What I’m Reading: “Battle Of the Birds” By Lee Murray
Battle of the Birds (Te Pakanga O Nga Manu), by Tauranga author, Lee Murray, won the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel in 2012, so as you can tell this is a long overdue read—but a fun one.
Lee’s novel is Junior fiction, and I am enjoying its weaving together of traditional Maori folklore and New Zealand’s natural history, into an adventurous story involving three young protagonists, Annie, Moana, and Kahurangi. There is also a nice overlay into North Amercian folklore associated with the beginning of Annie’s adventure in Wisconsin.
This is a fun, adventurous story, with quirky illustrations that I feel will appeal to children in
Lee Murray with the Sir Julius Vogel Award
the 8-11 year old age range. I also very much like the cover art by Vonnie Sterritt.
For more information about the book from Taramea Publishing, click on Battle Of The Birds.
