Skydancer

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Wulf, his sister, and his brother are newly hatched ravens discovering
their world. They learn to fly, to hunt, and to avoid the dangers of
life in the wild. Wulf’s mother names him for his endurance and his
ability to survive against all odds. Wulf’s resilience is put to the
test several times, and each time he finds the strength to go on. He is
attacked by Chaos (his father’s mortal enemy) and when Wulf recovers,
he vows to destroy him. Chaos eventually kills Wulf’s brother, maims
his sister, and terrorizes their entire young flock. Wulf encourages the
battered flock to retaliate, but only Wulf has the skills, strength, and
stamina necessary to defeat Chaos for good.

The story of this raven family offers a comprehensive view of the
habits and behaviour of these extremely intelligent and adaptable birds.
Incidents in the story such as a raven stealing prey from an eagle,
playing games with objects, co-operating to hunt, caching food, and
making daredevil stunt-flying manoeuvres are all examples of observed
raven behaviour.

Murphy writes in an elegant prose from the raven’s point of view,
which sets a perfect tone for the majestic nature of these birds. The
straightforward depiction of the life-and-death struggle for survival is
informative and interesting. The descriptions of the natural settings
are stunning, and the action and suspense are intense.

Skydancer is a beautiful story written with dignity and grace. Highly
recommended.