Shelby and her best friend Davy live quiet low-tech lives in a closed community that is made up of exactly three hundred and fifty kind, ethical people living on exactly seven hundred hectares.
When they climb through a hole in the perimeter fence to venture into the surrounding jungle, what they find is more astonishing than anything they could have imagined.
And when Shelby realises the terrible danger that is unfolding, it will take all of her daring and determination to ensure the past does not repeat itself.
Award-winning authors Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble have teamed up to co-author The Raven’s Song, an intriguing, absorbing and spine-tinglingly brilliant novel by these two esteemed writers at the height of their powers.
This novel follows Shelby and Davy, two best friends who venture out into the unknown and discover how to cross between place and time – both literally and figuratively. On their journey they forge an unusual connection with a person named Phoenix. Living 100 years apart yet unexpectedly joined across time, each of these three characters make the discovery of a lifetime that has the potential to upend their worlds.
The Raven’s Song is a fantastic collaboration between Fraillon and MacDibble. The story will open up your mind, placing an emphasis on the connections that we have with people, caring for our planet and ancestry. These three messages interconnect throughout the novel, and I was left pondering about what kind of ancestor I’d like to be and the little things that I can do to make a difference in the world. This novel shows that you don’t have to become a famous historical figure in order to make a difference.
From climate change to journaling to exploring time, The Raven’s Song has a lot of teachable material perfect for classroom learning. Shelby, Davy and Phoenix have a strong connection, each with their own set of qualities that young readers will find relatable. Over the course of the novel, I kept asking myself how I would explain my life to someone who knew nothing about it? And while I don’t have a definitive answer, this book forces you to think about history and the lasting impact we have on others over time.
The Raven’s Song is a story that has stuck with me long after closing it. With a unique storyline and deep subject matter, this book will resonate with both middle-grade readers aged 9+ and adult readers alike. I couldn’t recommend it more.
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