Bird+&+Sugar+Boy

CMIS Summary
 * Paperback Novel. Age 11+ Bird and Sugar Boy are the best of friends. Individually they are only two young boys but together they are the whole team. Bird is infatuated with birds and his favourite possessions are his bird sketching book and a copy of 'A Field Guide to Birds' by A. P. Davies. His knowledge of birds and drawing, help him to escape mentally when he feels misunderstood and insecure.**


 * Bird and his father live alone as Bird's mother left them and Bird has great difficulty with the fact that his father has to work so hard to put food on the table and do all the things for him that two parents would normally. Bird's father is physically strong but is unable to talk about how he feels about Bird's mother leaving and this worries Bird.**


 * Life deals a harsh blow to Bird when Sugar Boy's father decides they are moving to Broome to live; this is a very long way from Sydney and Bird is devastated that he and Sugar Boy will not be able to hang around the railway tracks or down by the river or in their tunnel on the weekends. This second great loss in his life is too much for Bird to cope with, he runs away to find the Blue Mountains where the author of his favourite book lives, in the hope that he can find some refuge from life in a bird sanctuary. His journey is fraught with unpleasant incidents culminating in high drama.**

Awards: Honour Book CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers, 2007.
 * The themes of boys being able to express their grief and fathers as single parents are beautifully addressed in this very gentle book.**

Teachers Notes

Response Suggestions

 * Billy Skliros || 05V || Bird and Sugar boy || TN* || Kids' reality ||
 * Dimitri Stamatakos || 05V || Bird and Sugar boy || TN* || Kids' reality ||
 * Harry Chester || 05D || Bird and sugar boy || TN* || Kids' reality ||
 * Nicholas Lee || 05D || Bird and sugar boy || TN* || Teen Reality ||