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Name: Nightbird: Hoffman, Alice: 9780385389617: Amazon.com: Books
Price: 7.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (1045 reviews)

Alice Hoffman

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Nightbird Paperback – March 8, 2016

by Alice Hoffman (Author)

4.3 1,045 ratings

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Bestselling author Alice Hoffman’s bewitching Nightbird is perfect for ages 10-13: love and friendship empower a lonely girl to embrace her uniqueness and discover her strengths.

Twig lives in Sidwell, where people whisper that fairy tales are real. After all, her town is rumored to hide a monster. And two hundred years ago, a witch placed a curse on Twig’s family that was meant to last forever. But this summer, everything will change when the red moon rises. It’s time to break the spell.

Praise
Nominated for:
The Great Stone Face Award (NH)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (Illinois)
The Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Maryland)

“Hoffman reminds us that there are secrets everywhere . . . Nightbird soars.”
—The New York Times

“Alice Hoffman has a gift for melding magic and realism in a way that makes nearly anything seem possible.”
—Shelf Awareness, Starred

“The mix of romance and magic is irresistible.”
—Kirkus Reviews

What Other Authors Are Saying
“I love the way Alice Hoffman creates the most ordinary people and then turns their lives magical. . . . [Nightbird] is like reentering a wonderful dream that you vaguely remember.” —Lois Lowry, two-time Newbery Medal–winning author of The Giver

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Nightbird

“Hoffman reminds us that there are secrets everywhere . . . Nightbird soars.”
—The New York Times

“Alice Hoffman has a gift for melding magic and realism in a way that makes nearly anything seem possible.”
—Shelf Awareness, Starred

“The mix of romance and magic is irresistible.”
—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty bestselling works of fiction, including Practical Magic, a major motion picture; Here on Earth, an Oprah Book Club selection; the highly praised historical novel The Dovekeepers; and, most recently, The Museum of Extraordinary Things. Her books for teens include Green Angel, Green Witch, Incantation, The Fortelling, and Aquamarine, also a major motion picture, starring Emma Roberts. Visit her online at alicehoffman.com.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

You can't believe everything you hear, not even in Sidwell, Massachusetts, where every person is said to tell the truth and the apples are so sweet people come from as far as New York City during the apple festival. There are rumors that a mysterious creature lives in our town. Some people insist it's a bird bigger than an eagle; others say it's a dragon, or an oversized bat that resembles a person. Certainly this being, human or animal or something in between, exists nowhere else in this world. Children whisper that we have a monster in our midst, half man, half myth, and that fairy tales are real in Berkshire County. At the Sidwell General Store and at the gas station tourists can buy T-shirts decorated with a red-eyed winged beast with visit sidwell printed underneath.

Every time I see one of these shirts in a shop, I casually drop it into the garbage bin.

In my opinion, people should be careful about the stories they tell.

All the same, whenever things go missing the monster is blamed. Weekends are the worst times for these odd thefts. Bread deliveries to the Starline Diner are several loaves short of the regular order. Clothes hanging on the line vanish. I know there's no such thing as a monster, but the thief has struck my family, as a matter of fact. One minute there were four pies sitting out on the kitchen counter to cool, and the next minute the back door was left open and one of the pies was missing. An old quilt left out on our porch disappeared one Saturday. There were no footprints on our lawn, but I did have a prickle of fear when I stood at the back door that morning, gazing into the woods. I thought I spied a solitary figure running through a thicket of trees, but it might have only been mist, rising from the ground.

No one knows who takes these things, whether pranks are being played, or someone--or something--is truly in need, or if it is the creature that everyone assumes lives within the borders of our town. People in Sidwell argue as much as people do anywhere, but everyone agrees on one thing: Our monster can only be seen at night, and then only if you are standing at your window, or walking on a lane near the orchards, or if you happen to be passing our house.

We live on Old Mountain Road, in a farmhouse that is over two hundred years old, with nooks and crannies and three brick fireplaces, all big enough for me to stand in, even though I am tall for twelve. From our front door there's a sweeping view of the woods that contain some of the oldest trees in Massachusetts. Behind us are twenty acres of apple orchards. We grow a special variety called Pink. One of my ancestors planted the first Pink apple tree in Sidwell. Some people say Johnny Appleseed himself, who introduced apple trees all over our country, presented our family with a one-of-a-kind seedling when he wandered through town on his way out west. We make Pink applesauce, Pink apple cake, and two shades of Pink apple pie, light and dark. In the summer, before we have apples, we have Pink peach berry pie, and in the late spring there is Hot-Pink strawberry rhubarb pie, made from fruit grown in the garden behind our house. Rhubarb looks like red celery; it's bitter, but when combined with strawberries it's delicious. I like the idea of something bitter and something sweet mixed together to create something incredible. Maybe that's because I come from a family in which we don't expect each other to be like anyone else. Being unusual is not unusual for the Fowlers.

My mother's piecrust is said to be the finest in New England and our Pink cider is famous all over Massachusetts. People come from as far away as Cambridge and Lowell just to try them. We bring most of our pies and cupcakes to be sold at the General Store that's run by Mr. Stern, who can sell as many as my mother can bake. I've always wished that I was more like her instead of my awkward, gawky self. As a girl my mother attended ballet lessons at Miss Ellery's Dance School in town, and she's still graceful, even when she's picking apples or hauling baskets of fruit across the lawn. But my arms and legs are too long, and I tend to stumble over my own feet. The only thing I'm good at is running. And keeping secrets. I'm excellent at that. I've had a lot of practice.

My mother has honey-colored hair that she pins up with a silver clip whenever she bakes. My hair is dark; sometimes I don't even know what color it is, a sort of blackish brown, the color of tree bark, or a night that has no stars. It gets so tangled while I'm out in the woods that this year I cut it out of frustration, just hacked at it with a pair of nail scissors, and now it is worse than ever, even though my mother says I look like a pixie. Looking like a pixie was not what I was after. I wanted to look like my mother, who everyone says was the prettiest girl in town when she was my age, and now is the most beautiful woman in the entire county.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yearling (March 8, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385389612
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385389617
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 840L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 6
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.51 x 7.69 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #512,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,560 in Children's Dragon, Unicorn & Mythical Stories
- #2,166 in Children's Spine-Chilling Horror
- #8,867 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books

Customer Reviews:
4.3 1,045 ratings

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Alice Hoffman

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Alice Hoffman is the author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, and, most recently, The Book of Magic. She lives in Boston. Her new novel, The Invisible Hour, is forthcoming in August 2023. Visit her website: www.alicehoffman.com

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Kelly Jarvis

Beautiful Book

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2023

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Although Nightbird is classified as a young adult novel due to its twelve year old protagonist, a young girl who must navigate the secrets of her family and her small town, this spellbinding story will delight adults and fans of fairy tale magic. Written in Alice Hoffman’s beautiful style, Nightbird is a book that will lead you back to a time in your life when friendships, first love, and finding your true self lead to enchantment.

The novel takes place in the town of Sidwell, Massachusetts in the Berkshires. Teresa Jane Fowler (known as Twig) must keep her family’s secret, the results of an ancient curse cast by a witch over two-hundred years ago. Twig’s family owns an apple orchard which grows fruit from the seeds of Johnny Appleseed himself, and when new neighbors move into the witch’s abandoned cottage down the street, Twig’s growing friendship with a girl named Julia makes her secret harder and harder to keep. Together, the girls must investigate the local legend of a “flying monster” who steals things from residents, save the woods, which house a unique species of owl, from being bulldozed and developed, facilitate a star-crossed romance, and break the ancient curse upon the Fowler family.

Nightbird is an easy read for adults, but there is much complexity in the writing which lingers long after the book has been put away. It is the kind of book I would teach in my Children’s or Young Adult Literature college classes to demonstrate the possibilities of the genre in the hands of a true artist. Hoffman shines when she speaks of the depths of love and friendship, and her narrative is filled with natural imagery about the world that will change the ordinary into something special. The book encourages readers to see what is in front of them from a new point of view, and it is the perfect story to share with a middle grade reader or to enjoy with the full force of adult nostalgia. If you loved Hoffman’s Practical Magic series, you will enjoy Nightbird which sparkles with magic, innocence, and love.

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TeeMee-Kraftqueen65-Obsessive Reader

Huge Fan Of Alice Hoffman-Juvenile To Advanced-And Everything In Between/Library Loan

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023

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As the headliner states, I’m a huge fan of this author, in pretty much everything she publishes. In all honesty, I think there were one or two of her novels I couldn’t complete. Not because they were boring, substandard, or vile. More along the lines they were so well written, I couldn’t get through them without nightmares or just outright terror. Lol

This one had none of these issues. Regardless of the demographically targeted age, it was immensely skilled in holding the reader’s attention, irrespective of the perimeters it may have been set with.

It’s a quick read with an intriguing plot, which holds the reader throughout, from the beginning to the end, top to bottom, and all along the line. I personally didn’t struggle one bit.

It was a pleasure in getting to know Twig, her family, and friends, and all the character’s of the village. I could’ve easily seen Hoffman turning this into a longer series, with the two girls playing out the witches with a twist of Nancy Drew and her sidekicks . But, alas, I’m afraid too much time has passed in between publication, and Hoffman is always on to her next research project for her next book, so who am I to interfere and put my two cents in??

I hope many find it as an enchanting diversion as I did. Enjoy!

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rollerhead

A fairy tale of mystery, love, and devotion

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024

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Books have been used as gifts for readers of all ages. Story is a traditional type fairy tale with more mystery and curious twists and turns. This is a must book for your library ... makes a great read aloud for parents, grandparents, or teachers.

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CL Reader

A delightful read for grown-up Hoffman fans too!

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018

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I'm such a fan of Alice Hoffman that I decided to read this one -- even though I'm an adult and don't usually read books for teenagers. But I am so happy I ordered this one. It's got Hoffman's trademark magical realism, and the story is enchanting, charming, and delightful. Loved the historic New England town with quirky characters and old houses, and I enjoyed the story behind the curse. I couldn't put it down.

I agree that the ending is a little too neatly tied up, but then again, this is a book for young adults -- and I think the happy ending works for this audience. I enjoyed it almost as much as "Practical Magic," and will be reading more of her YA books until there's a new novel for grown-ups again.

7 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Strictly for Young Adult Readers

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020

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A story about a 12 year old who is growing up in a half witch half average family. Touches of Harry Potter though not as interesting.

One person found this helpful

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J. L. DeCastro

MG Magical Realism

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

MG (8-12), FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM, LONELINESS, FAMILY/LOVE

12 year-old Twig Fowler has followed her mother's lead, to remain a loner and invisible - when they moved back to the family Farm/Orchard in Sidwell, MA. A curse had been placed on the Fowler family 200 years earlier by Agnes Early, the witch of Sidwell. Descendants of Agnes Early have moved into the Early cottage, next to the Orchard. And there is a Monster living in Sidwell - stealing things from people around town. The townspeople of Sidwell, in the Berkshire Mountains of MA are small town, plain thinkers, accepting of their "witchy" heritage and any other Monster that comes calling - but have agreed to hunt for the new Monster - to restore peace and quiet in their town.

Lonely Twig needs to dispel the myths, old and new, surrounding Sidwell before someone dies. In order to do this she must defy her mother's pleas of invisibility and reverse an ancient curse

One person found this helpful

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Paula Williams

This book does not disappoint. The characters are easy to love and the ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2018

Verified Purchase

I am a new fan of Alice Hoffman. This book does not disappoint. The characters are easy to love and the story is very sweet and exciting.

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Jule

8yo LOVED it and couldn’t put it down!

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

8 yo Daughter couldn’t put this book down. Stayed up past bedtime and read under covers in “secret” and fell asleep reading it. Finished it in 3 days. This is what I call a good book! After reading she was hungry for more... keep requesting books “something like nightbird, suspenseful and not too scary” ... I love how this book gave her a new fresh drive and hunger for more.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Ken Ogden

arrived quickly good condition

Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

arrived quickly good condition

LJBentley

I loved it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2020

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I am not a huge fan of fantasy books. The odd one I am okay with but it certainly isn’t my “go-to” genre. However, there is one author who always manages to seamlessly weave the fantasy element into her stories that you don’t even question any of the out of the ordinary moments. That author is Alice Hoffman.

In her book Nightbird we meet Twig. Twig is lonely. She has never really had any friends. She has been told not to get close to people because her family have a dark secret. However, when her new next door neighbour persists in forming a friendship Twig realises that it may come at a cost.

Nightbird is magical. I loved Twig. I loved the story. I loved the setting. I loved the element of magic and mystery. I just loved everything about it. Alice Hoffman has written a winner of a story.

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman is available now.

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

When supernaturals look so natural!

Reviewed in Germany on March 6, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a really good story for the young adult.The plot is easy to follow and as usual the supernatural elements find their ways into the stroy as do MS Hoffman's other stories.I highly recommend the book.

Sandra Lacey

Great Read, really enjoyed it!

Reviewed in Australia on April 27, 2016

Verified Purchase

What a great read a lovely story, full of lovely descriptions. Wish I lived on Old Mountain Road in the town of Sidwell.

huntbek

Good book

Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2018

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Liked it

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