Iron Robin by Rose Tremain
Jan. 24th, 2024 09:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The Blurb On The Back:
At the edge of the field, Oliver saw something lying in the mud. It was a bird made of iron.
Then something amazing happened …
From an acclaimed literary voice comes a magical story which explores friendship, loyalty and the power of hope.
Oliver loves birds - watching them soar into the sky and wishing that just sometimes they would stay close. So when he discovers a robin made of iron, he thinks he’s found the perfect friend - even if his toy dragon isn’t quite so sure!
When the robin begins to glimmer and hop, Oliver is amazed. But in a terrible turn of events, his new friend is lost.
Nevertheless, there is wonder and excitement ahead for Oliver - with a storm on the horizon and Iron Robin’s magic in the air …
Oliver loves birds and desperately wants them to be his friends but they always fly away from him. One day though, while he’s out playing in the fields near his home, he finds a bird made from iron. Oliver’s toy dragon, Draggi, is not impressed by Oliver’s new friend as he doesn’t really do much. Gradually though over time, a glimmering light appears in his eye and he begins to move. But when Oliver takes the Iron Robin into his school to show his friends, something terrible happens and Oliver worries that he’ll never see his robin again …
Rose Tremain’s debut picture book has some beautiful writing but it isn’t clear if Oliver’s affinity for the robin comes from loneliness, although I did enjoy the snarky Draggi. Richard Jones’s illustrations are superb and really get across Oliver’s isolation and the robin’s magic. All in all, I think it’s a good read but the open ending and the fact that some of the themes are not fully explored may make it go over some young readers’ heads.
I have never read any of Rose Tremain’s literary fiction, although I know her work by reputation and was curious to see what she did with her first ever picture book.
The first thing to say is that there is some beautiful writing in this picture book, e.g. a scene when Oliver is playing in the field trying to build a wall of stones and any scene involving Draggi, Oliver’s toy dragon who is a lovely creation - very snarky and grumpy but also genuinely loves Oliver and cares about him. However I did find Oliver himself to be a little confusing at times - the book starts with a suggestion that Oliver is lonely, but later you find out that he has human friends in addition to Draggi and his mum also clearly loves him as well so I was confused as to why he clearly feels so isolated. I did enjoy the magical elements in the book, both through the depiction of Draggi and the Iron Robin itself. The scene where it first shows signs of life is beautifully done, as are the scenes towards the end after the storm.
Special mention must be made of the illustrations by Richard Jones, which are absolutely superb and, for me, better than the text. The way Jones depicts Oliver’s isolation and the movement of the Iron Robin is just brilliant. There was one particular illustration showing Oliver on his own after some older children have taken the robin from him is genuinely heart breaking and I found myself feeling desperately sorry for Oliver.
Notwithstanding my misgivings, I do think this is a beautifully produced book and is one I can see working well if you’re an adult who likes to read books out loud to your younger readers.
The Verdict:
Rose Tremain’s debut picture book has some beautiful writing but it isn’t clear if Oliver’s affinity for the robin comes from loneliness, although I did enjoy the snarky Draggi. Richard Jones’s illustrations are superb and really get across Oliver’s isolation and the robin’s magic. All in all, I think it’s a good read but the open ending and the fact that some of the themes are not fully explored may make it go over some young readers’ heads.
IRON ROBIN was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
Then something amazing happened …
From an acclaimed literary voice comes a magical story which explores friendship, loyalty and the power of hope.
Oliver loves birds - watching them soar into the sky and wishing that just sometimes they would stay close. So when he discovers a robin made of iron, he thinks he’s found the perfect friend - even if his toy dragon isn’t quite so sure!
When the robin begins to glimmer and hop, Oliver is amazed. But in a terrible turn of events, his new friend is lost.
Nevertheless, there is wonder and excitement ahead for Oliver - with a storm on the horizon and Iron Robin’s magic in the air …
Oliver loves birds and desperately wants them to be his friends but they always fly away from him. One day though, while he’s out playing in the fields near his home, he finds a bird made from iron. Oliver’s toy dragon, Draggi, is not impressed by Oliver’s new friend as he doesn’t really do much. Gradually though over time, a glimmering light appears in his eye and he begins to move. But when Oliver takes the Iron Robin into his school to show his friends, something terrible happens and Oliver worries that he’ll never see his robin again …
Rose Tremain’s debut picture book has some beautiful writing but it isn’t clear if Oliver’s affinity for the robin comes from loneliness, although I did enjoy the snarky Draggi. Richard Jones’s illustrations are superb and really get across Oliver’s isolation and the robin’s magic. All in all, I think it’s a good read but the open ending and the fact that some of the themes are not fully explored may make it go over some young readers’ heads.
I have never read any of Rose Tremain’s literary fiction, although I know her work by reputation and was curious to see what she did with her first ever picture book.
The first thing to say is that there is some beautiful writing in this picture book, e.g. a scene when Oliver is playing in the field trying to build a wall of stones and any scene involving Draggi, Oliver’s toy dragon who is a lovely creation - very snarky and grumpy but also genuinely loves Oliver and cares about him. However I did find Oliver himself to be a little confusing at times - the book starts with a suggestion that Oliver is lonely, but later you find out that he has human friends in addition to Draggi and his mum also clearly loves him as well so I was confused as to why he clearly feels so isolated. I did enjoy the magical elements in the book, both through the depiction of Draggi and the Iron Robin itself. The scene where it first shows signs of life is beautifully done, as are the scenes towards the end after the storm.
Special mention must be made of the illustrations by Richard Jones, which are absolutely superb and, for me, better than the text. The way Jones depicts Oliver’s isolation and the movement of the Iron Robin is just brilliant. There was one particular illustration showing Oliver on his own after some older children have taken the robin from him is genuinely heart breaking and I found myself feeling desperately sorry for Oliver.
Notwithstanding my misgivings, I do think this is a beautifully produced book and is one I can see working well if you’re an adult who likes to read books out loud to your younger readers.
The Verdict:
Rose Tremain’s debut picture book has some beautiful writing but it isn’t clear if Oliver’s affinity for the robin comes from loneliness, although I did enjoy the snarky Draggi. Richard Jones’s illustrations are superb and really get across Oliver’s isolation and the robin’s magic. All in all, I think it’s a good read but the open ending and the fact that some of the themes are not fully explored may make it go over some young readers’ heads.
IRON ROBIN was released in the United Kingdom on 18th May 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.