An Owl Without a Name

An Owl Without a Name begins when a young, curious Great Horned Owl falls out of his nest and lands where a family rescues him. The owl is slightly injured, and so the family calls the Birds of Prey Centre to rescue him and nurse him back to health and, if possible, to have the bird returned to the wild. At the Centre, the young owl encounters other species of owls and birds of prey. He realizes that the others have names, and he wonders what his name might be. The young girl in the family who rescued him calls him Snowy; he is called Buddy by the worker at the Centre; and Faisel which he selects because it is similar to the name of one of the burrowing owls in the next habitat. He goes from inside the centre to an outside habitat where he interacts with Sage, a wise owl who slowly imparts her wisdom, and Rave, a bully who is a Bald Eagle. Everyone he meets is asked if they know his name. In his family, he was only called Brother. The search for a name as he heals is the focus of the story.

The story is told in first person by the young owl. Because he is unfamiliar with much of the vocabulary, it is a good opportunity for the author to explain what is happening. Readers see his behaviour and how it is reflected by his mood. He is unsure of whom to trust and what will happen to him. The author’s research is evident as the birds act in a realistic way, bringing out facts about each of the species and how they interact. Chapters are numbered and titled which help the flow of the plot. Fraser’s black and white drawings of some of the birds added interest and clarity. The details bring the story alive for readers. An Owl Without a Name was a very readable novel and suitable for the intended audience.

Friendship and family are important themes in An Owl Without a Name which also has a strong environmental focus and provides information about what to do if you encounter an injured bird. This title would be a good supplement to the classroom curriculum as well as make a fine read-aloud selection.