A brilliant handbook for quiet children (and their parents)... a celebration of the introvert

I wish I had had this book when I was 13. It needs to be read by parents as well as teenagers

Whether you are introvert, extrovert or ambivert, there is plenty of food for thought here... this book says if you've got an introverted child, maybe they're quite happy - accept them for who they are'

Reading Quiet Power has given me a wake-up call, reminded me of my inner nature. To have some respect for the warning signs. Some of us need time to just be. Quietly'

For kids who want to roar - on the inside

Children and teenagers of distinctly non-volcanic natures will rejoice to meet their champion in "Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts". (Cain's) narrative voice is kind and understanding as, with anecdotes, social science and practical advice, she extols the qualities of introverts in a culture that prizes noise and flash

Quiet discusses how extroverts in our society are bigged up so much, and if you're anything other than an extrovert you're made to think there's something wrong with you. That's the story of my life. Coming to realize that about myself was very empowering, because I had felt like, 'Oh my god, there must be something wrong with me, because I don't want to go out and do what all my friends want to do'

Marvellous. The most important book published for a decade

Quiet is a very timely book, and Cain's central thesis is fresh and important. Maybe the extrovert ideal is no longer as powerful as it was; perhaps it is time we all stopped to listen to the still, small voice of calm

Susan Cain's Quiet has sparked a quiet revolution. In our booming culture, hers is a still, small voice that punches above its weight. Perhaps rather than sitting back and asking people to speak up, managers and company leaders might lean forward and listen

I can't get Quiet out of my head. It is an important book - so persuasive and timely and heartfelt it should inevitably effect change in schools and offices

A startling, important, and readable page-turner

Jewel’s observant reflections on her rural-Iowa world give this debut its considerable charm . . . the strong opening bodes well for future endeavors

Bird is a mysterious, lyrical and thought-provoking novel from an important new voice in children's literature.

Bird is absolutely magical

This is a slow read – thoughtful and introspective about the dynamics of a grieving family – and contemplative readers will be rewarded by Jewel’s journey.

Bird is full of interesting ingredients . . . Crystal Chan ably and subtly captures the nuances of friendship.

This is a deeply profound and moving novel about a family broken by the death of a son . . .
You would not guess that this is Crystal's first novel. This is a rewarding and insightful and thought provoking book ideal for adults and readers of 11+ alike.

Bird is such a tragic yet hopeful story and I can't recommend it enough.

Bird is such a heartbreakingly beautiful novel about loss, friendship, family and love, and it will gently steal your heart. Let it.

Bird is one of those books that just needs to be read . . . This book is, at times, incredibly sad, but it leaves in its wake a great big smile and a pocketful of hope.

The voice of 12-year-old Jewel carries readers through this lyrical and buoyant debut from Crystal Chan . . . Chan's strong characterizations and her way with words make her a writer to watch.

Daughter of a Jamaican father and her half-Mexican, half-white mother, Jewel has always felt out of place in her small Iowa town . . . When Jewel meets John, an adopted black boy staying with his uncle, she finds a kindred spirit, someone as out of place as she is . . . Chan has carefully crafted John and Jewel as effective foils for each other; their shared interest in science propels multiple metaphors that help Jewel figure out what is solid and knowable versus what must be taken on faith or intuited . . . both character arcs show a deep respect for readers’ abilities to negotiate the complexities of belief and doubt, and to find meaning via character reflection