A great book from first time author Lee Murray. Eleven-year-old Annie's family have moved from Aotearoa, New Zealand, to Wisconsin, USA. A very homesick Annie wears a black volcanic rock pendant from her grandparents in New Zealand. Falling asleep on an ancient earth animal mound, she wakes to find a giant American eagle breaking free of the earth beneath her. Clutching hold, she is taken for a ride on it's back, a ride that takes her home to Tauranga, Aotearoa, only not in her time, but a thousand years in the past. A battle is brewing between the birds with the Haast's eagle (New Zealand's extinct giant eagle) Te Hokioi at the forefront, and the crafty Kea as his lieutenant. A prophesy foretells the arrival of 'the speaker', a human who can communicate with the birds, could this be Annie? Ken, the American Eagle, acts as Annie's protector, as along with the wise and gentle moa, and the small, flightless kiwi, they try to avert disaster.

It's wonderful to read a story set in my hometown, Tauranga, with recognisable landmarks such as Mauao, White Island, Rotorua and the North Island lakes. I appreciate the list of characters in the front of the book, and the glossary of Maori terms in the back. I would recommend this title for 10-12 years olds. ( )

In Wisconsin, USA, home sick Annie relaxes in the hot sun while she day dreams of sinking into a cool lake in New Zealand, and as she does she drifts off into a dreamy slumber.
The slumber takes her on a long journey to the New Zealand of 1000 years ago, a land filled with many birds; the majestic Moa, the fantail and the kiwi. But a battle amongst the flightless and the predator birds is brewing and Annie has been given a special skill that may help change the out come. The question is can she help the flightless birds in time?

A gentle, yet dynamic story which brings the birds of New Zealand to life. A strong female protagonist will lend to many readers enjoying the story and leave them wanting more. I did find the story a little slow for reading which I feel makes it is well suited to fill the ‘tween’ gap in the book market. The author has added glossary and an explanation of the Maori words will give wider appeal. ( )