Pawnee Warrior by Chris d’Lacey (Corgi pound;4.99) is a moving sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly, which was highly commended by Carnegie Medal judges. Like Green Fingers, it explores how a passion - this time for racing pigeons - can help a child through difficulties.
Darryl is a troubled adolescent, anxious that all is not well with his mother’s pregnancy and persecuted on the streets by hard boy Warren Spigott. When Darryl’s father unwittingly gets him a Saturday job with Warren’s father Lenny, who keeps a pigeon loft, he is brought face to face with the bully. This richly textured novel powerfully expresses the emotional intensity of youth and is a rewarding challenge for top primary readers and above.
