Linda Jones’s Fistful of Feathers is a well-paced coming of age story with a difference. It has all the hallmarks of a good fantasy/sci-fi story well-written for the teenaged audience, with enough mystery, intrigue and a smattering of romance to keep the youngsters interested.
Jo is an orphaned thirteen-year-old lad in the system, being shunted from one foster home to another, never staying longer than a few months in each one. He is poorly treated by all, not the least whilst under the care of Dr Bowden, who is treating him for a massive lump in his neck. This treatment appears to be more of a watching game as the lump continues to grow. As he approaches a final examination, Jo overhears two staff members talking about the procedure Jo will undergo, and the news isn’t good. No one has survived this treatment to date.
This gives Jo pieces of vital information: He is not alone – there are others like him – and, perhaps more disturbing, none of them who have gone through the final procedure have survived! The only thing left for him to do is run.
What follows is a hair-raising adventure to stay ahead of Dr Bowden’s henchmen. Along the way, he is helped by a new group of friends who see him for who and what he is – and they help him overcome all.
This is book one is the Fraser Chronicles and well worth the read. It is aimed and 9 to 12 year olds and it hits the mark. I award 4.5 stars.
By Phoebe Wilby
