Mason has been given an assignment, along with his entire class, over the two week holiday break from school. He has to find a “fact,” research it and attempt to prove it is true or if not, debunk it. Seeing a dead bird by the side of the road on a family day out, he wonders “there must be stacks of birds dying every single day-what happens to them all?”
To sweeten the pot a newspaper is offering 20,000 Pounds for anyone who can debunk an urban myth. Enough money to see his family clear on their debt and bring much needed financial stability.Once Mason has his question he is off on a merry chase for the truth. Mason is nothing if not resourceful, he uses every information source at his disposal. From his grandfathers puns, his pastors biblical knowledge, the internet and anyone else he can find. The search is on.
Along the way Mason finds another question and begins a quest for the answer to another question. Soon his quest spirals out of control and he is forced to face things he never expected and helps solve a real adult problem.
This is a lovely book for children and would be enjoyed by both boys and girls although the primary protagonists are boys. I would rate it for about grade five through middle school and up. The adults in the book are good supporting characters and are there to guide and give good advise to help Mason make good decisions. There is no “language” to be concerned with. Of course, with all books written for young boys this was has the usual suspects; bathroom humor, dead birds, bad guys and mom’s who keep boys manners in line.
The author is English so it is written with British spelling and humor, which is not a problem in this one as most references are things American’s can understand.
★★★★★
Available:
on Amazon.com: http://bit.ly/JOtKpE
on Amazon.co.uk : http://amzn.to/JhuIcj
This review was taken from the Parents Little Black Book website - http://www.parentslbb.com/books/2012/05/13/they-shoot-birds-dont-they-by-m-p-jones/
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