'Nightjar' is the companion story to 'Birdsong' by Katya Balen. While Birdsong focused on Annie and featured her new friend, Noah, Nightjar puts Noah in the spotlight.

Noah is budding ornithologist with a natural skill for caring for wounded birds. When he discovers an injured Nightjar, a rare wild bird, he takes it in and attempts to nurse it back to health. Alongside this story is the difficult relationship Noah has with his dad, who is separated from his mother. At first Noah's dad tries to convince Noah that he is wasting his time, but gradually he starts to see the good Noah is doing. Noah's determination to look after the Nightjar seems to awaken something in his dad and it changes their fraught relationship.

Librarian lowdown:
- a great story for middle grade readers
- this is a Barrington Stoke dyslexia friendly reader

An injured bird is the catalyst for repairing a broken relationship in Katya Balen’s companion novella to the stunning Birdsong.

Noah lives a happy life in England with a mum who understands him, listens to him and gives him the support he needs to live true to himself. His dad lives in New York and since fleeing the family home has become disconnected from his son. The last thing Noah wants is a trip from an estranged father but with his Bar Mitzvah looming that is exactly what he is going to get.

The long distance has taken its toll on their relationship and the frosty air between the pair shows little sign of warming. The discovery of an injured Nightjar brings tensions to ahead. With a relationship having in the balance, will Noah and dad find a way to rebuild that that is broken…

Katya Balen soars with another exquisitely written narrative once again showcasing her ability to explore her character’s deepest feelings and thoughts in just a few, carefully chosen words. In a mere seventy-three pages an entire young life’s worth of feelings have been poured onto the page, hearts have begun to warm and a nightjar has been saved. Katya has found the perfect partner in illustrator Richard Johnson whose ability to match artwork with words is sublime; his emotion-packed, expressive scenes add further depth to the beautiful prose.

Without missing a single beat and with an incomparable lightness of touch, Katya accessibly delves into the complexities of family relationships, the responsibilities that come with growing up, life’s difficult choices and the power of nature to heal. Gentle, heartwarming and empathy-filled, the journey of a boy coming-of-age as he finds the path to reconciliation with an estranged father encapsulates everything that life is; challenging, complicated and most certainly not black and white. But with time, and the ability to understand, listen, compromise and to come at things through a different lens, family bonds can be saved, the hurt can be healed, and pain, anger, frustration and resentment can be set free.

When things in life are broken it is easier to lay blame, to not be accountable for one’s actions and to let a relationship fail. It takes bravery, self-reflection and maturity to admit fault and Noah and the nightjar provide reassurance and encouragement to offer the olive branch when it is needed. A deep-rooted connection with nature and the gradual building of bridges make for a deeply moving exploration of emotional turmoil and ultimately the green shoots of forgiveness.

Like Birdsong, Nightjar is beautiful and heartfelt, raw and real, honest and moving, pulling the reader into an emotional tour-de-force that encourages reflection on personal family ties. Relationships, flourishing or broken, need nurturing and this is a powerful message for all ages. My words do not do it justice, you should probably read it for yourself.

Recommended for 9+.

This is a very sweet story that focuses on the fact that you might be very different to your parents, but with a little time and understanding, hopefully you can find a connection. I love the representation of what successful co-parenting can look like, especially when Noah's mum steps in to help his dad build a closer relationship with him. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if I had a child in my class whose parents have recently separated as it might give them hope and reassurance that everything can be ok again one day.

Katya Balen novels are always exquisitely written, warm and insightful and Nightjar is no exception. In fact, I found that because this was a short novella, written for Barrington Stoke and aimed at older readers who may want a good, age-appropriate story but with a more accessible text, it was even more of a perfect package. Not a word was wasted, the craft was tighter, the story had the pace and direction from the off and it was jam-packed with real emotion, heart and beauty.
The story centres around Noah and his dad. His dad lives in America, they rarely see each other and barely get on because they don't understand each other. Through Noah's nurturing of the nightjar, their broken relationship is also nurtured and sets itself on a path of healing. Balen speaks to any reader with the experience of challenging relationships, estranged parents or an absent parent, evoking hope and possibility that these relationships can change and evolve. There are also some interesting themes around nature, wildlife and trying to help. I particularly enjoyed the fact that both Noah and his dad had to compromise and challenge their flaws in order to move forward with their relationship. There is something beautifully delicate about the story and it's a text I will return to again and again. Inspiringly excellent.

4.5 Stars (rounded up to 5 stars as it made me teary-eyed)
One Liner: Heartwarming and beautiful!

Noah is a thirteen-year-old boy with a beautiful heart. He loves birds and saves the injured ones with his friend Annie. However, he is also troubled because of his relationship with his dad.
His dad arrived from the US to attend Noah’s Bar Mitzvah, trying to play his part. In one such attempt, Noah and his dad find an injured nightjar on their trip to a park. They have different opinions on what to do. Soon, it’s clear that the duo need to talk and understand each other.
Can Noah and his dad find common ground?
The story comes from Noah’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a long short story or a novelette that delivers what it promises and more. Right from the beginning, we know Noah (our MC) is a young boy with an old soul. He is such a kindhearted kid!
The opening chapter sets the stage and tells us what we need to know. Noah’s dad loves him but doesn’t understand him or take the time to get to know his child. Living on another continent isn’t easy, but a child’s heart longs for parental love.
Bit by bit, the story unfolds. This one focuses entirely on emotions. It’s much like wanting to hug and assure a melancholic little kid that everything will be fine.
The writing is poetic without being overly so. Many birds are mentioned, some with a few descriptions and some with none. Noah’s love for birds, nature, and a simple life comes across on every page.
Bits and pieces of information are scattered, just enough to paint a complete picture without getting into too much detail.
I love Noah’s mom. She’s a tailor, working hard to provide her child with decent living conditions. She is also sensible and efficient and knows how to handle her son’s emotions.
Of course, there are messages too. No one is perfect or without fault. What’s right and wrong changes based on the circumstances. And most importantly, parents and kids need to make an effort to understand each other. All of this comes without being preachy.
The book has soft illustrations- pencil/ charcoal sketches since Noah also makes charcoal sketches of all the birds he sees. The illustrations are subdued and borderline sad. They suit the book’s theme and tone.
The publisher specializes in dyslexic-friendly books and ensures the content has high engagement value and low difficulty level. This one fits right in. Kids will relate to some or another aspect of the story.

To summarize, Nightjar is a tender little story sure to impress readers of all age groups. This is my first book by the author, and I’ll definitely read more of her works (her Birdsong is already on my list).
Thank you, NetGalley and Barrington Stoke, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
****

Amazon and Goodreads review links have been updated.

What an absolutely beautiful story! Nature loving Noah is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah. His dad, who has moved back to the USA and now lives with his new girlfriend and their cat, has arrived for the ceremony. But to Noah, his dad feels like a stranger.
When his dad suggests a day out walking in the countryside, Noah is sceptical, but agrees to go. It’s a day out in nature after all. The journey is uncomfortable and their conversation stilted. And it doesn’t improve on the walk. When Noah comes across a sick nightjar, a bird he has dreamt of seeing his whole life, his dad is reluctant to allow Noah to take it home where he will nurse it back to health. Will this be last straw? Will their relationship be completely broken?
The writing is gentle and the language beautiful. Balen immediately takes hold of the reader and leads them through, presenting the lives of the characters to us in such a delightful way that you cannot fail to love them.
This a perfect text for exploring relationships; how we sometimes need to compromise, listen and re-evaluate our opinions of people. I would certainly recommend this to children, teachers and schools alike.

I LOVED this book. It's such a delightful read - my second ARC from Barrington Stoke. I believe this publisher is really benefiting young readers, from the emphasis on accessibility to the variety of stories.

The themes of this book are wonderfully complex - the overlapping of moral issues and difficult paternal relationships is great to see in literature aimed at this age group in particular, when it's all so hard to process. Any time I was wondering if a plot point would be elaborated or left one-dimensional, it was expanded upon and thoughtfully reconciled by the end. The idea of considering whether you want to save an animal for it or for yourself is one rarely covered in fiction. Often it is only viewed from the stance of 'killing animals is bad and saving them is good' with little nuance in terms of the animal's suffering in the meantime. I was really glad the father's side of things was shown.

Equally, though, I was glad to see that the conflict was shown to be multi-faceted - it wasn't as simple as 'a mean dad learns to care' or 'ungrateful child learns to understand his father' - the two are very real-feeling characters who just have to figure out how to tune into one another's wavelengths more.

(I also loved the aspects of Jewish culture woven into the book - they were really beautiful and added to the coming-of-age theme.)

Beautify. Beautiful. Beautiful. No other words are really needed. Brilliantly written and an engaging storyline. Perfect for sharing or curling up and devouring.

This if the first Katya Balen book I have read and it’s sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole! Sensitively written and emotionally charged, readers learn about Noah and his fractured relationship with his dad, who has travelled from New York for Noah’s Bar Mitzvah. Noah believes this symbolises him growing up and becoming responsible, but in trying to mend his relationship with his dad, while caring for an injured bird, he learns that their might be more to growing up than he realised.
If the stunning cover isn’t enough to draw you in, this book is great for any young bird lover in year 5-7 who wants to to read more about nature

In a Nutshell: A beautiful story about how the relationship between a young boy and his father is healed through their encounter with an injured bird. Evocative writing. Important message. Realistic appeal.

Story Synopsis:
Almost-twelve year old Noah’s dad is coming to visit him from New York, but Noah isn’t too thrilled about this. He feels that his dad has different expectations from Noah, who is the happiest while observing birds and sketching them. Moreover, Dad left Noah and his mom to start a new life without them.
When father and son come across an injured nightjar during a walk, they have an argument about what should be done. Noah wants to save the bird at any cost, while his dad feels that the bird should be left there to let nature take its course. Is there any way Noah and his father can come to a reasonable solution?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Noah.

I had read Katya Balen’s Birdsong a year ago and was blown away by her lyrical writing. This book further confirms her to be a must-read MG writer.

There are many things to adore about this story:
🐦 Noah’s first person perspective, which reveals his deepest feelings and insecurities while also touching upon his passion for nature.
🐦 Noah’s caring nature. It is rare to see a tween boy depicted as being sensitive and caring towards nature and birds.
🐦 The story offers many interesting facts about nightjars. I love the unusual choice of bird as it offers many learning opportunities and also creates curiosity in kids to know more about a bird uncommonly found in fiction.
🐦 Noah’s character is Jewish, and the book contains some lovely inclusions about Jewish culture.
🐦 Noah’s mom, despite getting third prominence in the story next to Noah and his dad, is still a character worth reckoning. I loved how her character is the voice of reason, not allowing her broken marriage to create poison in Noah’s mind about his father. Her portrayal was brilliant.
🐦 The story highlights the important point about meeting others midway and understanding their point of view before jumping to conclusions. It stresses on relationships as well as responsibilities, and how weighing right and wrong often involves a complicated choice.
🐦 The writing is poetic, offering a beautiful imagery of not just the nature scenes but also of Noah’s life.
🐦 The B&W illustrations enhance the story with their simplistic appeal. This is further relevant as Noah too loves making sketches of birds. So the drawings match the vibe of the book well.
🐦 The writing is, as common with Barrington Stoke books, in HiLo style, which means that the target age of the story is 9+ years but the reading level is age 8. So the content is much more accessible.

Definitely recommended to little ones and their parents, to experience a story about how communication and compromises strengthen a relationship.

4.5 stars.

My thanks to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for the DRC of “Nightjar”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.


Content warning: There is one brutal animal-related incident mentioned in a flashback scene. While the reason for this is justified in the story, it may still be traumatic for younger children.

I was looking for a story about a Jewish family for a boy starting in my class in September and I was not disappointed. A wonderful story about a boy who loves birds and his mum. His dad lives abroad and their relationship is tense and hardwork. While on a visit, Dad forces Noah to consider his actions towards a bird, and Noah forces dad to consider his actions towards Noah. Both need to rethink and compromise; both need each other. Set against a Jewish Bar Mitzvah, this story is full of hope and love and the knowledge that love really can make people change and think about their actions.

Lovely, short story about a boy getting to know his estranged father on the eve of his bar mitzvah. As his father begins to understand Noah’s love of birds, Noah develops an understanding of his place in the world.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a beautiful story. It is tender in spirit and yet imbibed with detail to make this such an original and interesting read. Noah is soon to have his Bar Mitzvah. He lives with his Mum and only rarely sees his Dad who lives abroad. The week before Noah's special day, he and his Dad go out into the countryside together and find a damaged Nightjar. What follows is a tale that helps to explain different points of view, family relationships and the role of nature in our lives. It is a short tale, a novella, which will leave you wanting to know about the future of Noah and his Dad.

Thanks to Net Galley and Barrington Stoke for my ARC

I bought a copy of Birdsong for my class this year and it was very popular. Those who enjoyed it are likely to also enjoy Nightjar. It's an easy, enjoyable and heartwarming read that covers a number of important issues that offer great learning opportunities for your class. For example, family changes such as separation of parents. This book demonstrates the importance of talk and the need for all parties to work at maintaining positive relationships following the separation. Another issue covered is the importance of nature and its positive link to children's wellbeing @JohnMuirTrust. This could lead you to a focus on looking after our environment and wildlife and potentially link to learning about birds and maybe participating in the Annual RSPB Big Birdwatch @RSPB_Learning . Other opportunities for exploration are Judaism (learning about their beliefs, customs and traditions). I have no doubt missed some other links but hopefully that's enough to encourage you to buy the book once it's published, have a read and see for yourself.

Another cracking story by Katya Balen and she hits it perfectly every time about fractured family relationships. Noah lives with his mum in London and sees his Dad, who had moved to America, once a year
They have a relationship where they can't quite see each other's point of view. Dad arrives before Noah's Bar Mitzvah to spend some time with him and on a hike they discover an injured Nightjar. Bird lover Noah wants to take it home and look after it until it is recovered, but Dad wants to put it out of its pain. Through the story they learn to communicate and understand each other. Katya just captures the essence of family relationships and communication and published by Barrington Stoke means it accessible yet a challenging subject that will appeal to all.

Everytime I read a book by Katya Balen, I fall more and more in love with her writing. Her prose is truly beautiful - so evocative and emotive. With Nightjar, I was very impressed with the depth of emotion and meaning in such a short story. It is a tale of coming of age, of acceptance and ultimately of love. It’s a lovely story with multiple layers to unpick.

It’s the week before Noah’s Bar Mitzvah and his dad shows up, the two don’t see eye to eye. Noah likes bird, watching them, sketching them and helping them. His dad doesn’t get it, so when Noah finds a mystical Nightjar bird that needs help the two have a struggle against him caring for it.

This was a really beautiful book, it was really magical and sweet. I really loved that you learn so much about birds throughout which is sweet, I didn’t know much at all prior to this. I really liked how dedicated, how caring Noah was and that he knew exactly what to do to help it feel better and how to realise it correctly too.

The story of him and his dad bonding or trying too was interesting, having a rocky and difficult relationship but both trying but not trying to get on. They had different views on things, different perspectives. I really loved that Noah stood up for himself, and I like that his dad actually first hand saw and learnt who his son was. I really loved his mum, she was so sweet always trying to fix the relationship between the two, loved her son so deeply and her job made my heart sad.

It’s such a beautiful story, with really pretty greyscale illustrations that I enjoyed seeing, the birds looked so beautiful. This is a very vivid and wonderful magic story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s heartfelt, magical and beautiful you’ll get swept up with the story, the birds and the mystical nightjar.

NO SPOILERS

I have read two of Katya Balen’s previous books, October, October and The Light in Everything, both of which I loved, so I had high hopes for Nightjar. It did not disappoint.

It is a short novel of 78 pages, written for 8/9+ year olds; but whilst Balen writes for children her writing is never childish. It is intelligent, considered, accessible and beautiful. For me, it is a superbly crafted introduction to complex writing, in which are introduced metaphor, simile, allegory and perspective.

The story is charming, the plot just simple yet detailed enough for the intended audience. Richard Johnson’s illustrations are enough to add interest for a child, but not too much to detract from the text. The whole book is a perfect balance and I love it.

A story of Noah, and his love and connections with nature and birds. And of coming of age with a Bar Mitzah, of strained relations with a father visiting from New York. A good story of growing awareness and understanding of the world and people around Noah, of a brighter future.

Excellent as always, there hasn't been a single one of Katya's books that I haven't been riveted by.
This forms such a lovely pair with Birdsong, with the same illustrator, and complimentary colour schemes.
Even though I must have read it in 30/40 minutes, the themes have a lasting impact that belie the length of time necessary to gobble this up.