Book Review #454 - As Stars Fall by Christie Nieman

In north-eastern Victoria, bush-covered hills erupt into flames. A Bush Stone-curlew escapes the fire but a woman studying the endangered bird does not.

When Robin's parents split up after the fire, her mother drags her from the country to a new life in the ugly city. Robin misses her dog, her best-friend, the cows, trees, creek, bushland and, especially, the birds. Robin is a self-confessed, signed-up, card-carrying bird-nerd. Just like her dad.

On the first day at her new school, Robin meets Delia. She's freaky, a bit of a workaholic, and definitely not good for Robin's image.

Delia's older brother Seth has given up school to prowl the city streets. He is angry at everything, but mostly at the fire that killed his mother.

When the Bush Stone-curlew turns up in the city parklands next to Seth and Delia's house the three teenagers become inextricably linked. Soon their lives are circling tighter and tighter around each other, and the curlew.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I received this book for review from Pan Macmillan Australia.

Before reading this book I had found myself in a bit of a reading slump, but this book was so beautifully written that it pulled me from that from its opening sentence.

This book tells the story of three teenagers Robin, Delia and Seth whose lives intertwine because of a unique bird they discover in their local bushland. 

For Robin, the bird in a connection to the bush she was forced to leave for city life. For siblings Delia and Seth the bird's appearance is much more emotional as it reminds them of their mother who died recently. 

Delia and Robin become somewhat friends although neither of them know the others connection with their bird. Whilst their side of it is innocent, Seth's is much darker as he has an intense need to protect Delia.

This book has a very authentic Australian feel to it which I could obviously relate to. It incorporated the Australian wildlife and the unforgiving landscape perfectly.

I also thought that the characters were all genuine portrayals of everyday Australians.