Swordbird facts for kids
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| Author | Nancy Yi Fan |
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| Illustrator | Mark Zug |
| Cover artist | Mark Zug |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's Fantasy novel |
| Published | February 2007 HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| ISBN | 978-0061131004 |
| OCLC | 70877706 |
| LC Class | PZ7.F19876 Swo 2007 |
| Preceded by | Sword Quest (2008) |
| Followed by | Sword Mountain (2012) |
Swordbird is an exciting adventure story (also called a fantasy novel) written by Nancy Yi Fan. It's a tale about brave birds and their fight for freedom. This book was so popular that it has a prequel called Sword Quest, which came out in 2008. There's also a sequel, Sword Mountain, published in 2012, which continues the story in a new place.
Contents
The Story of Swordbird
This book tells an amazing story about different bird tribes.
The Conflict Begins
The adventure starts with a mean hawk named Turnatt. He is building a huge, scary castle called Fortress Glooming. Meanwhile, in the Stone-Run forest, two bird tribes, the Bluewingle blue jays and the Sunrise cardinals, are fighting. They think each other are stealing their eggs and food. But they don't know that Turnatt is actually causing all the trouble! He wants them to be weak so he can take over.
A brave female blue jay named Aska, from the Bluewingle tribe, meets a robin named Miltin. Miltin is a slave at Fortress Glooming. He warns Aska about Turnatt's evil plans. Aska quickly goes back to her forest and tells both the Bluewingle and Sunrise tribes about Turnatt.
A Call for Help
The two tribes realize they've been tricked and stop fighting. They make up just in time for the Bright Moon Festival. During the festival, a traveling group called the Flying Willowleaf Theater arrives. They help celebrate by telling the legend of Swordbird. Swordbird is a giant, peaceful bird with amazing magical powers.
But the celebration is cut short! Turnatt's soldiers attack, trying to capture and enslave everyone. The tribes fight back and manage to defeat the soldiers. They decide they need to summon Swordbird, as he seems to be the only one powerful enough to defeat Turnatt. Swordbird has a special weapon called the Leasorn Sword.
To summon Swordbird, they need a special song and one of the Leasorn Gems. These gems are said to be tears from the Great Spirit. There are only seven of these gems in the world, plus an eighth one in Swordbird's own blade. It seems like all hope is lost. But then, Miltin, who has just escaped from Fortress Glooming, tells them that his tribe has one of the Leasorn Gems! The tribes decide to send Aska and Miltin on a dangerous journey. They must travel over the White Cap Mountains to reach Miltin's home, the Waterthorn tribe.
The Journey and the Battle
While Aska and Miltin are away, Turnatt sends his raven spy, Shadow, to destroy the two villages. Shadow and his group manage to set the Bluewingle tribe's home on fire. The Bluewingle tribe has to find safety with the Sunrise tribe. Shadow then tries to burn the Sunrise village too, but the tribe members fight back bravely and scatter his group.
Meanwhile, at the White Cap Mountains, Aska and Miltin are attacked by dangerous creatures called Slarkills. Miltin is badly hurt and slowly dying. They manage to reach the Waterthorn tribe's home. There, Miltin sadly dies, but Aska convinces the Waterthorn tribe to help her friends fight Turnatt. The Waterthorn tribe arrives just in time to join the Sunrise and Bluewingle tribes, along with the Flying Willowleaf Theater, in a big battle against Turnatt and his army.
Peace Returns
Aska finally manages to summon Swordbird! He quickly defeats Turnatt. With their leader gone, Turnatt's army leaves. The birds of Stone-Run then free all the birds who were enslaved in Fortress Glooming.
Two years later, Aska marries Cody, an old friend. The Sunrise and Bluewingle tribes have joined together to form the Stone-Run Forest tribe. Fortress Glooming, once a scary castle, has been turned into the Stone-Run Library. The story ends with Cody and Aska visiting Miltin's grave and leaving one of Swordbird's feathers as a tribute.
