Bird lives with his Dad. His mother had abandoned him when he was a baby. Bird’s only friend is Sugar and they do everything together. When Sugar has to move to Broome with his family, Bird’s world comes crashing down. He runs away to Melbourne and lives on the street with no food or money. (

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dalzan | Apr 18, 2013 |

Laguna expertly captures Bird’s obsessive nature and his naive view of the world. She also explores the power and importance of friends from the child’s perspective.

slamarca | May 15, 2008 |

Yr 7 - Yr 8.
Sugar Boy is Bird's best friend. They hang around down at the river, in the bush tunnel, or beside the railway tracks riding their bikes fast enough to beat the train. There's only two of them, but they're the whole team. (

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mcgarry | Nov 26, 2007 |

Touching novel about a kid called James Burdell (Bird) and his best mate Sugar Boy. Bird lives with his rough-as- guts mechanic Dad and wonders why his Mum “shot through” and left him – did he do something wrong? Bird likes nothing better than to hang out with Sugar Boy, draw birds and dream and life is great until SB delivers a terrible piece of news (his family are moving to WA to help the younger brother’s asthma).

nicsreads | Apr 21, 2007 |

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2006

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AU Author. James Bird Burdell likes Math and Science - because when something is wrong you can usually go back and find the mistake that you did. But life isn't as simple as that. There's no reason why his dad is a single dad. No reason why his mum shot through. No reason why his friend Sugar Boy's sick little brother has to struggle to get his air in. Bird and Sugar Boy are best friends - they ride their bikes together, they hang out in an old tunnel down the bush and they're always getting in trouble for making each other laugh in class. But then Sugar Boy moves to Broome. 9 yrs+… (more)