‘Ghost Bird’, Lisa Fuller
There are a few books we’ve come across that have prompted us to read past our bedtimes. This book was one of them! ‘Ghost Bird’ by Lisa Fuller is a gripping page turner for young adults, which was one of the most original and compelling books we had the pleasure to read in 2020. It tells the story of twin sisters Stacey and Laney who live in a rural town in Queensland, who are “as different as the sun and the moon.” Stacey is a hard-working student who dreams of leaving town one day, while Laney skips school and sneaks out to spend time with her boyfriend.
The action kicks off when Laney, the more rebellious of the two, disappears one night and doesn’t come back. It doesn’t take long for Stacey to start dreaming of her sister in a dark, frightening place, and as time goes by, she just knows her sister is in trouble and needs help — fast. What follows is a tense, suspenseful and heart-warming tale that immerses readers in one sister’s quest to save her twin. Fuller seamlessly weaves in aspects of the culture and spiritual beliefs of her community into her storytelling, and immerses readers in the deep connections that exist between family and community, which results in a rich reading experience and original story.
The writing is evocative, and at times, lyrical. Take the very first lines, for example:
“Fire is the centre of our world. It’s where everything happens: cooking, playing, laughing, family, story. Fire means so much more than just a bunch of burning carbon.”
Or this quotation that’s packed with mystery and foreshadowing:
“Remember, daughter, the world is a lot bigger than anyone knows. There are things that science may never explain. Maybe some things that shouldn’t be explained.”
This text is a great one for examining plot, point of view, genre elements, symbolism, foreshadowing, imagery, tone and voice. Excerpts of this text lend themselves beautifully to an interactive read-aloud, where students can reflect on the power of language, storytelling and perspective.
Most suitable for: Ages 15+
Inspires thinking about:
Family
Sisterhood
Community
Storytelling
Cultural identity
Relationships
Legacies of colonialism
Discrimination
Prejudice
Useful for exploring:
Genre elements: Suspense, mystery, coming of age
Rich, evocative use of language that describes setting
Voice and dialogue
Foreshadowing
Point of view
Plot structure and twists
Characters: traits, motivations and relationships
Inspiration for writing (in regards to word choices, voice, and sentence fluency)
First Nations voices and perspectives
Why we recommend it:
A coming-of-age story with a unique twist
A heart-warming exploration of love, family and community bonds
An exploration and celebration of the author’s community and culture
It is likely to stimulate rich discussions about the importance of family and community connection, as well as conversations about discrimination, prejudice, and unequal treatment
The richness of the language makes excerpts of this text ideal for a writing mentor text study (particularly in regards to word choices, voice and sentence fluency)
