Bandy
by Craig R. Hipkins
Isaac’s only friend is a passenger pigeon named Bandy. He deludes himself in believing the bird talks to him. Bullied, he is resigned to a life of being the misunderstood bookworm by neighboring boys until a disastrous fire kills his parents and little sisters, sparing only his younger brother, Thomas. He and Thomas are taken in by their Uncle Raymond, an abolitionist, who plans to send Isaac to Virginia to buy Joy, a young slave with debilitating health, from her slave owner, Wil Jericho. Shortly after arriving in Virginia, Isaac learns the ugly truth. The butler who accompanied him on the journey killed his uncle before leaving and plans to do the same to Isaac to steal Raymond’s estate.
Isaac, with Joy, escape into the backwoods of Virginia. Discovering passages of the Underground Railroad, stowing away in carriages, hiding in churches, and outwitting the mercenaries hired by Jericho, the two teens fight tooth and nail to make it to Boston before they’re caught. Will Joy be taken from this life by sickness before she’s found freedom? On their journey, they learn a lot about each other. Isaac promises to bring Joy to Bandy's pond, a heavenly place where peace and serenity reign.
“The pigeons came in droves, thousands of them, flapping their wings and crowding together in a tight mass. The sky slowly darkened as they blotted out the sun as if there were an eclipse, but nay, the darkness was only momentary. A small opening let the solar disk of the sun throw a wide beam on the rock below, shining its magnificence on the two youths, who were gazing up at the spectacle with amazement, feeling the glory of all that is good.”
After tragedy strikes, young Isaac is sent on a mission, but unbeknownst to him, he is heading straight into danger – and he'll find that not only his own life is at risk...
Bandy is a riveting, fast-paced coming-of-age tale, told sensitively, with a heartwarming message at heart. But it doesn’t shy away from sensitive issues such as loss, deceit, violence, and slavery.
Isaac is a young teen, who loves retreating to his favourite place by a pond, where he chats to his only friend, a passenger pigeon called Bandy. The bird sits on his shoulder, listening, and nibbling Isaac's face. It's a moment of rare happiness for the boy. But then trouble appears in the shape of a group of school bullies, and Bandy hides quickly. Defending himself, Isaac is injured, frustrated and embarrassed that he fell into the boys’ trap.
At the same time as he is looked after, tragedy strikes his home, and Isaac finds himself – together with his little brother, Thomas – packed off to Boston, to his uncle's home.
But Isaac's initial concerns are allayed as Uncle Raymond turns out to be a kind man, an abolitionist, who has bought the freedom of Esther, a young slave, from her brutal owner in Virginia. But as Esther's young sister, Joy, is still in the brute's hands, Uncle Raymond has hatched a plan to buy her freedom, too. Due to sickness, he is unable to make the journey, so he sends Isaac, together with his butler, Charles, an uncouth man untypical of the household. A man who, following their departure, soon reveals his true nature...
Setting off on what Isaac considers an adventure with great responsibility, he is soon faced with dangers he'd never anticipated, as there are some nasty surprises awaiting him in Virginia. He finds himself at the mercy of Joy's owners, and when Joy's and his own lives are in grave danger, he realises they must flee. But their flight is not an easy one, as they are pursued not only by the thugs, but also by the law!
Will Isaac and Joy make it to freedom in the north? And what does Bandy, a passenger pigeon, have to do with it all? Well, read Bandy to find out!
Isaac is a lonely boy when we meet him first. His only friend is Bandy, the passenger pigeon he meets at his favourite spot by a pond. But his safe place is ruined by the arrival of a small band of school bullies, leaving him bruised in body and mind. When he then loses almost all his family, all hope appears lost. So heading off on a great adventure across the country is a daunting, but also exciting adventure. At first, he relishes the challenge, but soon, he discovers that not all is as it seemed – and that even his uncle kept secrets from him.
Isaac is a really likeable boy, one that many youngsters caught between childhood and teenage years will relate to. He has a strict, simple code of honour – be kind – and a strong sense of right and wrong, and when he must find the bravery he needs to survive, and to get Joy to safety, he doesn't hesitate to take risks. His selflessness and determination make for riveting reading.
Joy is a kind, delightful character. A young slave girl beaten and abused by her owners, she is also very ill. Her symptoms appear to be cancer, and it is no surprise that her elder sister, Esther, who is treated like a daughter by Uncle Raymond, wants her with her. Joy puts a brave face to the debilitating pain she is suffering throughout the journey, and the side effects of her sickness bring them into danger. But as she becomes a close friend to Isaac, she draws energy from his strength, and her determination to see her sister again makes her fight for her life, for as long as possible.
The journey Isaac and Joy undertake is rough at times, with their pursuers keen to string him up, and to take her back to her owner. Even the local sheriff is after them. Isaac's only friend is Major Frost but he needs to find him first, before the bad guys catch them. The pace of their journey is relentless as they are hunted, and there are several very close calls. The dangers they face show up vividly the difference in the US states’ politics at the time – just before the outbreak of the American Civil War, which already lurks on the horizon. Virginia was a hotbed of slavery, and Mr Hipkins doesn't shy away from detailing the brutality slaves – and those who helped them – faced at the hands of their cruel owners. There is some level of violence in the book, but it blends well into the plot, and it is never gratuitous. Mr Hipkins portrays the era as it was, with all prevalent preconceptions and attitudes. Bandy is dealing with the matter incredibly sensibly – and sensitively.
I desperately wanted the children's journey to succeed, and for Joy to find a doctor who'd be able to help her beat her sickness. It was inspiring to see the friendship between Isaac and Joy grow, and in that friendship, there it was that we found the link to Bandy, the passenger pigeon. A reader's heart will burst with emotion when Isaac and Joy discover the real reason behind their ability to talk with animals, and it is this warmth that runs like a subtle but ever-present thread through the book. As you blink back the tears, you are pulled into a warm embrace of friendship, care, and loyalty that transcends all horrors, and all the brutality.
Bandy is a captivating novel, full of challenges and dangers, but also of hope and love. It is the warmth that runs through the intriguing plot with its at times detailed, realistic (but never gratuitous) brutality. It is a human(e) warmth that transcends colour or station in life. And it leaves readers with a sense of hope for a future where all people under the sun are equal.
As for passenger pigeons, I was saddened to read in the author's notes that they have become extinct, hunted into oblivion, their habitat destroyed. In that historical context, Bandy creates a fitting homage to these beautiful birds. Thank you, Mr Hipkins.
Bandy is a heartwarming story that will stay with you for a long time, with its endearing main characters, a thrilling coming-of-age adventure, and a glowing ray of hope for humanity. It is an emotional read, one that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I wish we could all be a little like Isaac and Joy. The world would be a much better place.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Cathie Dunn
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Craig R. Hipkins grew up in Hubbardston, Massachusetts. He is the author of medieval and gothic fiction. His novel Adalbert is the sequel to Astrolabe written by his late twin brother Jay S. Hipkins (1968-2018).
He is an avid long distance runner and enjoys astronomy in his spare time.
Connect with Craig:
Website • Twitter / X • Facebook • Instagram
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