The Bower Bird
Category Winner of 2007 Costa Book Awards
I want everything, clouds, sunshine, I want to see a whale - I've never seen a whale. I even want to hear the terrifying sound of the sea in a storm. I want a boy to kiss me one day. I want to run along a beach again. I want to go to Australia and America. There are so many books I want to read. I want to live.
Gussie lives in Cornwall and, like most twelve-year-olds, is quickly growing up. She is also awaiting news of a heart transplant operation.
When Gussie moves from the coast to a new house in town, she rebels, discovers her ancestors and an interest in photography, falls in love and has parent troubles; all whilst experiencing general adolescent angst and trying not to wait for what might never happen.
The Bower Bird is the long-awaited sequel to The Burying Beetle, which was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award for an outstanding first novel to a first-time writer of a book for young people.
What the Costa Judges said:
'The world of life and death, beauty and truth seen through the eyes of a 12 year old girl. A rare and beautiful book of lasting quality – we felt this is a voice that needs to be heard and read.'
'The author as artist evokes people and places with delicacy, humour and truth - a novel of outstanding beauty.'
It has just been announced that The Bower Bird has won the Children's Category of the influential Costa Children's Book Award, formally the Whitbread Prize.
The Costa Book Awards have five categories - Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's.
