Tuesday 9 June 2015

What the Raven Saw by Samantha-Ellen Bound

I couldn’t resist this little gem I came across at the library, particularly when the blurb on the back said: ‘The raven doesn’t want you to read this story.’

This is a quirky, well-told tale of a raven that lives in the bell tower of an old church with his horde of treasure.  The raven naturally has a bird’s-eye-view of the comings and goings in the church, the graveyard and surrounding area.  The characters he meets run the gamut of ghosts, lovelorn scarecrows, annoying pigeons and a flirty weathervane.

When the raven spies someone stealing from the collection plate, he must come up with a plan to expose the criminal.  Even though he has lost everything he thought was important to him, he enlists the help of his new found friends to lead Father Cadman to the stolen money.  What makes the raven "almost happy" though is being able to sing the hymns and gospels songs that are his refuge from an unwelcoming world.

What the Raven Saw is a great book for all ages.  I gave it to my eight-year-old son and he couldn’t put it down.  Without being the tiniest bit preachy, it explores themes of loneliness, friendship, helping others and living a meaningful life.


The Best Bit of What the Raven Saw:  The trip down memory lane with chapter headings such as: People Get Ready, This Little Light of Mine, Go Tell It On A Mountain, Morning Has Broken, Oh Happy Day and more.  I found myself humming throughout the days remembering songs I hadn’t heard in years and, just like the raven, "having horrible sentimental thoughts."

It was exactly the same feeling as the first time the raven had caught his first rogue gust of wind and thought he could soar and soar and there would never be an end to it. - Samantha-Ellen Bound

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