Robert Nobel, the school pariah, triumphs over his own fears and the school bully in this extraordinary tale of self-empowerment, legend and death. But something compels him to do what Edith asks – to visit old Chance House, where a boy once fell to his death from the top floor flat, to confront his fears and find some answers. A regular recommendation for anti-bullying week, Feather Boy is chosen by teachers for its empowering conclusion and its sensitive portrayal of a friendship across generations. The book was adapted for television in 2004 and first shown as a series of six 30-minute episodes on the British TV channel, BBC One on 16 March. [1] It was later repeated as a single feature-length programme on 30 May 2004. As often with books I buy second-hand for really cheap, I didn’t know anything at all about this book. I was convinced to buy it when I saw it got the “book of the year” and “Book I couldn’t put down” awards in the Blue Peter Awards and that it had been reedited in the “Essential Modern Classics” collection. Very naturally, this book tempted me even though I didn’t know what it was about. We follow the little Robert Nobel, a 12-year-old student who doesn’t really have any friends. His class is involved in a common project with a Rest Home where he builds an extraordinary friendship.

Robert Nobel is a 12 year old schoolboy – polite, well-spoken and friendly. However, he is bullied by schoolmates and called 'Norbert No-Bottle'. When his parent's split up he is further damaged made worse by his father planning to remarry. Robert mistakenly volunteers to take part in a story telling campaign in a local old people's home, where he meets an old lady that will change his life forever. Feather Boy is the most intelligent book for youngsters I’ve read for a very long time. Every 12-year-old will see a bit of themself in Robert and won’t be able to put this book down until Feather Boy’s emotional, thought-provoking climax. Fabulous.” Robert is directed to a creepy old derelict house where rumour has it a boy about his age once jumped to his death from the top floor apartment thinking he could fly. Robert must race against time to figure out the mystery of the house and learn himself how to truly fly. Inventive, original and full of surprises, it’s the sort of dazzling debut novel that most publishers would fall over themselves to snap up…”Heart-warming, funny, with characters who make you like or hate them, this is a beautifully written book. It is a coming of age story for Robert as he has a truly remarkable experience. It is a coming to terms with life story for the old lady, Mrs. Sorrel, as she finds a way to settle the anguish and self-punishment she has put herself through for the past forty years. Out of all this come life for one and death for the other, both good and wonderful things. This is an exceptional story which I am delighted to have read. Niker the bully thinks this is a great laugh. He challenges Robert to spend the night at Chance House with him – but there the balance of power changes, and it is Robert who proves to be the stronger.

For information and permissions for a school show please see here: http://debbiewiseman.co.uk/featherboy/index.shtml Robert is a boy who can do anything – or so old Edith Sorrel at the nursing home tells him. Robert doesn’t think so, knowing as he does that he is the school geek.

Broadcast

Robert doesn't think so, knowing as he does that he is the school geek. But something compels him to do what Edith asks - to visit old Chance House, where a boy once fell to his death from the top floor flat, to confront his fears and find some answers. This read was an extremely good surprise! It is incredibly touching, moving, and well written. The ending really brought a lump to my throat. This is one of these children’s books to which you can’t really limit the age of the reader, because it can be enjoyed at all ages. I have to admit the beginning was quite creepy and I was really expecting some paranormal part. I almost stopped reading because I was scared of being too scare (I know, shame on me, this is a children’s book haha, but I really can’t read anything with spirits and scary stories). In the end, no harm done, the story didn’t go anywhere scary! Just a false alarm then. Anyway, if I had read this book when I was nine, I think some parts of the story would have been too frightening for me. The second part of the novel really went far from this atmosphere and focused on the relationship between the little boy and Edith, the Elder he does the project with.