Gone to a better place.
Passed away.
Moved on.
Passed on.
We have so many euphemisms to help us talk about death. But what if, sometimes, you need to hear the harsh truth, unembellished?
Anxious, socially awkward Jasper Wilde puts all his faith in just one person–his sister Rosie. Rosie never breaks promises. She sits with him and helps him listen. She shows him birds and helps him create a book of birds, full of good, true facts, which calm him down whenever he panics. When he learns that she’s gone to a better place, he knows exactly where that better place is. It’s where Rosie told him they would go find their nightingale.
And so, Jasper sets off on a journey alone. A journey to find Rosie and the nightingale they listened to together.
The Hunt for the Nightingale by Sarah Ann Juckes is a heartbreaking, heartwarming story. It’s the story of a boy who loves his sister so much that he would do just about anything for her. As we follow in his footsteps, our hearts ache for we know that somewhere within him, he knows his sister is dead, but the journey is his way of coming to terms with it.
A slow, sweet book about discovering friends, learning to listen, and allowing others to help you, The Hunt for the Nightingale tells a lovely story. It’s about being there for someone else, but more, about letting other people help you. Full of poetic imagery as well as a range of eclectic bird facts, it is a beautifully crafted book, which invites you to stop, take a breath, and listen.
| Title | The Hunt for the Nightingale |
| Author | Sarah Ann Juckes |
| Tags | Middle-Grade, Grief, Environment |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4 |
| Ages | 10+ |
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