Summary:
Birdie Bagshaw has never known her parents. Having grown up in a children’s home for mixed race children in 1950s Leeds, now she has come to live with her great-aunt in the Yorkshire Dales. From her arrival, Birdie is treated like an outsider by the local children. When their bullying drives Birdie to hide in the nearby coal mine, she finds an unexpected rescuer in the form of Mr Duke, the last remaining pit pony in the village. As the weeks pass, Birdie forms a special bond with the spirited little pony. But his future is in danger, and Birdie comes up with a daring plan to save his life in return . . .
Book Information
Title: Birdie
Author: J. P. Rose
Release Date: 3rd October 2024
Genre: YA
Publisher: Andersen Press
Extract One
‘Barrington Dale! Barrington Dale! Anyone for Barrington Dale?’ The conductor marched down the empty carriage with great purpose, shouting above the noise of the train screeching to a halt. Birdie looked out: it was beginning to get dark, and the rain was battering against the window, whilst the white sign of the small country station swung in the wind. ‘This is my stop, mister.’ Birdie sounded much more confident than she felt.
The conductor’s wiry grey eyebrows knitted together, and he stared at Birdie from over his black-rimmed glasses. ‘Well, hurry up then, love, otherwise you might find yourself in Scotland, and if you think it’s cold here, try up there.’ He chortled and pulled her suitcase off the luggage rack. ‘First time away on your own, petal?’
‘Aye, but I think I’ve changed my mind about coming.’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Birdie. Me name’s Birdie Bagshaw. ‘
He smiled warmly. ‘Birdie Bagshaw. That’s a cracker of a name. Where does anyone find a name like that?’
‘Between the turnips. ‘
He bellowed with laughter. ‘I beg your pardon?’ ‘
Me mam left me in church on the day of the harvest festival. I was only a baby, and she pinned a letter to the bib I was wearing, asking if someone could please look after me. She said that me name was Birdie Bagshaw.’ Birdie frowned. ‘She also left a photo of herself, but what with the leak from the church roof, and the juice which seeped out from the beetroot, it got wet, and it were ruined. Any road, that’s how I came to be in the children’s home, but my Great-aunt Mabel tracked us down.’
The conductor shook his head and his eyes twinkled. ‘Has anyone ever told you, you talk a lot?’
Birdie was serious. ‘Most people.’
Smiling, he glanced at his pocket watch. ‘Come on, lass, l let’s get you off. ‘
Birdie stood and walked to the train door, stepping out onto the platform. An icy wind welcomed her. It seemed harsher than it had in Leeds, and it bit painfully at Birdie’s ears. The conductor handed her the case and closed the door with a final bang. Then the train pulled away. It disappeared into the distance. She’d watched a lot of leaving today, but what hadn’t left her was the feeling of sadness which flapped around in her stomach like Mr Dudley’s pigeons.
Author Information
J.P. Rose was born in Manchester but was raised in Yorkshire after her adoption. Growing up she suffered extreme racism, though she continued to be proud of her diverse and rich Jamaican, Nigerian and Anglo-Irish heritage. She trained as an actress but eventually moved into writing, and she is now the author of numerous novels for adults. She owns several horses, dogs and cats and lives in London with her family.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/jprosewriter
Everything Is Better With Dragons 