The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow

Direleafe Hall

by Kate Gordon

An evocative story about one odd boy searching for his place in the world, perfect for anyone who has ever wondered where their path might lead.

When Jackdaw Hollow is orphaned by a lightning strike, he is taken in by the headmistress of Direleafe Hall. Even though he grows up with her love and care, he feels undeserving, as if the universe made a mistake in sparing him. As he searches for the reason he survived the storm, he befriends Angeline, a wildling girl who knows where her destiny lies – the circus. But when he goes too far in trying to find his own calling, he loses sight of what’s most important.

The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow is a spirited tale of destiny, self-worth and accepting that if you love something, you must set it free.

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2022

About the author

Kate Gordon grew up in a small town by the sea in Tasmania. She is the author of numerous award-winning picture-books and novels for younger readers, including Aster’s Good, Right Things, published by Yellow Brick Books in November, 2020, which won the CBCA Book of the Year for younger readers in 2021, and was shortlisted in the Tasmanian Literary Awards in 2022. The companion novels, Xavier in the Meantime and Indigo in the Storm were published in 2021 and 2023. Whalesong was published by Yellow Brick Books in 2022, following Kate’s residency at the Maritime Museum of Tasmania. Kate continues to write novels and picture books from a cottage overlooking the river and the mountain on the Eastern Shore of Hobart. She has two daughters, an elderly cat and a very silly labradoodle.

Reviews

[Helen Farch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackdaw Hollow is a very fortunate boy. He survived the lightning strike that killed both of his parents, he has found a loving home with Mrs Beekman at Direleafe Hall - the kind headmistress who took him in when he was orphaned, and he doesn't even mind being the only boy at an all-girls school.

But he feels something is missing.... he truly believes he needs to find his calling, to find the reason why he survived and his parents didn't.

With the help of 3 ghosts, Jackdaw meets Angeline. Angeline is herself an orphan, but she was not as lucky as Jackdaw with who she found a new home with. But Angeline knows what her calling is - it is to run away and join the circus.

The problem is that Jackdaw doesn't just want to be Angeline's friend - he also wants to save her - even though he knows that a person is not calling.

Come along with Jackdaw as he learns about friendship, self-acceptance, finding your true calling and how to let go of the things you love to set them free.

Told in beautiful prose, The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow is a historical fiction story for upper middle-grade and younger young adult readers.

Thanks to @uqpbooks for the review copy of this book.

[Nadia King · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow by Kate Gordon is the third story of the Direleafe Hall books. Each book is a standalone story that takes place in the storyworld of Direleafe Hall.

When Jackdaw was a babe, his parents were killed by a lightening bolt on a stormy night. Jackdaw is taken in by the headmistress of Direleafe Hall and raised lovingly as her son. But something is missing from his life. Direleafe Hall is a school of girls and gentle Jackdaw feels out of kilter. He aches for a calling and a friend.

The writing in The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow is gentle and lyrical and full of wisdom. I particularly enjoyed the fable-like quality to this story and the tie-in to The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn – the first of the Direleafe Hall books. The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow is an enchanting, sensitively-told tale. This is the perfect book for middle-grade readers looking for soft fantasy.

Many thanks to UQP for a review copy.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chronologically this book sits before Wonder Quinn and Melodie Rose, but it was released later. Though some events/recollections are a bit skewwhiff for the timelines, and there were modern words used in there that didn’t make sense for the time period (not that kids will care).
The premise is very… Harry Potter-ish. Jackdaw’s parents are struck by lightning, but he’s shielded by his mother’s love so while they die, he survives.
Then he gets sent to a boarding school with ghosts, but he’s special so he can see them while others can’t, because he’s been touched by death.
Everyone expects great things from him, so he starts to search for the great things; to find his calling; and decides saving a girl called Angeline is it. But Angeline is an independent woman, and he’s a bad listener.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

For so long, I have wanted to know the how Hollowbeak came to be as I loved that bird! And I'm a little disappointed, the opening was really good as was the epilogue but then the book is about him finding his calling. But it does pull the whole series together. Lovely.

[Julia ☀️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good ending to the series.

[Cecile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a companion novel to two I have not read but it did not make a difference at all. This is a sweet story about friendship and finding your true calling. As with many of Kate’s other books (this is the 3rd one of hers I’ve read) there are loveable, quirky characters and lots to love about accepting who you are and how much you matter. The Direleafe Hall world is one I’d happily return to again.

[olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review here at: https://readingtime.com.au/the-callin...