Janet Slater Redhead

A childhood favourite, I recently picked up my copy of this once more as "research" for the novel I will be writing in November. It is a simple story - a story of courage and deciation, and also - ultimately - of growing up and making mature decisions. N...ever mind that the protagnist is a Kotuku - a white heron. Every year, kotukus migrate to a little place on the West Coast called Okarito to breed, and its White-Wings first time to make the return journey. But he would rather fish with his friend the black shag then take on adult responsibility. However, the joys of fishing fail to satisfy and he follows his flock some weeks too late, making the long journey alone. What you essentially have now is a "road trip" down the coast of New Zealand, from a bird's perspective, as White-Wings meets many of our native birds and also faces some of the more common dangers - predators, fires, pollution... The plot is light, the excitement and tension low, and the story does not really build to a climax, although it does reach a satisfying conclusion.… (meer)