A big, 'magestic' looking bird, holding a sword that's far to big for it spreads it's 'magestic' golden wings across the cover. Smaller, weaker birds look up at it in wonder, chanting: "Redwalllll!" What? This wasn't a Redwall novel? Sorry, it was so similar that I must have gotten confused. My bad. Anyway, Stone-run forest is being *gasp* terrorized by an EVIL hawk named *gasp*....Turnatt, who wants to make 'slavebirds' of the entire forest. The only one who can save them is *dramatic pause* the mighty *dramatic pause*...SWORDBIRD!!! (What kind of name is Swordbird, anyway? It sounds like a bad Dr. Zeus book....) The birds of the forest must find a Learson Jem, which will summon the great Sword-bearing avian. And who else would undertake such a quest but Aska the 'brave' blue-jay and Miltin, a wimpy robin who is an escaped 'slavebird'. But wouldn't you know it? It just so happens that Miltin's old colony has such a jem. What luck! So they take the journey all the way to Miltin's home town, Miltin dies of a broken wing, surrounded by his family, his last words affirming his love for Mommy and Daddy. Isn't that sweet? Aska takes the jem back to Stone-run forest, they summon Swoidboid, who saves the day, and peace and freedom reing in the forest. Nancy must have said "Peace is sacred" at lest ten times throughout the book. What a great, heartwarming read. Don't you just love Redwall? I mean Swordbird.. And the best part.... There's already a prequel, with a just as headache-inducing cover. Huzzah for marketing scams!
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Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8. -
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Common Sense says
Child-author's debut will inspire kids.
updated 07.04.08
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
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What Parents Need to Know
About Swordbird
Parents need to know that this book, written by an 11-year-old, includes some violence, with injuries and deaths.
Read our full review by Matt Berman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the author's intentions. She has stated that this book grew out of her feelings about terrorism and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that it carries a message of peace. What do you think she was trying to convey? What is her message? How can a book filled with warfare be about peace? Also, how could an 11-year-old write a book like this? Do you have any ideas for a story?
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Most Recent Reviews
Lives in MassachusettsI rate this title off for age 2 and give itUmmmm....no.
- Lives in New JerseyI rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
it was ok.....
it was ok but i didnt relly like it. so i would give it a 3 out of 5 becus it was WAY to vilont and yes the carcters are not relly developed . like you cant tell there personaltys. the only one where you can is aska and maby milton. this is a bit of a copy of other books like some part of WARRIORS is in it like the tribs and how they fight ech other. but warriors is alot more real like and they travel to other places and it is just more fun to read. the sword bird (wind-voice) only comes in forthe last 4 chapters and the chapters are short. like its the same thing over and over. and what did win voce do to be so grate and whats with all the old scriper why is that so graet? also it is way tovilont. when a hawlk gets relly angry he shreds up a poor raven for snezing. ther is alot of blood and screming. and how can birds hold somany things with just there feet and how can a bird play the fluit and jugges and rect ALL THE WAY TO GET TO HIS SHOLDER UESING JUST HIS FEET???? i just think its ok and maby that her "drem" was just a dream nothing specil and i think she is trying to make her selth sound so pefict and plesint. she siad that she wroght it when she was sad for 911 but i think she might have wroght it for other resons......... all in all i give it a 3 i kinda liked it like it had some funny and charming points . and some action but dont have your image be clouded just by the 12 year old arother
- Lives in DelawareI rate this title off for age 2 and give it
Ewwww XP
It was a sad day when this book was published. Among the many books I read to pass the time, I was disgrased by its simple languidge, common story line, un-developed charictors and poor vocabulary. This 'dream' the young auther clames to have had was just a result of reading Red Wall before bed, and nothing more. She is not a prodegy nor is she the cream of the crop, the only thig that amazed me hear was that it actualy got published.
- Lives in MassachusettsI rate this title off for age 2 and give it
- Lives in OhioI rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Terrific book for kids all over the world
Out of the hands of the 12-year-old Nancy Yi Fan, the fantasy novel SWORDBIRD was published worldwide this February by one of the world's leading publishers, HaperCollins. Media from many countries are buzzing about this New York Times Children's Bestseller. This March, PLP published the Chinese-English bilingual edition of SWORDBIRD, which had been translated by the author herself. Indeed, the book went right into the hearts of both media and readers. Why was this book so well-received? Research results pointed to these factors: 1. Theme. The fluttering world of birds lightly veils a repeated message: peace is wonderful; freedom is sacred. It is undeniable that most people value and support these things. Your daily ritual of instant messaging upon your laptop or reading below a tree might as well be nothing if you add, say, an atomic bomb falling down into the picture. 2. The book was written by a 12-year-old author. It's got a touch of childish charm. Remember those little doodles of stick-figures? It's like that, simple and poignant, and reading it may just bring out your young self. 3. Inspirational for other children. It's astonishing how peer examples can animate and motivate kids. 4. 2008 Olympics to be held in China. Because of this, China's turning into a hot topic, so it's not hard to understand why the work of a young writer of Chinese origin gets so much attention. Even Jackie Chan recommends this book . Chinese culture is now in display to the world. HarperCollins' recent plan to translate and publish 50 Chinese modern classics is an example and a symbol of this. 5. Recognition. Since the book was published, many experts in children's literature wrote reviews on Nancy Yi Fan's debut novel. The General Administration of Press and Publication in China placed SWORDBIRD into the 2007 List of 100 Best Children's Books, in which SWORDBIRD ranked 3rd out of the 30 novels and collection of short stories in the fiction and art genre and 1st in the original chapter books category. It shows that the literary personnel involved in this wanted to see the differences between Chinese and American educational programs, as well as encourage kids to read, write and imagine. It's wonderful how this small book has risen into the sky of children's reading as a star. HarperCollins, in publishing books including SWORDBIRD, has encouraged the reading of children as well as the peace of the world. Jane Friedman not only has helped spread a wave of reading and writing enthusiasm among American kids, but also planted the seeds of peace and freedom in the hearts of global kids. She should be one of the greatest CEOs of the publishing industries in the world.
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