Birdbrain is the funny, whimsical and quirky new adventure from Australian rising star Kelli Anne Hawkins.
When seven strangers arrive at a small Australian caravan park to tell Hadley Boggs that her dad is the long-lost heir to the kingdom of Ludrovia, she can hardly believe it. Her dad – the world’s most indecisive man, a man who takes the advice of their pet budgie, a man named BARRY – is king?!
Soon, Hadley jets off to an exciting new life, where she meets dancing goats, learns of an ancient Ludrovian prophecy and comes face to face with the country’s hair-obsessed president. Hadley quickly falls in love with her quirky adopted home, so when she and her new friends discover the president’s secret deal to sell the country to a cheese-loving billionaire, she knows they must act. But can the Birdbrain prophecy help them save Ludrovia before everything turns to fondue?
I loved Australian author Kelli Anne Hawkins’ middle-grade debut The School for Talking Pets last year, so I was excited to read her second book for readers aged 8+, Birdbrain. This warm, funny read surpassed my expectations. Hadley and her dad, not to mention their pet budgie Mr Beaks, form a truly loveable cast of characters. Hadley is sharp, smart and kind, making her a wonderful protagonist.
I also enjoyed the settings of this book. The caravan park where Hadley and her dad Barry live is quintessentially Australian – I was taken right back to beachside holidays as a kid! When the Ludrovians arrived and told Hadley that her dad was the long lost King of Ludrovia (making Hadley the long lost princess) I was reminded of a similar storyline from the classic book/film The Princess Diaries – isn’t it every kid’s dream to find out they are heir to a small European nation? Hadley’s strength is really revealed when she has to stop the president’s dastardly plan to sell Ludrovia. There is also a LOT of cheese in Ludrovia, so what’s not to love?
Birdbrain is packed with laughs and adventure as well as important themes of family, belonging and discovery. Hawkins has written another hilarious book and I thoroughly recommend Birdbrain to middle-grade readers.
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