The Purple Bird

by Dylan Roche

No matter how long he has yearned to escape his boring life as an ordinary teenager, nothing can prepare James Shannassy for the afternoon when he meets a figment bird called Archit and the two of them set off for the world of Nalgordia to break a centuries-old curse. Being the hero of his own fantasy adventure isn't exactly what James expected it to be, but when he finds himself caught up in an epic fight against a force of evil, he knows he might be the only one able to stop it. Archit's fate now rests entirely in his hands...and there's no turning back now!

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2019

About the author

Dylan Roche is a journalist, editor, actor, director, playwright, teacher, and marathon runner based in Annapolis, Maryland, where he's a proud dog day to Tyrion the corgi. "The Purple Bird" is his first novel.

Reviews

[(old.enough.for.fairytales) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truthfully I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Purple Bird. I wasn’t sure if I’d have trouble buying in to the story since one of the MC is a purple bird, but I found myself completely enthralled in the story! It contains many classic fantasy elements: pirates, wizards, mermaids, flying animals, good vs. evil and love conquering all. There were times when the human main characters didn’t feel completely believable, which threw me out of the story a bit. Overall though, I really enjoyed The Purple Bird and definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for a traditional, but unique fantasy story.

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Mycah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great YA novel

Follow Dylan Roche on tiktok and bought the novel to support him. It's a great tale of adventure. Very Page Master with the obstacles the main characters go through. Can't wait to hear what my kids think about it once they read it. Well done.

[Brad]

This book was one wondrous adventure, with unexpected twists and turns, and full of heart and pure innocence. Dylan Roche is an imaginative story-teller with so many fun ideas that came through the pages of this very special novel.

James is a hero we should all want to aspire to be!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Purple Bird is a more mature middle-grade/preferably YA novel that will enchant and delight readers of adventure stories and fantasy stories. As someone who has always been intrigued by the idea of being able to travel to new, fantastical worlds, this book was right up my alley. I rather enjoyed it.
The story follows James, a teenager who seems relatively normal. But his life changes in an instant when he sees something he shouldn't and hides out in an abandoned greenhouse. There, he meets Archit, a large purple bird who can talk. But Archit is more than he seems, and he convinces James to go on an adventure with him to Nalgordia, the world where Archit feels normal, to break the curse he's under. Along with James's cousin and older sister, the group sets off on a journey that is anything but normal.
From pirates to hippies, a jungle beast, and flowers that can kill, James and the others get way more than they bargained for as they not only try to find a way to break the curse, but also save Nalgordia from a never-ending winter.
I rather enjoyed this story. It's fun. It's engaging. It's different. Archit is definitely a unique character, and the fact that James, his sister, and his cousin all seem to find a giant talking purple bird who needs their help to be a normal thing is definitely not what I would have expected from them. But their willingness to go above and beyond for him is delightful. The story speaks to the power of friendship.
There are some slightly darker moments, like when Archit learns the truth of who he is from Dawn Flower, and there are some curse words thrown in, but other than that, the book would be safe for tweens who are on the more mature side (12-13 range, maybe) and teens (14+) who are fans of the fantasy genre.
The characters are likeable. The plot is exciting and easily sucks you in. And the world building has a magical quality to it. I know I'd wanna visit Nalgordia if it were a real place.
Definitely give this one a go if you like adventure and magic in your stories.
4.5 stars!

[Annie Sauder · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been weeks since I finished this book and I still think about it. I wouldn't call it YA really; much closer to modern middle-grade or younger YA. Overall, the book is enchanting! The plot has a lot of classic portal fantasy elements (Neverland and Narnia are obviously big inspirations) and also maintains a fresh, original world with a lot of lore and heart.

I had a few qualms with the writing (some head-hopping, mostly; an abundance of plot convenience) that brought it down to four stars. Otherwise, this was a great, light read that I'd recommend to kids and adults alike!

[✩₊*Shelby ⋆ ☾⋆ LiteraryFaery ⁺₊✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I want to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed below belong entirely to me.

Admittedly, I have not been reading much middle grade or young adult fantasy these days, but this book proved to be so much magical fun!! The best part about it? The premise, plot, and characters were all SO original. I don’t think I’ve ever read another fantasy novel quite like it. Many of the best YA tropes were present, though, which is a welcome, nostalgic comfort! I’m such a sucker for fantastical adventures experienced by friends on a journey to far off places. I really enjoyed the relationship between James and Archit and couldn’t get over how awesome it was for so many of my favorite magical creatures included in the story!

All in all, I’m so excited to share this one with my high school students, I already know they’ll adore it!! Also, The Purple Bird definitely found its forever home on my YA shelf to save for my son when he gets into reading one day!

[Summer Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book review for 'The Purple Bird' by Dylan Roche is FINALLY here! In this book, we follow James Shannassy as he runs from his chemistry teacher, who he discovers is an evil wizard! While on the run, he hides in a greenhouse and meets a peculiar bird, who is revealed to be the nephew of James' chemistry teacher. James travels to the magical world of Nalgordia to help Archit break the spell that curses him, by his sixteenth birthday. Archit's fate is in James' hands. Will they be able to break the spell or will Archit remain a bird forever? I highly recommend fans of young adult and fantasy to read this book. It will keep you invested in the characters, cheering for Archit and James, and keeping you on the edge of your seat! ❤️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun middle-grade read about James, a 14-year-old, who helps a fantastical purple bird named Archit (think: Jim Henson's Animal, except with a purple mane and can talk) break the curse his uncle cast on him.

Along with the interesting characters and engaging plot, the element that I love most about Roche's epic adventure is James's (the boy protagonist--not the bird!) slow but sure discovery of his bravery and strength when he only saw incoordination and clumsiness before. This theme is so important for any growing adolescent as they learn who they are compared to the world around them.

An awesome tale for a middle-grader looking forward to high school--for girls and guys alike!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Purple Bird seems to be a story that can be read by the YA genre but could also be read with younger children. Maybe not read by a younger child alone, but definitely read together with an adult or maybe even a read-aloud type of session. It’s cute. Its sentences are short, and easy to understand. Amongst all this is a very imaginative and fun tale of poor James becoming a much bigger hero than he ever imagined.

[Michelle Bergozza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Written and Fun!

It is easy to love James, the reluctant hero, and his friends. Their adventures are both fun and just worrisome enough to entertain the reader. I cannot wait to recommend this book to all the middle grades teachers I know. It would have been 5 stars for me except for the few typos, but they did not distract from the meaning of the story or lessen my enjoyment while reading. I look forward to reading Dylan Roche’s next book.

[Lisa Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Purple Bird is one of the most delightful fantasy books I’ve read. Following James, Archit, Margot, and Liz on their quest to save Nalgordia and return home reminded me of so many of my favorite stories from my younger years. It’s a fun, easy read full of humor and adventure. I absolutely loved it!

[Sierra Dertinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm typically not one who loves fantasy, but I loved how the first chapter pulls you in. I've come to learn that I do enjoy some thrill and on-the-edge-of-your-seat books though. Roche does a wonderful job of doing just that. James is running for his dear life in the opening chapter and as a reader, you naturally think... "Why?! What is going on!" I love action-packed starts rather than slow-and-steady with this kind of genre. The purple bird's name is Archit, and I just loved him and James' relationship from start-to-finish. Even though James had no idea what kind of chaotic "journey" he was getting himself involved in, the two learned so much from one another. This story had so many fantastical characters like mermaids, fairies, snowmen, ogres, horrifying beasts, and so much more. I would highly suggest this book for readers who loved Smith's Mulrox and the Malcognitos. Based on some of the references and language throughout, I would recommend this book for grade 8 and up!