ONE FOR SORROW, TWO FOR JOY

At the start of "One for Sorrow," the opening half of British author Woodall's savage first novel, Birddom's very existence is threatened. Magpies, under the dictatorship of the treacherous Slyekin, have ruthlessly wiped out many bird species. A wise old owl, Tomar, asks plucky young Kirrick—evidently the sole robin to survive the holocaust—to undertake three dangerous journeys in order to enlist the aid of feathered allies. Kirrick proves that one brave little bird can make a big difference against "planned systematic genocide." The second section, "Two for Joy," allows Kirrick's mate, Portia, to prove her mettle. Contrary to the hype in the U.K. press, this avian fantasy lacks the depth of that modern animal classic, Watership Down . Nor, with its scenes of defecation, disembowelment and magpie rape, does it have much in common with The Lord of the Rings . Even the good birds execute summarily and employ mass murder. Still, given the compelling plot of "One for Sorrow" in particular, one can understand why Disney has optioned the novel "in a million-dollar deal." It should make a wonderful Disney feature-length cartoon, suitably sanitized. Agent, William Clarke. (Jan. 4)

Forecast: Despite the book's billing as "written by a father to entertain his sons," adult readers may find the story too simplistic while younger readers may be troubled by the high violence level.