Feather Boy facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Nicky Singer |
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| Illustrator | Kevin Longport |
| Cover artist | Connie Talbot |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | 1 |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Collins |
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Publication date
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1 January 2002 |
| Pages | 286 |
Feather Boy is a popular book written by Brighton author Nicky Singer. It was first published in 2002 by HarperCollins. This exciting story was even made into a TV show by the BBC in 2004. Did you know one part of the TV series was filmed in Madonna's house?
Contents
What is Feather Boy About?
This story is about Robert Nobel, a shy 12-year-old boy. He is going through a tough time because his parents have recently divorced. Robert also faces challenges at school. He is often picked on and bullied by a classmate named Niker.
Robert's life starts to change when a storyteller named Catherine invites his class to Mayfield Rest Home. There, Robert gets a special project. He has to work with an elderly lady named Edith Sorrel.
Robert's Adventure Begins
Edith Sorrel asks Robert to visit a mysterious, abandoned place called Chance House. Robert goes there and discovers the grave of David Sorrel. David was a 12-year-old boy who sadly passed away at Chance House many years ago.
Robert shares this secret with Kate, a girl he likes. But Niker, the bully, overhears them. Niker then dares Robert to spend a night at the top of Chance House. Robert accepts the challenge.
The Feather Coat
After Robert spends the night at Chance House, Edith Sorrel gives him a new task. She asks him to create a special coat for her, made entirely of feathers. Robert works very hard, sewing day and night to make the coat.
Just as the coat is almost finished, Niker causes trouble again. He destroys Robert's feather coat! Robert has to work even harder to sew it back together.
Finally, Robert gives the finished feather coat to Edith. When she puts it on, something amazing happens: she seems to fly! After this incredible moment, Edith passes away peacefully.
In the end, Robert meets his father again. They go fishing together, and it seems like things are getting better for Robert.
About the Author, Nicky Singer
Nicky Singer was born in 1956. She is known for writing books and also for creating documentaries. The idea for Feather Boy came to her when she saw a house that looked just like Chance House. It was old, abandoned, and poorly decorated.
Nicky Singer was also inspired by her son, Roland, when writing the book. Besides Feather Boy, she has written other stories, including "The Survival Game" and "The Island."
Feather Boy on Screen and Stage
Feather Boy was made into a TV series in 2004. It was first shown on the British TV channel BBC One. The series had six episodes, each about 30 minutes long. Later, all the episodes were shown together as one longer program.
Awards and Recognition
The TV series was written and produced by Peter Tabern. It was directed by Dermot Boyd. The main actors were Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Sheila Hancock. Peter Tabern and Dermot Boyd won an award for Best Drama at the British Academy Children's Awards for their work on Feather Boy.
A Musical Version
In 2006, the National Theatre asked for a musical version of Feather Boy. This musical was created for young people to perform. Nicky Singer and Dermot Boyd wrote the script for the musical. The lyrics were written by Don Black, and the music was composed by Debbie Wiseman.
