Everyone except the pigeon, that is, who is sure Sir Walter no longer cares for him. Sad and feeling overlooked, the pigeon decides it is time to leave. When Sir Walter needs to pigeon for a special, urgent message, he is nowhere to be found. Will Tommy be able to find her friend and save the celebrations?
The sixth story in the Sword Girl series continues to follow the adventures of Tommy and her friends at Flamant Castle, as Tommy pursues her dream to become the first female squire and knight, determined to prove she can match the skills and courage of the boys.
Pigeon Problems is a great adventure story for younger readers. The medieval setting is interesting and Tommy’s ability to talk with the castle’s animals adds an element of fantasy to the story. Flamant Castle has a collection of quirky characters that add humour and silliness, and Tommy herself is lots of fun for younger readers, particularly girls looking for stories with a strong female central character that they can relate to.
Gregory Rogers’ illustrations complement the story well and break up the text for those children just starting to read chapter books. There are currently six books in the series. You can read Frances Watts’ guest post about writing the Sword Girl series here.
Title: Pigeon Problems (Sword Girl #6)
Author: Frances Watts
Illustrator: Gregory Rogers
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $11.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 April 2013
Format: Soft cover
ISBN: 9781743313220
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior fiction