lose? His dad is busy with his new family, his mum is always at work, the school bully is making his life miserable, and the class beauty won’t give him the time of day.

But Edith is hiding a secret about boarded-up Chance House’s past that’s more complicated than Robert ever imagined. The search for the truth begins in the top-floor flat with a few small feathers. Uncovering it will change both of their lives forever.

Critic reviews

“The writing soars, from the pitch-perfect delineation of Robert’s wry, self-deprecating voice to the change wrought in him as he becomes ‘the sort of boy who can fly.’”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

“Singer deftly braids her plot strands together, achieving the difficult feat of making the everyday-life threads . . . effectively intertwine with the supernatural. The easygoing, plainspoken style adds appeal and brings the mystically touched story within reach of a broad range of readers.”—The Bulletin

“A British import with Cormier-like undertones that explores the twinned themes of fear and courage. . . . Singer displays a terrific ability to develop character . . . and the setting is beautifully realized. . . . But Robert’s voice, alternately wry and yearning, and the ambitious reach of the narrative carry the show.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A compelling story about courage, death, and self-forgiveness . . . delivered in Robert’s piercing, first-person narrative. . . . Vivid characterizations of his classmates round out a haunting novel.”—Booklist