Harriet and the Eye of the Bird

When Harriet’s Dad leaves, life changes drastically. She doesn’t fit into her new world and, to add to her hurt, she discovers that her old one has moved on without out her. Finding great comfort in time spent with her paternal grandfather, as well as food, Harriet begins to make sense of her new situation. When her grandfather points out that a little rust coloured bird has ‘his eye on her’, Harriet feels a connection.

Rejected by the glamourous Genevieve and her step sister Dana, Harriet accepts the friendship of the also friendless Alice. However, Harriet still imagines a friendship with Genevieve and is conscious of how hurt Alice will be when that time comes.

This story takes us through Harriet’s emotional journey in a time of change and explores the social struggles that accompany it. When Alice shares her special place with her, Harriet is also gifted the magical ability to see through the eye of a bird and this begins to guide her course.

I enjoyed every part of this book. It is realistic fiction with a dash of magic. Readers will be able to empathise with Harriet’s experiences as well as her good and bad decisions.

This comes highly recommended for 8+

Title: Harriet and the Eye of the Bird

Author: Julie Lamb

Illustrator: Cover by Christina Irini Arathimos

Publisher: AHOY! (The Cuba Press)

ISBN: 978-09951197-0-3

RRP: $25

Format: paperback

Date of Publication: January 2019

Ages: 8+

Reviewer: Kirsten Puddick, Librarian, Holy Cross School, Wellington

How highly are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? I was working on my school project about the moa, and fiddling with my nose ring I’d made from the link of an old chain.