Magpie Island

by Colin Thiele, Roger Haldane (Illustrator)

Magpie Island

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Birds

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1974

About the author

Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (1997).

Reviews

[Timothy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very moved by this story as a child, and I have never forgotten the mood it created. It's an important book for me.

[Cruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Colin Thiele
Illustrator: Roger Haldane
First Published: 1974

"A magpie can be happy or sad: sometimes so happy that he sits on a high, high gum tree and rolls the sunrise around in his throat like beads of pink sunlight; and sometimes so sad that you would expect the tears to drip off his beak,
"This magpie was like that." p.9

source wikimedia commons Cracticus_tibicen_hypoleuca_male_domain.jpg

A short chapter book that has a Magpie as the main protagonist, finding himself swept by a storm to an isolated island off the coast of South Australia. Too far to fly back, Magpie is faced with loneliness - the only Magpie surrounded by terns, fairy penguins, seals.

As the story progresses the island is visited by a trawler with Billy aboard. He returns with Mate, a friend for Magpie. But tragedy strikes and Mate dies. We cried. There is no HEA.

This book is a hidden treasure. We cried. I still tear up as I am writing the review because it was so utterly sad. The reader feels so strongly for Magpie - you just want everything to work out. And it doesn't.

As an Australian (particularly SA), the sound of the magpie is part of our fabric. The fauna, the landscape, the skies, the seas. Thiele brings it all to life. His descriptive language. The simple story. The accessible characters.

*sigh*

So beautiful.

I loved this book.

I wasn't sure how my 7yo would take to it but she was completely and utterly absorbed. She flew and sang and loved with Magpie. And grieved with him. She felt his loneliness. And sobbed when it finished.

Whaling Station
On the island is an old whaling station. There are some descriptions of past activities which those sensitive to the subject may find difficult.

Age:
Read Aloud: 6+
Read Yourself: 8+

(ISBN 9781742571874)

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Makes some interesting environmental comments but miserable

[Emkoshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

No author captured the beauty and savagery of the Australian landscape and wildlife quite like Colin Thiele. This moving vignette follows Magpie's life from his joyous first flights over the fields to his marooning on an island in the Great Australian Bight. He becomes the Everyman, grappling with isolation, solitude, loneliness, surviving against all odds to become a symbol of endurance. Hard not to shed a tear at the end.

[Emmeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

aw

[Amy Lee Rister · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sad little story.
Beautiful.
But sad.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thiele Time #3
Tale of magpie has some interest, without being amazing.
An average yarn, which some people will love.

[Mo Moses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good if you wanna hurt your own feelings in 25 mins or less

[Ruby Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

his is a pretty good book about a magpie who got stranded on an island- but he was the only magpie. the these people bring him a girl friend- another magpie. and as a twist ending SHE DIES. that brought me tears.

[Joseph Guiso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic Australian story. I remember when my teacher Mr West read it to our class in grade 6. I never forgot the story and the emotions it invoked. Last year I shared this story with my own grade 6 class. They thoroughly enjoyed it too.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magpie Island by Colin Thiele

[Julie Haydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book as a child and I still have it. The story and illustrations are beautiful. It is my favourite book by Colin Thiele.

[Mikasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a story about a bird .. its a simulation of any creature living .. from an outdoor vision.