Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Children grieve differently from adults, and that-s okay, suggests this warmhearted story from Australian writer Noble, herself a mother who-s lost a child. One morning, Finn finds a feather on his doorstep--It was white, it was amazing, it was perfect--and tells his mother that it-s from his dead brother, Hamish. -Mom took a deep breath and gave him a great, big hug.- When he shows the feather to his teacher, she sighs, too. -Why was he the only one excited about his feather?- Fortunately, Finn-s friend Lucas is happy to play with Finn-s discovery. They top a castle with the feather, and when it blows away, their classmates help to rescue it. Soft, brightly colored spreads by Abbott (Twindergarten) make Finn-s energy and resilience clear and use unusual perspectives to amplify the emotion in the words. The moment when Finn discovers the feather is presented as an aerial shot, seen from the place where, perhaps, he feels Hamish may be. Some children, Noble observes, experience loss as a complex set of feelings that involves excitement, sadness, pleasure, and regret all muddled up together. Combined, the art and story create a useful, moving resource for bereaved children and their families. Ages 4-8. (June)

ALA Booklist (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

It's the first day of spring when the white feather appears on Finn's doorstep. Finn thinks it's amazing and perfect because he's sure his brother, Hamish, sent it to him. Readers will understand Hamish is dead when Finn's friend Lucas then asks, "Really? Angels can do that?" Finn is sure they can, but the question is, What to do with the feather? The story follows the boys through a school day as they find ways to have fun with the feather. They make a castle with the feather atop it; they tickle each other; they rescue the feather when it gets caught in the branches of a tree; and, quietly, they remember how cool Hamish had been. At story's end, Finn finds an inspired way to thank Hamish for the gift. Inspired by Noble's own experience of loss, and enhanced by Abbott's naive, softly colored double-page-spread illustrations, the gentle story deals with death gracefully by celebrating those who have gone before. It will provide a welcome opportunity for parents to discuss a serious issue with their young children.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Young Finn is thrilled to find a white feather on his doorstep one morning. His excitement seems overblown until it becomes clear that he believes the feather was sent by his "angel" brother. This is a beautifully understated grief story featuring art that allows sadness to edge Finn's elation.