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The Bird Singers
'The whistling had started on their first night. At first, Layah thought it was bird song - a high thin sound which became a melody, rising and falling. And each night, it returned.'
Strange things have been happening to Layah and her younger sister, Izzie, ever since their mother dragged them to a rain-soaked cottage miles from anywhere in the Lake District: there is a peculiar whistling at night, a handful of unusual feathers appear on their doorstep and there are murmurings of a shadowed woman in the forest. And their mother is behaving very oddly. Layah is mourning the loss of her dear grandmother in Poland - and can almost hear her Babcia's voice telling her the old myths and fairy tales from that magical place.
And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.
Strange things have been happening to Layah and her younger sister, Izzie, ever since their mother dragged them to a rain-soaked cottage miles from anywhere in the Lake District: there is a peculiar whistling at night, a handful of unusual feathers appear on their doorstep and there are murmurings of a shadowed woman in the forest. And their mother is behaving very oddly. Layah is mourning the loss of her dear grandmother in Poland - and can almost hear her Babcia's voice telling her the old myths and fairy tales from that magical place.
And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 21, 2022
Layah, Izzie, and their mother are holidaying in the Lake District when they hear a high-pitched whistle that threatens to pervade the relative peace of their break together. Setting out to discover where it comes from leads Layah and Izzie into recollections of old myths, legends, and fairy tales that their grandmother used to tell them and is seeming increasingly likely to be less tall tales and more the absolute truth.
This proved itself to immediately be a creepy and magical middle grade story, which are my favourites to read. The main characters were crafted with much heart and spirit and it bonded me to them, as they begun their exploration into the strange noises and occurrences appearing around them. The eeriness begun on page one and continued right until the thrilling conclusion, leaving me impressed and engaged with the storyline the entire way throughout.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Eve Werocki Morris, and the publisher, Hodder Children's Books, for this opportunity.
This proved itself to immediately be a creepy and magical middle grade story, which are my favourites to read. The main characters were crafted with much heart and spirit and it bonded me to them, as they begun their exploration into the strange noises and occurrences appearing around them. The eeriness begun on page one and continued right until the thrilling conclusion, leaving me impressed and engaged with the storyline the entire way throughout.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Eve Werocki Morris, and the publisher, Hodder Children's Books, for this opportunity.
April 4, 2022
What a wonderful story. The Polish rep was an additional delight.
Read
March 30, 2025Don’t give books with GD in them a rating, and since this has it said once towards the very end(ugh), no rating. Personal issue of course.
December 22, 2022
What a fabulous fantasy-adventure that felt so well-rooted in the real world. I loved the main characters and the quiet setting as well as the fantasy creatures of the ‘baddies’. I loved the connections throughout to folklore and how the author linked that with their grandmother as well as the weaving of themes of grief and legacy throughout. The slightly shadier characters and locations added an element of mystery to the book but equally I enjoyed reading the parts that felt more real-world based. Brilliantly written and I look forward to more from the author. (I did think there would be more about birds though - I hadn’t realised the bird element was fantastical.)
January 2, 2022
"The birds were watching them. The girl could sense their small, bright eyes tracking their every step…"
This was a deliciously dark, utterly gripping debut brimming with folklore, a thrilling mystery and dash of horror. The Bird Singers is perfect for fans of recently released Fledgling and Aveline Jones – there’s creepy cottages, flickering lights and things that go bump in the night aplenty!
Although utterly beautiful creatures, there is something mysterious about birds and many species are linked to magic and sorcery. In folklore, supernatural entities take the form of Owls, Blackbirds, Ravens and Crows to assist malevolent forces. The Bird Singers harnesses these dark forces alongside scenes with hints of Alfred Hitchcock-esque, bird-related horror that will make the hairs on the back of your neck prickle!
"The whistling had started on their first night. At first, Layah thought it was bird song – a high thin sound which became a melody, rising and falling. And each night, it returned."
Layah and her younger sister, Izzie have been dragged to a rain-soaked cottage miles from anywhere in the Lake District when strange and terrifying things begin to happen.
First, a peculiar whistling at night and then Layah begins to have visions of a woman with huge yellow eyes and long white hair – could this be linked to murmurings in the village of a shadowed woman that the locals call ‘The Lowesdale Stranger?’
The girls see a poor dead bird in the hedgerow and then one appears on their doorstep, thrown there by a mysterious visitor. And when the girls’ mother starts behaving oddly, Layah is determined to unravel the mysterious events.
Layah is mourning the loss of her dear grandmother in Poland – and can almost hear her Babcia’s voice telling her old myths and fairy tales. And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.
I love a creepy read and this was right up my street!
This was a deliciously dark, utterly gripping debut brimming with folklore, a thrilling mystery and dash of horror. The Bird Singers is perfect for fans of recently released Fledgling and Aveline Jones – there’s creepy cottages, flickering lights and things that go bump in the night aplenty!
Although utterly beautiful creatures, there is something mysterious about birds and many species are linked to magic and sorcery. In folklore, supernatural entities take the form of Owls, Blackbirds, Ravens and Crows to assist malevolent forces. The Bird Singers harnesses these dark forces alongside scenes with hints of Alfred Hitchcock-esque, bird-related horror that will make the hairs on the back of your neck prickle!
"The whistling had started on their first night. At first, Layah thought it was bird song – a high thin sound which became a melody, rising and falling. And each night, it returned."
Layah and her younger sister, Izzie have been dragged to a rain-soaked cottage miles from anywhere in the Lake District when strange and terrifying things begin to happen.
First, a peculiar whistling at night and then Layah begins to have visions of a woman with huge yellow eyes and long white hair – could this be linked to murmurings in the village of a shadowed woman that the locals call ‘The Lowesdale Stranger?’
The girls see a poor dead bird in the hedgerow and then one appears on their doorstep, thrown there by a mysterious visitor. And when the girls’ mother starts behaving oddly, Layah is determined to unravel the mysterious events.
Layah is mourning the loss of her dear grandmother in Poland – and can almost hear her Babcia’s voice telling her old myths and fairy tales. And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.
I love a creepy read and this was right up my street!
January 22, 2022
"Lean in! To hear a tale of dark misdeeds.
A cunning foe - a villainess - draws near...
Released from myth, she prowls with feathered tread.
Mistrust her human face - monster she does be."
Laylah and her sister Izzie find themselves on holidays with their mother in a small cottage in the English Lake District. But nothing seems quite right.
Why is their father not with them?
Why is their mother acting so strange?
What is the peculiar whistling sound that Laylah hears every night at midnight?
Who is the mysterious Lowesdale Stranger and is that who has been appearing in their backyard in the dark of night?
Full of myth and mystery, The Bird Singers is a dark, thrilling middle grade/young adult read that will get your heart racing and maybe, just make you a little more scared of the dark.
A cunning foe - a villainess - draws near...
Released from myth, she prowls with feathered tread.
Mistrust her human face - monster she does be."
Laylah and her sister Izzie find themselves on holidays with their mother in a small cottage in the English Lake District. But nothing seems quite right.
Why is their father not with them?
Why is their mother acting so strange?
What is the peculiar whistling sound that Laylah hears every night at midnight?
Who is the mysterious Lowesdale Stranger and is that who has been appearing in their backyard in the dark of night?
Full of myth and mystery, The Bird Singers is a dark, thrilling middle grade/young adult read that will get your heart racing and maybe, just make you a little more scared of the dark.
January 29, 2022
Look at that amazing cover. I can't stop staring at it, it's so gorgeous.
However, if you do get a copy of this book, make sure you stop staring at it long enough to read the fabulous story inside. Otherwise you'll be depriving yourself of a really great read. It's rare, when a book is based on Eastern European folklore, that it uses anything beyond Baba Yaga (who is an excellent choice for a book, I'm not being rude, Baba!) This book, however, delves far deeper and comes up with a really creepy creature.
The adventures are great. I loved the inclusion of the almost folktale like parts detailing what turns out to be a very important part of the story, and I'm intrigued by the ending! I hope there's another volume planned, so we can find out exactly what was going on there.
A fabulous read for an adventure loving reader, and a great introduction to folklore. Fantastic.
However, if you do get a copy of this book, make sure you stop staring at it long enough to read the fabulous story inside. Otherwise you'll be depriving yourself of a really great read. It's rare, when a book is based on Eastern European folklore, that it uses anything beyond Baba Yaga (who is an excellent choice for a book, I'm not being rude, Baba!) This book, however, delves far deeper and comes up with a really creepy creature.
The adventures are great. I loved the inclusion of the almost folktale like parts detailing what turns out to be a very important part of the story, and I'm intrigued by the ending! I hope there's another volume planned, so we can find out exactly what was going on there.
A fabulous read for an adventure loving reader, and a great introduction to folklore. Fantastic.
January 14, 2025
This was fantastic and is very suspenseful almost frightening! So it's really well told. I love these sisters, they have a great relationship and van be honest with each other... if only their mother could have been that honest. I think Izzie is my favourite, she loves her books and she is very levelheaded for an 11yo , whereas Layah is more back and forth in her thinking, courage and confidence. I am curious about Mr Speckleback... I think he is also part bird, I wish we had had more interaction with him. I can't wait to read other books by Eve.
February 13, 2022
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book on NetGalley - thank you very much to the publishers!
In this action-packed middle grade we join Layah and her sister Izzie who have been experiencing unusual occurrences (whistling, feathers appearing) since coming away to the Lake District with their Mother. Their Mother is acting strangely and the girls want to get to the bottom of why.
I really enjoyed the references to some myths and fairy tales from Poland. This book had creepy moments in places, full of mystery and adventure.
December 20, 2021
I’ve been slowly enjoying The Bird Singers for a while now. I’ve finally finished it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Creepy, magic, family secrets and a whole load of folklore make this my kind of book. Eve has written something that is gripping, tense and WONDERFUL. And that ending?!?! What is going on? I loved this - a strange family, an old Polish folklore story and a whole load of twists and turns!
August 18, 2022
The Bird Singers
By Eve Wersocki Morris
Published by Hachette Children’s Group
Author Eve Wersocki Morris tells a fabulous Polish folktale set in the Lake District of two sisters, Layah and Izzie who think they know everything about their fractious family. However, things are not as they seem when sister are faced with spectacular whistling, unusual gifts, the murmurs of a shadowed woman and their mothers odd behaviour.
Cleverly combining ghostly magic with adventure and intrigue this page turner of a novel is full of twists and turns. Who is telling the truth? Who should the sisters trust? Who should they turn to for help? Will they ever be strong enough to face their fears?
This dark but intriguing teenage mystery gave me both spine-tingling tension and just the right amount of summer shock! Read it if you dare!!
Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of books
#Netgallery
# Hachette Children’s Group
By Eve Wersocki Morris
Published by Hachette Children’s Group
Author Eve Wersocki Morris tells a fabulous Polish folktale set in the Lake District of two sisters, Layah and Izzie who think they know everything about their fractious family. However, things are not as they seem when sister are faced with spectacular whistling, unusual gifts, the murmurs of a shadowed woman and their mothers odd behaviour.
Cleverly combining ghostly magic with adventure and intrigue this page turner of a novel is full of twists and turns. Who is telling the truth? Who should the sisters trust? Who should they turn to for help? Will they ever be strong enough to face their fears?
This dark but intriguing teenage mystery gave me both spine-tingling tension and just the right amount of summer shock! Read it if you dare!!
Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of books
#Netgallery
# Hachette Children’s Group
March 14, 2022
Not a full review, but this was a charmingly old school, relatable, well written - but still a bit creepy - middle grade.
Exploring sisterhood, parental troubles, friendship and a weird bird lady stalking and potentially trying to kill your family. Just the usual.
Some fun action at the end and some atmosphere building throughout.
Exploring sisterhood, parental troubles, friendship and a weird bird lady stalking and potentially trying to kill your family. Just the usual.
Some fun action at the end and some atmosphere building throughout.
August 30, 2022
This is a fascinating book that has many plot twists, adventures and questions you want to ask. I really enjoyed this book and the characters were very developed. Great read, r we commend for 10-14 :)
January 8, 2024
A girl called Lahya who is maybe 13 and her sister called Izzie who is 11 goto Lowsade town for a holiday in a cottage with their mother. Lahya and Izzie find a mysterious truth about their mother and who she really was!
May 28, 2024
I love stories based on myths and legends from around the world, in this case the Vila or Vile of ancient Slavic poetry and other bird/woman creatures of mythology.
A captivating story of the choices and responsibilities that come with great power.
A captivating story of the choices and responsibilities that come with great power.
January 28, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Took me to another little world for a couple of days. Having the leads as strong females was also a major plus.
February 10, 2022
3.75 stars. Engaging and lovely story.
September 27, 2022
I really enjoyed it. Hope this will continue as a series.
November 28, 2022
i really liked the concept and cultural references in this, i just found it really difficult to get into for some reason!
December 26, 2023
Best book ever scary but not at same time
January 31, 2025
Absolutely phenomenal. Great writing.
February 17, 2025
I like the tension and the suspense of everything and how mysterious it is with two girls finding weird thing going on and lot and lots of non fiction. I love the book
March 22, 2022
A really enjoyable fantasy adventure which introduces some fantastic myths and legends from Poland and Eastern Europe. The pace is good and the build up of both mystery and tension is excellent, hooking the reader in as well as moving the story along. I really loved the Layah and her sister, Izzie, both being wonderfully developed and interesting characters. I also loved the Vilsestra, and the villain of the tale is genuinely creepy. I did feel the male characters were slightly less well done, but it didn't really affect the story, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I look forward to more.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.
August 17, 2024
Oh my God The Bird Singers came out of nowhere and really knew how to keep my interest as a reader. Eve entwined Polish folklore around a family who were overcoming a loss. Add a strange bird like woman, with secrets which play a major part in the story together with The Lake District and a very very creepy atmosphere you will have the necessary ingredients for a perfect Middle Grade and this is what Eve has done.
For the above reasons The Bird Singers gets 4 stars
For the above reasons The Bird Singers gets 4 stars
August 30, 2022
Well-wrought upper middle-grade fantasy with dark elements. An impressive debut novel that weaves its speculative element around relatable characters and the sort of non-speculative family concerns that may hang over readers of that age. Crisp, lyrical storytelling with a dash of misdirection.
July 22, 2022
This is a debut novel from a publicist at Simon and Schuster based on Polish mythology, which follows two sisters named Layah and Izzie as they go on a trip to the Lake District and end up involved in a mythical mystery after deeply strange things start happening to them there. I loved th mystery at the heart of this and how dark the fantasy element of the book made this, and I found it so interesting to discover more about Poland’s mythology as I don’t remember ever having read a book about it before. Layah is a great protagonist, she’s so headstrong and brave and determined, and I loved how much of a bookworm Izzie was and the way she balanced Layah out really well in terms of personality. The setting is so well described and depicted, and as I’ve already sort of said, I loved the fantasy element, especially as it blends so well with the family mystery element. Given the tantalising hint at there being something more going on in the epilogue with a certain Teddington Speckleback, I’m really looking forward to reading the second book, which I don’t think I’ve seen an official announcement for anywhere but I definitely need in my life.
May 3, 2022
This beautiful book takes glimpses from Polish folktales and wraps them in a story of family, loss and the deep bond between sisters. All the caring, annoyance, rivalry and love in the family is woven into the story with a lyrical hand. A mothers’ secret, a mysterious girl in an old photograph, the two sisters are given no answers. They must discover things for themselves. As the action builds, the relationships grow clearer, with greater understanding but given in a natural, almost casual voice. Set in contemporary times with all the technological conveniences but with a classic feel, it is at once timely and timeless. A glorious fantasy/adventure that weaves the past into the present and seems very, very real; bold, brave, sometimes frightening; vivid and atmospheric, it grips from the very first page. Fans of Sophie Anderson will love this.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews