THE HUMMINGBIRD WARS
by Ron Paschall ; illustrated by Sue Hull
A whimsical YA fantasy featuring fierce members of the Hummingbird Nation.
In 1820, Hubert Hummingbird is the husband of Helena and father of Mason; another hatchling is soon to be born. One day in June, Hubert is blissfully imbibing flower nectar in his favorite meadow and spots a bunch of threatening crows circling high above, about to attack. Hubert escapes, but it’s the third hostile appearance in one week by members of the Crow Nation; it turns out to be the harbinger of a vengeful plot devised by aging hawk Hatchet. Back when Hubert was not yet hatched, his father had sacrificed his own life to protect him; in the battle that ensued, Hubert’s father destroyed Hatchet’s left eye—and now Hatchet’s determined to ruin Hubert’s life. It’s a clever scheme that causes Hubert to lose the respect of his peers and results in his and his family’s banishment from the colony. After 100 years, the descendants of the original Hubert were allowed to return, but his name was still a source of ridicule. A century after that, in 2020, a new fledgling is born, and his father chooses to name him after his unfairly derided ancestor. The young Hubert may be the one to finally reclaim the family’s honor. In his preface, Paschall offers his readers an informative introduction to the intricate behavior and abilities of the remarkable hummingbird, which can fly forward and backward, hover in place, and endure 500 miles of speedy flight without rest. All of this lays a nice foundation for an imaginative narrative, which builds upon the real-life antics of this tiny bird and its intense instincts toward protection of family and territory. Young Hubert and his friends are portrayed as being full of personality, and their adolescent adventures are exciting enough to keep the story engaging and frequently amusing. Illustrator Hull presents compelling two-page spreads, including images of an angry eagle and a sleeping mountain lion.
A clever and enjoyable chapter book for the younger set about love, friendship, and restitution.