Nightjar

Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen returns with a stunning tale about a fractured bond between father and son – and the injured bird that helps to heal it. Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen returns with a stunning tale about a fractured bond between father and son – and the injured bird that helps to heal it. When Noah’s dad visits from New York, he and Noah come across an injured nightjar during a walk in the countryside. Noah is determined to save the bird, but his dad believes they should leave it alone to let nature take its course. As father and son argue, it becomes clear that Noah is angry about more than just the bird. He feels abandoned and misunderstood by his dad, who has moved to the US and started a new family there that doesn’t seem to have room for Noah. Can they find a way to build a new relationship and rediscover the common ground between them? Balen's Nightjar is a compelling piece of juvenile fiction that delves into the raw emotions of a child dealing with his parents divorce. The themes of abandonment and the longing for understanding are beautifully intertwined with the story of the injured nightjar. For fans of Matt Goodfellow (The Final Year), Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Leila and the Blue Fox), Katherine Rundell (The Wolf Wilder), Sf Said (The Outlaw Varjak Paw), and Hiba Noor Khan (How To Spaghettify Your Dog). HarperCollins 2024