- Title: George the Orphan Crow and the Creatures of Blossom Valley
- Author: Helen Fox
- Publisher: AG Books on September 6, 2016
- Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
- Pages: 111
- Formats Available: Paperback & Digital
- Rating: 5/5
Trigger Warnings: Murder, Violence, Kidnapping
Many thanks to Helen Fox for providing me with a paperback copy of George the Orphan Crow and the Creatures of Blossom Valley with a request for an honest review.
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About George the Orphan Crow and the Creatures of Blossom Valley
After his parents are killed, George, the Orphan Crow, starts a new life among the lively creatures of Blossom Valley and the enchanting butterflies that live there. But all is not as it seems… an evil ladybird, envious of the butterflies’ beauty lures them to a remote place with a wicked plan in mind. George becomes suspicious and flies out looking for them. But is he too late? Has the wicked ladybird already put her plan into action? This original, intriguing story is mainly told by the colourful characters that make up the community and will fascinate readers of all ages.
Amazon Blurb
My Review
Helen Fox gives readers of all ages a delightful tale of cute animals and magic. George the Orphan Crow and the Creatures of Blossom Valley is a bit of a mouthful. But the story is imaginative and entertaining. I loved every character, even the baddies.
George, the crow, is with his parents when a group of hunters ars in the forest. Everyone is afraid, and when George’s parents run away to go back to their old tree, the hunters shoot them. George is now an orphan and has no home. But, the wise old owl sends him to Blossom Valley, where he will make a new home. Blossom Valley is a miraculous place full of all sorts of creatures. Everything is so beautiful, and George has a hard time taking it all in. But, after a bit, he finds a best friend in a silly frog who sings. George goes on many adventures and grows a great deal in his time both in Blossom Valley and out. Now, will George be able to save the butterflies before it’s too late?
I must say that this novel is not at all what I expected. It is quite dark in some places. I kept thinking all the way through that I’m not sure I would want my middle grader to read this. But, after reading, I’ve had time to reflect on my first impression. And now, I would definitely want a middle-grade child to read about George. There are so many elements to this story that would benefit a child, and my snap judgment is ridiculous. My first instinct is to protect kids from all the bad things in the world, but that isn’t always helpful. Kids already know bad things happen, and I know I never gave my kids enough credit about what they could handle. So, in that spirit, let’s move along.
I love George so much. He is so strong and takes a lot on his little shoulders. Luckily he finds a good home in Blossom Valley, where the other creatures welcome him like family. All he wants to do is help anyone he can. George is always the first to volunteer to help anyone in need. The rest of the creatures in Blossom Valley are just as fantastic as George. There are some bad eggs among the group, and George finds himself in a heck of a predicament at one point.
A secondary part of the tale involves the butterflies. They are so beautiful and majestic. I won’t spoil the story, but the magic involved is glorious. I loved the way the magical element filled out the story. When you have a poor little crow who loses everything, how could there not be some wonderful magic mixed in? I will say that I hope you are as surprised as I was when the magic came to life.
I award George the Orphan Crow and the Creatures of Blossom Valley a full 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend reading George’s story. There is a lot of tragedy, but the way Helen lays this story out, the ending will bring tears to your eyes. At least it did to mine.
About the Author – Helen Fox
I love Nature and all creatures great and small. I live close to a beautiful Park in North London, where I can often be found feeding the squirrels and birds. I love all birds but I am drawn to crows in particular, for though they are the least loved of all birds, they are very intelligent and charismatic.
During my daily walks at the Park, I found that three crows would be at the same spot each time I went to feed them and before long I discovered they favoured meaty foods to seeds, so I tried my best to oblige. I noticed that when one would fly off the grass the other two would follow suit, so I gathered they must be a family; father, mother and perhaps their son?
One afternoon, my crows weren’t there and as I sat at the bench and waited, the younger one landed on the grass walking anxiously around. Seconds later, he took to the air circling low over the trees and cawing his little heart out. Was he calling his parents? Were his carks cries of fear and despair, had his parents abandoned him or even worse been killed?
It was this scene that inspired me to write ‘George the Orphan Crow and the Creatures of Blossom Valley,’ a traditional storytelling that has been loved by many readers.
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