Background
At the age of twenty-one, Penelope Farmer was contracted for her first collection of short stories, ''The China People''. Whilst working as a teacher for the London County Council Education Department, she was approached by editor Margaret K. McElderry of Harcourt Brace to write a children's novel. Farmer took one story originally intended for ''The China People'', but which proved too long to include, writing, "It was too big an idea, too bony as a short story." This was rewritten as the first chapter of ''The Summer Birds'' (1962), her first book featuring Charlotte and Emma Makepeace. The main settings of the book are a small village school in thePlot summary
Charlotte and Emma Makepeace are children living with their grandfather, Elijah, in a country house in the South Downs in southern England. Named Aviary Hall, the house is decorated with stuffed birds and images of birds. On the way to their small English village school, they meet and befriend a mysterious boy who tells them that he is able to teach them to fly. Over the following days and weeks, the boy teaches Charlotte to fly, and then the other children at the school learn this ability. The boy remains invisible to the adults, with the exception of the schoolteacher, Miss Hallibutt, who herself, as a child, had wished that she could fly. The boy tells her that he is unable to teach her to fly: he can only teach children. The children spend an idyllic summer flying above their village and the downs. As summer draws to an end, the boy offers to take the children on a journey, and the children prepare to go with the boy. Charlotte realises that the boy is not telling them the whole truth, and forces the boy to admit the truth. The boy reveals that while he wants to take them back to his country where they can fly forever, and be children forever, without adult responsibilities, the cost of following him is that they will never be able to return to their homes and their loved ones. The children decide that this indeed is too high a price to pay, and all decline to travel with the boy, with the exception of one girl, who has neither parents, nor a happy life to return to. The children return to their homes and prepare to begin a new term at school.Continuity
The sequel novel, ''Emma in Winter'' continues the theme of flying. In the absence of the mysterious bird-boy, the children are not able to fly in their waking life. However, in Emma and Bobby's dreams, they retain this ability. ''Emma in Winter'' features the same village school setting as ''The Summer Birds'', set around a year and a half after the events of ''The Summer Birds'', with Charlotte now in her second term at a boarding school. ''The Summer Birds'' introduces a theme of referencing the beginning of the world. Chapter 1 of Part Two has the description, "The next morning the sun caught sparkle on every leaf and the air smelled fresh and wet – it was like the beginning of the world morning." In ''Emma in Winter'', Emma and Bobby in their shared dream adventure, would wonder if they will see theReviews
''The Summer Birds'' was highly acclaimed by reviewers on its release, with some reviewers understandably comparing it to... solid, sensible child but so sensitive that she feels everyone's hurts. One knows, with deep pity, that she will always carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. She is all children's conscience as the boy is their fantasy.She continues her praise of Farmer's insightful descriptions of the events and emotions in the book,
This is a beautiful book. The description of the Downs at night has an ethereal poetry and the sadness of the farewell hen the nameless boy returns to his island homeis delicately and truthfully shown. It is part of growing up, and the author never cheats by glossing over unhappiness. But just as truthfully the joy of living, happiness and excitement of childhood is shown as the children fight and clown their way through the summer.
Awards
''The Summer Birds'' received a Carnegie Medal commendation in 1963. It was also listed that year as anAdaptations
In 1987, PBS Video released an educational adaptation of ''The Summer Birds'' on video. This video combines narration, artwork, sound effects and music to introduce a number of featured children's books to children.Chesterfield Public Schools Library Catalog http://dewey.chesterfield.k12.va.us/TLCScripts/interpac.dll?LabelDisplay&DataNumber=807778&RecordNumber=359451&SearchAvailableOnly=0&FormId=33277723&ItemField=1&Config=all&Branch=,0,Sequels
A second book, ''References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Summer Birds 1962 British novels British fantasy novels Children's fantasy novels 1962 fantasy novels British children's novels Chatto & Windus books 1962 children's books