''How to Make a Bird'' is a 2003 children's novel by Australian author Martine Murray about a young adolescent girl called Mannie. Mannie has faced a myriad of losses and challenges throughout her short life. Little by little, she begins to question her identity. In order to escape insecurities about who she is, Mannie embarks on a journey of self-discovery, enlightenment and acceptance. ''How to Make a Bird'' won the 2004

Queensland Premier's Literary Award The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were an Australian suite of literary awards inaugurated in 1999 and disestablished in 2012. It was one of the most generous suites of literary awards within Australia, with $225,000 in prize money across ...

in the young adult category in 2004.

Setting

''How to Make a Bird'' is set primarily in a small country town somewhere near Castlemaine and Harcourt in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

. The other main setting is

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, where Mannie goes when she runs away.

References

External links

Author's blog
with a "Behind the Story"
Publisher's teachers notes
{{Portal , Children's literature 2003 Australian novels Australian children's novels Novels set in Victoria (state) 2003 children's books Children's books set in Melbourne Children's books set in Victoria