Jill Harris — Sil a Novel

Longacre 2005 Paperback. A Watership Down of a tale for junior readers based around New Zealand's native bird, the tui. Sil: adolescent tui and rising star. His startling song compositions arouse admiration and jealousy among his age-mates as he prepares for the annual competitions. Bron: fearless, daredevil flier, a tomboy who tells it like it is. She's Sil's best friend but Sil can see that handsome Tor is luring her away. Tor, Bek, Jeb, Pip, Mem, Bel: the very existence of the whole tui clan who sing in the dawn, hang off flax bushes, build nests and play aerial games of 'floop' is under threat. Magpies: an outcast gang beginning a campaign of devastation and annihilation in the valley. Across the harbour at the competitions, Sil stuns his audience with his singing but, blinded by pride, he makes a fatal mistake. Can he rise from disgrace to help the tuis strike back? Tanned and a little dog-eared. (ISBN: 9781877361142). Good.