The Bone Sparrow

Author(s): Zana Fraillon

Young Adult

Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he's at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. And one day it brings him Jimmie. Carrying a notebook that she's unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck - both talismans of her family's past and the mother she's lost - Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence. As he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie's family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures.


Product Information

Winner of the CILIP Amnesty Honour 2017.Shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction PrizeĀ and the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017. Perfect for fans of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS. This is a beautiful, vivid and deeply moving story about a refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre. This novel reminds us all of the importance of freedom, hope, and the power of a story to speak for anyone who's ever struggled to find a safe home.

Shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016

'a tragic, beautifully crafted and wonderful book' - The Independent '...a special book' - Morris Gleitzman, author of the acclaimed ONCE series

Zana Fraillon was born in Melbourne, but spent her early childhood in San Francisco. 'I grew up in a house that had a whole room full of books and comfy chairs and this was my favourite place to be. As a teenager, a lot of my time was given to practising magic tricks and my first attempt at writing a book centred around a girl who solves crimes using her understanding of magic.' At the age of twenty, Zana lived for a year in China teaching English in a remote rural area. She returned to Melbourne and now lives with her husband, three children, two dogs and a recalcitrant cat. Zana has written picture books for young children, a standalone middle-grade novel and a series for younger readers that has been published in five languages. Her dreams of one day ending world illiteracy and innumeracy are far from being realised, but 'if you are going to dream, you might as well dream big.'

General Fields

  • : 9780734417138
  • : Lothian Children's Books
  • : Lothian Children's Books
  • : 0.3
  • : May 2016
  • : 208mm X 138mm X 18mm
  • : July 2016
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Zana Fraillon
  • : Paperback
  • : 823.92