Winner of the Eilís Dillon Memorial Award. Adam's Starling tells the story of nine-year-old Adam who is finding life very diffficult. At home no-one has any time for him and at school bullies pick on him.
Category: Accelerated Reader - Middle Years, Children's fiction, Fiction, Nature
Themes:
Issues, Bullying, School Life, Family Relationships, Personal Challenge
Adam's Starling tells the story of a nine year old boy who is finding life difficult. At home, no-one has any time for him.
At school things are even worse – a gang of bullies has singled Adam out for punishment. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for Adam. But then a scruffy little starling comes into Adam's life. This is Adam's secret, his own special friend. But can Adam's defend his small friend against the bullies? Will he find the courage he has needed all along?
Gillian Perdue is a children's writer and dancing teacher. She previously worked as a primary school teacher for over fifteen years, and has always had a deep love for children's books. Gillian acted as chairperson of the Bisto Book Awards 1999-2000, and she has written resource materials for the use of real books in the classroom.
Gillian's first book, Adam's Starling was written for older readers and won the Eilís Dillon Memorial Award 2002. The Irish Times described Adam's Starling as an impressive debut. Since then she has written three books in the successful O'Brien Panda Series - Conor's Cowboy Suit, Panda No. 23, Conor's Concert, Panda No. 25, and Conor's Canvas, Panda No. 35. The spirited and determined Conor, who loves to do things his way and his way only has proved to be extremely popular with younger readers. Gillian is married with two children, and lives in Dublin.
beautifully told
all the elements in this story blend perfectly in a carefully measured way that make it a compulsive read
deserves another look
still as relevant today
a perceptive and very moving story which will resonate with many readers - bullies and the bullied. An excellent opportunity for discussion of this emotive subject
This story has tremendous potential for classroom use. An extremely thought-provoking book that would be an easy read for most 9- to 11-year olds.
What an impressive debut! ... This book convincingly captures life's hassles. Perdue is exceptionally good on Adam's various relationships ... (her) handling of the Adam/Grandad scenes are not only brilliant, they are also genuinely moving, and the starling plot is never allowed to become tweety-sweety. My nine-year-old thought it fantastic.
This book is touching and sometimes sad. It would be great for children aged 8 upward.
This is a good story told with much lively dialogue and it will sustain children's interest through thirteen quite meaty chapters.
Sensitive study of a shy and insecure boy who, in the protection of something smaller and weaker than himself, manages to finally confront the boys that constantly pick on him at school.
Adam's Starling belongs on the shelf of any home with school-going children ... The bonding-with-animals theme makes this an appealing book, crashing through age and gender definitions in a warm-hearted way.
gentle novel which confronts a serious problem in a sensitive and honest way.
This is an intelligent, instructive book heavy with intent.
Its sensitive, imaginative treatment of the now clichéd theme of bullying makes it a great stocking-filler
