Birdy by Sharon Kernot is included in the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Older Readers Shortlist.
You can view the other titles shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia for 2025 on the CBCA website.

Birdy by Sharon Kernot is a tender warm-hearted verse novel that tells the story of Maddy, a teenage girl navigating loss and trauma. Told entirely through poetry, the novel explores her emotional journey with raw honesty and lyrical beauty.
After the incident, Maddy developed mutism, living with loss, shame and an anxiety disorder. Maddy struggled to move on from the past. So, the whole family moved to a remote farm cottage on an old apricot orchard. The small town offers Maddy the distance she needed from the incident, while also giving her the chance to form new friendships—like with Alice—through which they support one another in their healing.

I enjoyed the relationship between Maddy and Levi, it’s mutual understanding and support. Levi shared all the rumours from the town and lots of jokes while they spent time together, she never pushed Maddy to open herself. The pure friendship and trust helped Maddy to come out from the past. The book weaved in many warm moments from Maddy’s family, the unspoken understanding from Mum and the supportive actions from Charlie, Maddy’s brother. I also like that Maddy kept a positive relationship with her therapist, she kept her words in mind, slowly pushed herself towards the right way.
A beautiful book and a compelling choice for readers aged 14 and up.

Eva, Year 8

Maddy is mute, but she hasn’t always been like this. Since the Incident, her words have failed her, first stutters and small silences. Now she is unable to speak. She moves to the country with her family. They insist that it is because they all need a break. Maddy knows it’s for her sake. There, she meets Alice, who is still waiting for her daughter (Birdy) to come home and has been waiting for 45 years. Slowly, they help each other heal.
The book is beautiful, and the story is organised. It is written in poetry with beautiful verses.