*Thank you so much to Canongate for sending me this book to review.*

-Book description –

Penguin Bloom is an extraordinary true story full of hope and courage, featuring Cameron Bloom’s exceptional photographs and a captivating narrative by New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive.
Penguin the Magpie is a global social media sensation. People the world over have fallen in love with the stunning and deeply personal images of this rescued bird and her human family. But there is far more to Penguin’s story than meets the eye. It begins with a shocking accident, in which Cameron’s wife, Sam, suffers a near fatal fall that leaves her paralysed and deeply depressed.

Into their lives comes Penguin, an injured magpie chick abandoned after she fell from her nest. Penguin’s rescue and the incredible joy and strength she gives Sam and all those who helped her survive demonstrates that, however bleak things seem, compassion, friendship and support can come from unexpected quarters, ensuring there are always better days ahead. This plucky little magpie reminds us all that, no matter how lost, fragile or damaged we feel, accepting the love of others and loving them in return will help to make us whole.

Check out this book trailer for the book from Cameron Bloom himself. 

 

Are you intrigued now by the book? Do you feel the urge to rush to the bookshop and devour this heartbreaking story of love and loss? (the answer should definitely be yes)

-Book Review- 

Warning this book has the power to break your heart but also leaves you with such a sense of overcoming and love. You will be paralysed by the contrast emotions…so much so, that you will be plunged into a deep thought process. IT IS PERFECT. I literally laughed, cried (cried a lot), gushed with love and cried some more at this book.

“She learnt to fly and she would move further afield and not come back for days. Then three days later, she’d come squawking at the front door and let herself in.”

Instantly when I saw this book, I know I would absolutely love it…AND…I did. It did not disappoint.  Not only is the story of this book beautifully woven with deep emotion and love but the pictures of the family leave you breathless.

Upon finishing this book, I places it delicately on my knee, lent back and took a deep breath. I awaited the deep emotions and I longed for more of the book to appear. ‘Oh, why did it have to end….whhhyyyy?’  

Cameron and Sam welcomed the injured baby bird into their home with their three children with welcoming arms. They even refer to her as their ‘baby girl’ and the boys’ ‘younger sister.’ How heart-warminingly beautiful is that? I have always had such an admiration and longing for animal-human connections because of their simple love and beauty.

Take these two passages for example – JUST INCREDIBLE.

“While all this was going on Sam was fighting her own battle to regain movement and her sense of self, after her terrible accident. Her overwhelming feeling of loss made it hard for her to face the world. She even avoided old friends whom she loved dearly as it was impossible to articulate her grief, frustration and anger at what had happened to her without falling apart.”

“Though both were extremely fragile when they met, Sam and Penguin found new strength in each other, and within themselves. Sam took up kayaking and eventually became a national champion. And Penguin finally started to stretch out her growing wings.”

Having such an active life and passionate dreams one day and then having all of that ripped away is of course incomprehensible for most us because it has not happened to us. After devouring this book, I am in awe of how this family handle the situation and loved the quirky element of Penguin helping them out.

Seriously, go check out this book…it is charming, engaging and inspiring.

It is also an easy read…apart from the break to cryI read this book so quickly.  If you want to read a quick book that will leave you feeling loved, shocked, happy, sad and inspired. GO GO GO.

Have you read this book? If so, comment below.