Golden Bird

Daniel is sick with cancer. His stomach won't stop hurting, no matter how much medicine he takes to ease the pain. As he lies in the hospital, he can hear the muted voices of his mother and his doctor discussing his case (although his mother doesn't tell him, Daniel knows he is dying). One day he has a new visitor--a beautiful golden bird who gradually draws Daniel farther and farther toward the sun, away from his weakness and pain. When Daniel takes his last journey out of the hospital, he is finally free from his suffering, and happy to be reunited with his father, who died a few years before. Stolp's simple, poetic language and direct voice refute the fear often associated with death, replacing it with acceptance and relief. Postma's ( The Stolen Mirror ) misty pencil illustrations take the sharp edge from Daniel's plight, further contributing to the dreamlike atmosphere. A first novel, this brief but eloquent chronicle about death is a moving story for both adult and child. Ages 9-12. (Apr.)