I’ve really loved the Adventures on Trains series from MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman, so I was really excited for M. G. Leonard’s new solo book, Twitch.


Twitch by MG Leonard, cover art by Paddy Donnelly, published by Walker Books

Robber Ryan is on the run having escaped police custody and rumours are they’re in Aves Wood, Twitch’s favourite bird-watching haunt…

And with a new arrival in town asking questions, two unknown girls acting strangely by the woods, former bullies making friends and bigger bullies on the hunt for treasure there’s plenty for Twitch to be suspicious about…

This is such a cleverly crafted mystery with so much heart and humour too.

I have to admit I was unsure at first as things seemed all too obvious, but I should have had more faith in MG Leonard’s writing than that (especially after the number of times she and Sam Sedgman have left me stumped in Adventures on Trains!)

What I really loved was the way just as I started to think things were playing out all too obviously, Twitch voiced my thoughts and/or something happened to throw us off once more!

And so this became a really engrossing mystery that was incredibly smartly written with a couple of fantastic twists!

I loved seeing Jack and Twitch join forces and watching their friendship develop; seeing Twitch start to open up and reach out to make a friend, and seeing Jack drop the act and show his true self as they hesitantly get to know each other was lovely.

I also really loved the way nature, specifically birds, were brought into the story. In the same way that going into Adventures on Trains I thought I had no interest in trains but found myself fascinated, Twitch has served to pique my interest in birds.

I have always liked to see the birds in the garden or park, but Twitch had me listening out for different calls and ready to grab my binoculars and head out spotting! Not to mentioning making me rather guiltily reconsider my stance on rock doves… And now I really want a teapot tree too!

There is a wealth of love, respect and knowledge of birds encompassed in these pages and it is simply joyous. Reading about Maya’s research and inspiration, and especially her dedication to her mother-in-law at the end only enhanced this further.

And then there is the ending, of which I can say very little but just let me tell you it is perfect! Utterly joyous, a little bit madcap, packed with action and team spirit – it reads like a scene from a late 80s/early 90s family film and it was glorious! I was grinning from ear to ear!

Action, suspense and bravery; family, friendship and loyalty; marshes and woodland and birdsong; heart and humour and high spirits – this book has it all and has left me desperate for more!

MG Leonard has done it again with her latest book, Twitch - a top notch mystery story with friendship at its heart.

Twelve year old, Twitch, doesn't have any friends, unless you can count his birds: pigeons, chickens and the starlings that nest in his bedroom. He has grand plans to spend the summer holidays in his hide watching birds in Aves Wood, but his plans are derailed when he finds out a dangerous criminal, Robber Ryan, is on the loose and hiding in the woods. Will Twitch spot signs of 'fowl play' and solve the mystery unfolding before him?

This is fantastic read that is sure to keep you guessing until MG Leonard masterfully ties everything up at the end. It's great to hear that this is the first in the series and I am already looking forward to reading the follow up. I would highly recommend this to readers aged 9+.

After capturing the hearts and minds of young readers (and many an adult) with her brilliant books on beetles and trains, M. G. Leonard now turns her attention to birds. I love birds and I love any kind of book that has a mystery to solve so Twitch sounded like the perfect read for me.

The summer holidays, a time for enjoying yourself and having incredible adventures, and twelve-year-old Twitch is about to have the most eventful of summer breaks. It’s the last day of school and Twitch is excited for the start of the summer holidays. Without school, he will be able to spend his days at his favourite place - his secret birdwatching hideout in Aves Wood Nature Reserve. But things get off to a bad start when Twitch finds himself lying on the ground, staring up at group of bullies and facing the rapidly approaching prospect of being force-fed a worm.

After surviving the encounter, largely thanks to a kind-hearted and mysterious man by the name of Billy - a fellow bird-lover -, Twitch heads over to his hideout for some quiet bird-watching. But his plans are quickly scuppered by a hive of activity in the nature reserve. Police and sniffer dogs are everywhere and a helicopter is policing the skies. A convicted bank robber has escaped from prison and is hiding out in Aves Wood and Twitch soon finds himself at the heart of a mystery where lives and millions of pounds are at stake…

Twitch is a wonderful adventure of unexpected friendships, a love of nature, finding the joy in the simplest of things - the best things in life really are free, the beauty of birds and of enjoying the outdoors and connecting with nature. Leonard delivers a pacy plot that is filled with intrigue, suspense and constantly kept me guessing. Readers familiar with her ‘Adventures on Trains’ series will know what a skilled writer of mystery she is and Twitch has all the classic hallmarks with secrets, characters who are not what they seem, misdirection and plenty of clues that need piecing together. The mystery is not the central focus of the narrative though, that honour belongs to nature and the birds and it is brilliantly done. Twitch using his skills as a bird-spotter to turn detective and using his feathered friends to help him along the way. The story is littered with bird knowledge that is seamlessly integrated as Twitch explains the dawn chorus and a murmuration amongst other things with passion and enthusiasm.

Twitch is a great character who epitomises the importance of being true to yourself, standing up for what you believe is right and being brave enough to face challenges and adversity head on. When we first meet Twitch he is a bit of a loner who doesn’t really have any friends and readily admits that he prefers the company of birds to people. Birds are easier to understand and he feels most at home when he is surrounded by his chickens in the garden, his pigeons in their wardrobe loft on the roof and the swallows that nest in his bedroom. As the story progresses, Twitch finds friendship in unexpected places as bullies change for the better and a wonderful passion for birds, nature and the environment flourishes that bonds the children.

I envisage many a child being inspired by Twitch and readers will be begging parents for a set of binoculars and a trip to the nature reserve to do a bit of bird-spotting. A brilliant read, I’ll be tweeting and chirping loudly about this one.

Recommended for 9+.

With thanks to M. G. Leonard and Walker Books for the advanced reader copy that was received through NetGalley.

I loved this book. It tackles bullying, being different, having a passion, the environment, has heaps of fascinating bird knowledge, drama, intrigue and is a real feel good book. The friendships thAt are forged are tricky and take work and the feelings of trust and anxiety will resonate with many young people. The reader will quickly warm to Twitch and sat and beside him as he experiences a summer like no other.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being a huge bird fan myself and a lover of nature, I love the way this book is so inspiring and geared towards inviting a love of birds and nature to children.

There are some topic opportunities for discussion such as bullying and friendship within this book, and so this would make a great book for middle grade class discussion.

The mystery plot is great and I found this book really enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc copy of this book.

A packed story full of adventure, mystery and bird watching as we follow Twitch through the summer holidays. The story starts off with Twitch as a loner, bullied at school, but an action-packed summer holiday changes all that.

This is such a beautiful book about birdwatching and friendship. I raced through this in one day, with a great plot and characters that you just adore, there's a lot to like about this book!

One of the character’s describes the situation in the story as a “secret seven tribute party”, and that is a perfect description for this book as a whole. It’s a rollicking good adventure, set in a nature-filled area, with modern children who have traditional hobbies (although they are embarrassed by them as they aren’t cool) such as birdwatching, fishing and keeping allotments. Although it’s not something Blyton could have written as it’s most definitely set in the present and the main characters are definitely children of the now.

The first half of the book sets the scene for the exciting conclusion, and there are plenty of other things to consider in the plot - character judgment, friendship, conservation and the value of all life.

It’s incredibly readable, pacing the plot perfectly and introducing just the right number of new characters as and when needed.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, which helped me pass a rainy Sunday afternoon in a very happy way!

TWITCH was a simply charming book. A birdwatcher getting tangled up in an escaped convict case that isn't as simple as it first appears.

The mystery was a lot of fun. I wouldn't say the book comes under "mysteries and thrillers" as there are a lot of constituent parts in this book, so it's not the main focus. The clues and misdirection slowly stack up, building a great atmosphere of something not being right.

The main focus was the environmental. Birds are the centre of Twitch's life, with chickens and nesting birds to protect from a naughty cat, to rock doves (pigeons) he's training as messenger birds. The nature reserve on his doorstep was a lovely backdrop, and a great place to showcase Twitch's knowledge of birds. There's a wetland centre in London I've been to a fair few times and, if I'm honest, I was never much of a fan of sitting and watching the birds ("can we go to the playground yet?") but TWITCH manages to make birdwatching both engaging and beautiful.

As well as a strong environmental theme, the book also tackles bullying and friendship. Twitch starts off friendless and preferring his own company as he's picked on at school, and the book follows him as he meets people from school and others throughout the holidays.

Twitch loves birds. In fact, he has pet chickens, pigeons and he’s made a hidey hole in the woods to watch birds from. However, this love of birdwatching only brings ridicule from other children at school and Twitch’s unpopularity has led to bullying. One day when Twitch goes to his spot in the woods, he finds them crawling with police as a dangerous prisoner has broken free. Twitch plays detective and tries to use his observant nature to find out what is going on before it’s too late.

I love the Adventures on Trains series written by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, so I knew I had to immediately request Twitch when it arrived on NetGalley. Twitch is a fantastic story interspersing facts about birds, detectives and overcoming differences to find friendship. I don’t know much, if anything, about birds and I loved the little details spread throughout and I feel like I actually learned something (or at least enough to make me notice birds a little more).

Middle grade detective stories are generally really fun and this was no exception. I always like trying to pick up clues and work out what’s going on, but as per usual I didn’t figure much out until nearer to the end. Not everything is as it seems as I read this book and it was good to see lots of twists and turns with many unexpected realisations about characters and gut feelings coming true.

Twitch is instantly likeable as the reader feels for his plight with struggling to fit in at school as many children do. I loved to see that he wasn’t afraid to be proud of his passion, despite knowing that bird watching isn’t something that is traditionally ‘cool’. He’s truly compassionate and kind and his desire to see the best in people, even though in the past he’s been let down, makes Twitch a character that many readers will want to identify with. The supporting cast are equally likeable, but I won’t discuss them in order to avoid spoilers! The development of the friendship between Jack and Twitch shows a real feeling of acceptance despite their differences.

Twitch is a story which shows that it’s okay not to fit in with the crowd. Altogether, this was a fantastic detective story meets birdwatching guide and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

This was a brilliant story about friendship and birdwatching with adventure and mystery thrown in. I adored the kids in this book, Twitch was a delight - I loved how strong he was and knowledgable about birds. I also like how he interacts with all the other characters.

A superb story which brought enjoyment with every page.

I was eager to read this book having enjoyed M. G. Leonard’s Beetles series and the Adventures on Trains series - which she is co-writing with Sam Sedgman. I requested it as I saw it on NetGalley and was ecstatic to be approved. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. Quite simply, this is an absolute gem of a book.

Twitch is a keen birdwatcher who counts his animals and his next-door neighbour as his only friends. He’s looking forward to spending the summer holiday in his local nature reserve but the escape of a convicted thief upsets his plans and sets in motion and adventure of intrigue, betrayal, friendship and danger.

Twitch is a wonderful central character. He is compassionate, intelligent and shamelessly himself. He’s more interested in his passions than being seen as cool - even while others around him are, to varying degrees, lying to themselves and others. From the very first scene - where Twitch rescues a bird from a terrible fate, it’s clear the kind of person he is. He’s also believably flawed. He makes mistakes along the way and experiences realistic teenage emotions of jealousy, bitterness and distrust. The story may be excellent but it’s Twitch as a character that really makes this book.

It’s difficult to discuss the other characters without spoiling the plot but I really liked how all of them had dimensions that aren’t immediately obvious. One of this book’s great strengths is that it’s never entirely obvious whether characters are really who they claim to be.

In much the same way that Beetle Boy brought beetle knowledge to a wider audience, Twitch is packed full of references and information on the natural world. There’s a wide array of birds and and an alarming number of bird calls if you plan to read the book aloud to others! My only criticism is that, at times, it felt like the characters were reading a birdwatching guide aloud but there are several more effective integrations of the natural world into the plot.

Overall I would thoroughly recommend Twitch to anyone. It’s a superbly paced, beautiful novel from an author at the top of her game.

It’s the beginning of the summer holidays and friendless Twitch plans to spend it birdwatching. When a stranger rescues him from the school bullies on his way home, Twitch befriends him but soon finds out that he’s not who he claims to be. When news arrives of an escaped convict, all eyes turn to the newcomer.

This is a great adventure story about friendship, birds and escaped prisoners. I loved reading about Twitch, his love of birds and his relationship with his mum and next-door-neighbour. I have read several books by this author but this was by far, the best.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twitch, a 12-year-old boy, is passionate about birds, but it is not something that makes him popular at school. He is often targeted by bullies and ridiculed. Twitch’s friends are his chickens, pigeons and some swallows nesting in his bedroom. It is with these feathered friends, birdwatching and being surrounded by nature where he prefers to be.

The summer holidays are about to start and Twitch intends to spend it at his hide-out in Aves Wood. Spotting local birds and training his pigeons to carry messages. However, a convict, Robber Ryan, has escaped prison and is believed to be hiding in the woods! The Police are determined to find the escapee and their search throughout Aves Wood does not make birdwatching easy.

There is intrigue, mystery and the prospect of danger. Does the local bully actually want to be Twitch’s friend? Can he believe what people say? Where is Robber Ryan and what has happened to the missing money that everyone is eager to find? With so many questions running through Twitch’s mind, his plans for the summer holidays soon change and he turns his birdwatching skills to being a detective!

Prepare yourself for an exciting adventure about friendship, trust, bullying and a love of birds. Twitch by M.G. Leonard is, undoubtedly, brilliant middle-grade fiction!

Thank you to Walker Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Twitch truly deserves 5 stars!

I love Twitch’s birdwatching fascination and how he is not afraid of who he is and what hobbies he has. This is a very important lesson for children to learn and it is demonstrated so beautifully in this book. This will be snapped up by children in year 3/4 instantly in my school who are very much into nature. I can’t wait to share it with them!

Last year I was introduced to the wonderful world fo M.G. Leonard when I read The Highland Falcon Thief, which she co-wrote with Sam Sedgman. I absolutely loved it, and so as soon as I saw a new book by her available on NetGalley I simply had to request it. Then I read the blurb, and needed no more convincing! A bird-spotting detective? It sounded incredible, and it certainly lived up to the expectation!

Twitch is a remarkable main character. He’s a twelve-year-old boy with great compassion, inventiveness, and courage. In his first scene he stands up to a bully threatening to kill an injured pigeon, and saves the bird despite knowing it will make his life at school difficult. He trains said pigeon’s squabs to be messenger birds. He’s built an entire hide in the woods to birdwatch from, and his skill in doing so really surprised me! And he is kind to everyone, despite what they may have done to him previously. I really loved reading this story from his perspective. The adventure was a fun one in itself, but Twitch definitely made it even better! All of Leonard’s characters are brilliant, though. There’s Jack, Twitch’s former bully who has a softer heart than he likes to show; Amita, Twitch’s next door neighbour, a chatty older woman who goes along with a surprising amount of hijinks; and many other people who flit in and out of the story.

What I loved particularly was the amount of bird knowledge in the book. I knew it was going to be about a birdwatcher, but was definitely surprised by how much passion flowed from the page; you can tell that the author put a lot of thought and love into this aspect of the story. It made me want to start my own list of birds and wake up at 5 to listen to the Dawn Chorus! I also really enjoyed the way Twitch uses his bird knowledge so well to solve the mystery of the escaped convict and the missing loot. It was done in a really fun way.

The mystery itself is also great. As someone older than the intended audience, when I read middle grade mystery books I tend to guess the twist a little ahead of time, but still enjoy the journey the characters take, but with Twitch I definitely didn’t see things coming! The entire reading experience was delightful and full of surprises, and I can’t wait to see what this little group of twitchers will do next!

Love love loved this. I've developed a big love of birds and birdwatching in the past year - kicked off in part by reading Dara McAnulty's 'Diary of a Young Naturalist' and a couple other books and TV shows and the like. Watching the birds just getting on with life as normal, learning about them, listening to them and looking after them has been a total delight and I adored this book, celebrating the wonder of birds. I'm excited to think of the young people who might go on their own journey of falling in love with the bird world through this book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for this preview.
Twitch is a wonderful story about a child's summer holidays. This boy is Twitch and he loves birds. Twitch is also kind and his choices are guided by the memories of his grandfather.

Twitch is bullied and we discover how this impacts his summer - but this is a different summer as a robber has escaped prison and has been spotted nearby.

No spoilers here, a truly enjoyable read! With lots of knowledge of birds shared.

Love m.g Leonard. Such a talented author. From adventures on trains to being a bug to catching a convict.
This adventure had me on my seat a little bit and heart racing. I absolutely loved this adventure this is one for the book shelf or a good book club read.
Looking forward to more books from m.g Leonard.

Twitch, as his name suggests, is a keen bird watcher, which doesn't make him overly popular at school. In fact, he counts his pet pigeons and chickens as his friends, and plans to spend his summer holidays at his makeshift hide in Aves Wood, spotting kingfishers and other local birds. His plans don't start well though when he finds Jack and a group of boys from school threatening to kill a pigeon. Unable to walk past, Twitch steps in but suffers the consequences and is about to be force-fed a worm when Billy steps in. A burley man who has come from nowhere, he rescues Twitch and the pair get talking about bird watching - what luck that Billy also likes to watch birds and just happens to be looking for somewhere quiet to stay. The following day, Twitch heads to Aves Woods but his bird-watching plans are scuppered as Robber Ryan has escaped from prison and is reportedly hiding out in the woods. Consequently, the police are swarming all over the place, scaring off the birds. Far from being scared off, Twitch decides that his bird-watching skills could be useful in more ways than one in helping the police to catch Ryan, but will he be successful and who are the girls he keeps seeing?

This is a wonderful book for so many reasons: it's written by M.G. Leonard and I've loved all of her books so far (in fact O wrote a review for Beetle Boy that appeared in the window of Watertsones Newcastle for a month so we have a real soft spot for all Maya's books!); it has a main character that you are going to just love and the ending ... oh, just wait till you get to the ending!!! It's Enid Blyton meets Bugsy Malone and you'll not want it to end!!!

Twitch (Corvus Featerstone), as a main character, is somebody you are going to warm to! His love of birds is his passion and he isn't afraid to be himself. Despite being bullied, he won't walk away when the bullies are in trouble; he is trusting and just seems to want to see the best in people; but above all else, he is cares about people and animals. He's the sort of person you want to get to know and you'll be sad to say goodbye to at the end of the book.

As well as a celebration of nature, this book is a wonderful adventure that will keep you guessing as to what is behind characters' actions - are people hiding things? Is that little voice at the back of Twitch's head right? And what on earth will happen in the end? The book will leave you guessing but I have to say that the ending is truly superb! You'll want to jump into the pages and join in!

From a teacher's point of view, I can see this book being a wonderful class reader: be it simply as a book to read for pleasure to your class, or one to use as a basis of a unit of work - there are so many possibilities and I found myself thinking about different writing opportunities and discussion points right the way through.

In short, this is another master-piece from the wonder that is MG Leonard.

Due for release in June, I urge you to pre-order it.