Scarlet Ibis

Scarlet Ibis

Scarlet Ibis is the moving story of a young girl – Scarlet – struggling to hold her family together against the odds. Crammed into their small tower block apartment in London, Scarlet and her autistic half-brother Red are fascinated by the baby pigeon that hatches on their balcony. When the bird’s parents abandon it, Red takes the chick into his care but when their own mum has a breakdown, the siblings are split up and sent to live apart in foster care. As Scarlet struggles to adjust to life with her well-meaning foster family, she determines to do everything she can to find her beloved brother and keep his little pigeon alive for him.

Reading notes:

Awards
Winner: Little Rebels Award 2015, Haringey Children’s Book Award 2015, Teach Primary Children’s Fiction Award 2015, Weald Book Award 2015, Dolly Gray 2020 Children’s Literature Award

Shortlists and nominations: UKLA Children’s Book Award, BASH St Helen’s Book Award, Calderdale Children’s Book of the Year 2015, CILIP Carnegie Medal (long-listed) 2015, East Sussex Children’s Book Award 2015, Stockport Children’s Book Award 2015, Steyning Feeder Schools Year 6 Book Award 2015

Reviews:
“Moving, gripping and full of well-drawn, convincing characters, this is a powerful and inspirational book.” (Daily Mail)

“Exciting yet sensitive, tender and thought-provoking.” (Booktrust)

“This is a lyrical, emotive, engrossing adventure.” (Sunday Times, Nicolette Jones)

I read the book in more or less a single sitting, then at the end I skipped back to read the best bits again. There aren’t many novels you can say that about. (Lorna Bradbury, The Telegraph)

“I absolutely loved this: a deeply moving account of two siblings sent to live with foster families…A powerful and emotional story.” (Fiona Noble, The Bookseller)

Lewis makes you feel as though you are there with Scarlet and Red fighting their fights and feeling their pain. (Charlotte Seager, The Guardian)

Where to buy

Please consider supporting your local independent bookshop by ordering your copy there. If you prefer to buy online, copies are also available from Waterstones and Amazon.