In Alice Hoffman’s gentle and enchanting Nightbird, Twig and her mother have a secret, one that keeps them separate from the town, and separate from friends. That is until the Halls and their two young daughters move into the house down the road. They are Twig’s first neighbors ever, and – as it turns out – descendants of the woman who brought her family lasting turmoil generations before.
Twig is a “tall for her age” 12yo girl living on a vast orchard on the edge of small-town Sidwell, Massachusettes. Twig brings the reader into her confidence right away and is an easy, likable guide through the story.
Told alongside the mystery of Twig and her family’s secrets – and Twig’s growing fascination with the Halls – is the mystery of the nearby woods, and why someone is spreading graffiti across Sidwell warning them all to keep out.
The beauty and openness of Hoffman’s writing make Nightbird a joy to read. There is an air among the pages that quickly brings these characters – and the town and surroundings of Sidwell (which seems like a character itself in Nightbird) – to life. Every thread is woven together beautifully for a satisfying end.
Adult or teen readers of Nightbird might wish for more complexity in the characters, plot, or pacing, but the simple, straightforward approach to family, friendship, love, and magic is just right for middle-grade readers. This is a fantastic read-aloud for a 5th or 6th-grade class.
BOOK:30 