In this novel, a large group of captive birds led by Manaul, a Philippine Eagle, and aided by unlikely creatures, try to engineer a daring escape from a private aviary in the city. Their aim is to find a mate and a companion for the latest and youngest captive of the aviary: a rare Sulu Hornbill. To achieve this, they must fly over a whole archipelago and return the endangered bird to her natural habitat. This is a rich novel that not only introduces the young reader to environmental issues and to the beauty of the many birds that make the Philippines their home, it also tells a story of friendship, unity and courage.
Author
Carla M. Pacis is a writer, a teacher and a former bookstore owner. She has written several books for children, a couple of novels for young adults and has won several local awards for her stories. She has also edited several books, not all for children, a print magazine and an on-line magazine, both for children. She is a lecturer at the University of the Philippines and at the De La Salle University, teaching and conducting workshops on how to write for children and young adults, and is a Resident Fellow of the U.P. Institute of Creative Writing. During the summer break, she conducts writing workshops for adults, teenagers and children and sometimes will talk to parents and teachers on the power of reading. She will never say no to a school visit, especially to those schools where the students have read her book(s). She enjoys these visits immensely as it gives her a chance to meet her readers and listen to their thoughts and comments. Carla is a founder-member of KUTING or Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting, a local organization of writers for children that meets regularly once a month. The word kuting is tagalog for kitten and Kwentista ng mga Tsikiting means Storytellers for Children. Carla is also a member of the Society for Children's Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI) and has attended at least one their conferences in the U.S.A. (from panitikan.com.ph)
