Twitch loves birds. He has chickens called Eggbum and Fandango, pigeons Squeaker, Frazzle and Scabby and a pair of Swift nesting in his bedroom. Saving an injured bird from a group of boys makes him the target of this group of bullies, but he’s used to it. Jack is the leader, and ever since he’s moved to Twitch’s little town of Briddvale, he feels he has something to prove.

Now it’s the school holidays, Twitch is planning to train his pigeons to fly home, hang out in his hide (secret hut hidden in Aves Wood) to bird watch, and avoid Jack and his gang.

Aves Wood however is swarming with police, sure that an escaped bank robber dubbed Robber Ryan, is hiding there. Twitch’s birdwatching binoculars see lots of strangers. Two girls hiding in the bushes, one blond lady, and possibly even Robber Ryan himself!

There is also Billy, a man who comes to Twitch’s rescue, when he’s being bullied again. Twitch wants to like Billy, and he says he’s also in the wood for the birdwatching too, but Twitch isn’t so sure.

Over the holidays, he gets to meet the two girls and their Nan who all live on a house boat. They’re friendly and thankful when he returns something they’ve dropped in the wood, but they too seem to be hiding something.

Another conundrum is Jack. Despite the endless bullying, Twitch finds himself going to Jack’s rescue, and even becoming friends – at least he thinks he’s a friend.

For a summer holiday that was supposed to be simple, quiet and full of birdwatching, it turns out to be dangerous, full of rescues, and possible to finally putting all the confusing jigsaw pieces of the new people he has met, into place.

Standing up to bullies, making new friends and actually using his messenger pigeons for real are an added bonus.

Twitch is a modern, mystery, adventure story with an exciting plot that builds steadily to a crescendo of action full of birds, bats, a skateboard, a fishing rod and a mobile phone! Sound crazy? It’s all part of a cunning plot Twitch has to throw together to save a new friend, put a family back together and prove a crime.

Twitch is an engaging character, living with his mum, looking after his birds and building the coolest huts that even a police-hunt overlook. He copes with bullies with a shrug, stands up to them when he’s able, and is disappointed and angry when a supposed friend lets him down.

The intrigue between these new people in Twitch’s town kept me reading – who is telling the truth? Who is a friend and who is the enemy?

One of my favourite middle grade reads of 2021 so far.

Author – M G Leonard

Age – 8+

Fun ‘Twitcher’ Activities here

Read a Review for the 2nd book in the series (Click on the Cover)

(2021, Walker Books, Bird watching, Birds, Ornithology, Twitcher, Birder, Watcher, Bank Robber, Mystery, Secret, Friendship, Bully, Bullies, Crime, Chickens, Pigeons, Swift, Hut building, Hide building, Intrigue, Outsmart a villain, Action, teamwork)