Young birdwatcher Twitch has more friends with feathers than without, and he’s more than ok with this. After all, he has birds nesting in his bedroom and a secret hide-out in the local woods that absolutely no one can find – not even the police who are searching the same woods for an escaped murderous robber.

Twitch intends to spend his summer holidays training his pigeons but after he rescues one of his bullies, Jack, from some other bullies, he finds himself with a seemingly remorseful new friend eager to make it up to him. At first Twitch finds himself enjoying human friendship, but as the hunt for Robber Ryan heightens, more newcomers turn up in Briddvale, and Jack’s intentions are called into question. Twitch finds himself torn and unsure who to trust.

Twitch is a great book for all lovers of nature, birds and mysteries. In the first chapter the author describes a common rock pigeon in such a way that made me feel sad that I’d spent my whole life without realising how beautiful they are, and it only gets better from there! I highly recommend this book for all kids ages 10+.

Dani Solomon is the assistant manager at Readings Kids.