By: Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble
Genre: YFB - General fiction
Published by: A & U Children
Published: 5 Oct 2022
ISBN: 9781761065798

Description

A wonderful children's novel by two stellar writers featuring Shelby and Phoenix, living 100 years apart yet unexpectedly joined across time - and each make the discovery of a lifetime that has the potential to upend their worlds.


'This is how we have to live now.'


Shelby and her best friend Davy live quiet low-tech lives in a closed community that is made up of exactly three hundred and fifty kind, ethical people living on exactly seven hundred hectares.


When they climb through a hole in the perimeter fence to venture into the surrounding jungle, what they find is more astonishing than anything they could have imagined.


And when Shelby realises the terrible danger that is unfolding, it will take all of her daring and determination to ensure the past does not repeat itself.


Intriguing, absorbing and spine-tinglingly good, The Raven's Song is a brilliant novel by two esteemed writers at the height of their powers.


Purchase Online


Review

Shelby and her dad live on 700 hectares with 348 other people. Her best friend, Davy, also lives there.


They live quiet, ethical lives and look after the environment as the world outside slowly recovers from the catastrophic events of the past.
When a couple of sheep go missing, Shelby and Davy climb through the hole in the fence - and what they find outside is beyond their wildest imagination...


A city in ruins, an old man watching over children lying in pods waiting to wake up, and strange letters from someone called Phoenix. As they argue between themselves about the right thing to do, Shelby realises that they may be in danger of history repeating itself.


From two of Australia’s best storytellers, Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble, this is an enthralling story written from both Shelby and Phoenix’s points of view, although they live 100 years apart. The characters are wonderful and you will become wrapped up in their alternate worlds. It has strong themes of family, friendship, resilience, as well as caring for the environment - with a dash of adventure as well. It will be thoroughly enjoyed by readers in upper primary and lower secondary.


Reviewed by Michelle