The Absence of Sparrows

By: Kurt Kirchmeier

Narrated by: Will Collyer

Stranger Things meets The Stand in this haunting coming-of-age novel about a plague that brings the world to a halt -- and the boy who believes that his town's missing sparrows can save his family.
In the small town of Griever's Mill, eleven-year-old Ben Cameron is expecting to finish off his summer of relaxing and bird-watching without a hitch. But everything goes wrong when dark clouds roll in.
Old Man Crandall is the first to change -- human one minute and a glass statue the next. Soon it's happening across the world. Dark clouds fill the sky and, at random, people are turned into frozen versions of themselves. There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no one knows how to stop it.
With his mom on the verge of a breakdown, and his brother intent on following the dubious plans put forth by a nameless voice on the radio, Ben must hold out hope that his town's missing sparrows will return with everyone's souls before the glass plague takes them away forever.

Critic reviews

* "A powerful piece of storytelling... Will resonate with anyone who understands that heroism is not a matter of saving the world but of maintaining yourself, and acting to protect those in your community -- despite the forces arrayed against you."
—Quill and Quire, starred review

"The mystery of the 'glass plague,' the constant threats to Ben and his family, and the fast-moving plot make the book hard to put down.... Sure to be popular with readers seeking a truly scary story."—School Library Journal

"Will stick with the reader long after they are finished."
—School Library Connection

"This gripping novel trusts its young readers."—Booklist

"Stephen King-level horror haunting a tight, thoughtful domestic drama."—BCCB

"Gripping and affecting."
—Shelf Awareness

"Creepy and engaging."
—Publishers Weekly

"Narrator Will Collyer brings realistic emotion to this creepy audiobook about a terrifying plague."—AudioFile

"A fresh spin on the post-apocalyptic genre.... A thought-provoking read."
—Canadian Children's Book News

I Really Enjoyed This Book

This book is a excellent read for young adults. It's quick and satisfying for anybody wanting a story that they can be absorbed into. The story is in short chapters and that helps to keep your interest going. Some of the themes are not new, but they fit well into the overall thread of the novel. It's not necessarily a happy story, but I recommend reading it on a beach in the Summer.