Nightbird

January 19, 2015
Once again, Hoffman (Green Angel) works her magic to transport readers to a realm where enchantment intermingles with everyday realities. Sidwell, Mass., is famous for its apples, “so sweet people come from as far as New York City during the apple festival,” and the mysterious winged monster rumored to reside there. Twelve-year-old Twig Fowler leads an isolated existence in an ancient farmhouse with her mother, a skillful baker. The two of them rarely venture into town because no one must discover their family secret: that Twig’s older brother (whose very existence they’ve kept secret) has been afflicted with a 200-year-old curse. Twig remains friendless until she meets new neighbor Julia Hall and her older sister, who might be able to help reverse the spell plaguing the Fowler family. The book’s evocative setting and distinctive characters will immediately hook readers, and the history of Twig’s family, uncovered bit by bit, will keep them engaged. The risks Twig takes in reaching out to the Hall sisters bring gratifying rewards and unexpected connections to others in the community. Ages 10–up. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM.

January 1, 2015
There's a monster in Sidwell, Massachusetts, that can only be seen at night or, as Twig reveals, if passersby are near her house. It's her older brother, James, born with wings just like every male in the Fowler line for the last 200 years. They were cursed by the Witch of Sidwell, left brokenhearted by their forebear Lowell Fowler. Twig and James are tired of the secret and self-imposed isolation. Lonely Twig narrates, bringing the small town and its characters to life, intertwining events present and past, and describing the effects of the spell on her fractured family's daily life. Longing for some normalcy and companionship, she befriends new-neighbor Julia while James falls in love with Julia's sister, Agate-only to learn they are descendants of the Witch. James and Agate seem as star-crossed as their ancestors, especially when the townspeople attribute a spate of petty thefts and graffiti protesting the development of the woods to the monster and launch a hunt. The mix of romance and magic is irresistible and the tension, compelling. With the help of friends and through a series of self-realizations and discoveries, Twig grows more self-assured. She is certain she knows how to change the curse. In so doing, Twig not only changes James' fate, but her own, for the first time feeling the fullness of family, friends and hope for the future. Enchanting. (Magical realism. 9-12)

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January 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-A sweet, if somewhat uneven middle grade tale by beloved adult author Hoffman. Twig is the daughter of the best baker in the town of Sidwell, NY. But Twig has a secret-the town doesn't know that she has an older brother, James, hidden away because of his large black wings, a result of the curse on the men in their family. James's clandestine nighttime jaunts around Sidwell have led fractious locals to talk of hunting down "the monster" in their midst. When a new family moves into the cottage that belonged to the witch who cursed Twig's ancestor, events are set in motion that will change all of their lives forever. Hoffman juggles multiple themes: an environmental thread, with a focus on the rare owls in the woods around Twig's home; a broken family thread (Twig hasn't seen or heard from her father since she was a toddler); a friendship tale of outsiders finding each other; along with bits of romance, curses, and magic. A clever narrator, beautiful imagery, and the quirky cast of secondary characters who populate the oddball town are the bright spots in this mix of fantasy and mystery. Unfortunately, the climax ties every plot line together neatly, and the overly pat ending undercuts an otherwise sophisticated narrative. Still, the spunky protagonist, copious descriptions of mouth-watering baked goods, and terrific cover art guarantee this magical story will find an audience.-Elisabeth Gattullo Marrocolla, Darien Library, CT

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2015
Grades 5-8 Twig and her mom live in tiny Sidwell, a wooded New England town with a witchy history. When her reclusive mom isn't baking one-of-a-kind pies from their orchard's apples, she is concealing Twig's brother, James, who sports a pair of black feathery wings, courtesy of a curse placed on their family by the Sidwell witch centuries ago. Rumors are swirling about the Sidwell Monster, and Twig and her mother fear that James is in danger, since he has been spotted winging around town in the middle of the night. When a new family moves in next door (direct descendants of the witch who cursed Twig's family), Twig cannot resist her new neighbor Julia's friendship, and James cannot resist Julia's enchanting sister, Agate. Soon Twig and her new friend realize that James and Agate are heading down the same path that led Julia's ancestor to curse Twig's, and they set out to undo the curse. Best-selling Hoffman offers a quiet, gentle fantasy where crossroads and moonlight have magical uses, and friendship and determination can heal centuries-old wounds. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With a handful of best-sellers under her belt, it's no surprise that Hoffman's publisher is planning a big campaign for this one, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

April 27, 2015
Set in a realm where enchantment intermingles with everyday realities, Hoffman’s story centers on 12-year-old Twig Fowler, her baker mother, and her older brother, who all keep to themselves in their farmhouse in Sidwell, Mass. Twig’s mother is said to have supernatural cooking skills, but the real magic is the curse that hits the males of the Fowler family—they grow wings. Twig’s brother, James, flies at night, befriends birds, and no one in town knows he exists because the family fears their reaction. Twig remains friendless until she meets new neighbor Julia Hall and her older sister, who might be able to help reverse the spell plaguing the Fowler family. Reader Lamia has perfected the character of Twig, who sounds shy and youthful as the story unfolds. The adult characters come alive as well, each with such a distinct voice that it’s easy to forget there’s only one person performing. Between Hoffman’s lovely prose and Lamia’s terrific performance, this is a delightful audiobook that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Ages 10–up. A Random/Lamb hardcover.

July 1, 2015
Twelve-year-old Twig Fowler and her mother have a secret: Twig's older brother James has wings, thanks to a generations-old curse from witch Agnes Early. Against their mother's warnings, lonely Twig befriends Julia, one of Agnes's descendants; James falls in love with Julia's sister Agate. With a mystical but not-too-dark tone, Hoffman creates a witchy small-town New England setting populated with realistic characters.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2015
Twig Fowler and her mother keep to themselves so that their neighbors in Sidwell, Massachusetts, won't discover their secret: Twig's older brother James has wings, thanks to a generations-old curse laid upon all Fowler men by Agnes Early, the Witch of Sidwell. Against their mother's warnings, Twig befriends Julia, a descendent of Agnes Early, and James falls in love with Julia's sister Agate, relationships that will ultimately bring secrets to light. Hoffman creates a witchy small-town New England setting but populates it with realistic characters such as twelve-year-old Twig, who desperately wants a friend. Twig's entirely mundane broken arm, incurred in a fall from a tree, contrasts nicely with James's wings, which allow him to fly but keep him from living a normal life. The tone, mystical but not too dark, makes this a good choice for readers who want to imagine just a bit of magic in their lives. shoshana flax

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)