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Talon, Come Fly with Me: Inspirational Story about Friendship Kindle Edition
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TOP 10 FINALIST with AUTHORS ACADEMY AWARDS 2018
SILVER MEDAL AWARD with READERS' FAVORITE in Children's' adventure 2018
Finalist with: BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD, 2017
Finalist with: IAN - The Independent Author Network Book of the year award 2017 - (the gold one)
AWARD by LITERARY TITAN 2019
Silver for BOOK COVER competition with Authorsdb 2016
5 star Review by Readers’ Favorite,
4 out of 4 stars review by Online Book Club
Talon, Come Fly with Me is the inspiring story of a girl whose disability is her greatest strength, and brings the important message of never losing hope in hard situations and using misfortune to look for an opportunity to be kind.
The story takes you into the Andean Mountains of Peru to a remote village where you meet Matica, who worries about being shunned by the tribal people because of her growth disability that makes her different from everyone else.
One day she befriends two Condors she names Tamo and Tima. The village natives watch from a distance as her friendship and trust grow with the Condors. It only takes a short time before the entire village accepts the little girl for who she is when they find she can also communicate with them.
And then the adventures begin, changing her life in marvellous way. Matica is delightful, caring, and undaunted by these giant birds and their offspring, she and her father rescue from poachers.
- Reading age10 - 17 years
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level8 - 11
- Publication dateMarch 16, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Posted by Literary Titan
Talon, Come Fly with Me (Talon Series Book One) By Gigi Sedlmayer is a fiction story about a nine-year-old girl named Matica, who is the daughter of Australian missionaries living in Pucara, Peru. She has a medical condition that affects her growth, which causes her to have a hard time fitting in. For several years, her only friends are two condors she calls Tamo and Tima. When the condors' egg is threatened by poachers, Matica is determined to protect it. Will she succeed in her aim, or will another egg be stolen from Tamo and Tima? And will the villagers ever accept Matica the way that she wishes for?
I enjoyed reading the various facts about the Andean condors that live in the mountains of South America. I appreciated the research the author clearly has done about the birds. She combined this information with many human-like characteristics in Tamo and Talon, which added a bit of whimsy to the story. The way that Matica attributed worded responses to the condors was humorous, as though they were actually talking to her. I liked that Talon hatched on Matica's birthday, just as she hoped he would. I also liked Talon's persistence in learning to fly, and not giving up until he succeeded.
This book has an encouraging message about overcoming obstacles, but some things seemed implausible for a girl Matica's age, such as her parents allowing her to go off by herself into a dangerous situation like when the poachers first returned to the area. At times the dialogue also felt stilted and unnatural, especially for Matica's brother, Aikon, who didn't speak as though he was only four years old.
Otherwise, I heartily enjoyed this moving story that showcases unique characters in an exotic location. There are four other books in the Talon Series, where Matica continues to go on new adventures with Talon and Tamo and Tima.
Official Review: Talon by Gigi SedlmayerPost Number:#1 by busycat » 08 Aug 2017, 10:57
[Following is an official Online Book Club.org review of "Talon" by Gigi Sedlmayer.]
4 out of 4 stars Review by busycatIf you like wildlife stories or tales about South America, this children's adventure novel might just be for you. Talon: Come Fly With Me is the first book in the Talon series by Australian (German-born)author Gigi Sedlmayer. The story concerns a 9-year-old girl whointeracts with Andean condors, but there's no audience limitation onthis one as it's a universal story that brings out the child in everyone.
Talon: Come Fly With Me is about Matica, a young girl born with a disability that makes her body tiny. Her parents have moved to a small town in the Peruvian Andes to serve as missionaries for the local Indians. Her parents and younger brother Aikon have adjusted well, but Matica is shunned by the Indians,who view her disability as a bad luck and a curse. Feeling lonely, Matica forges a private life for herself by befriending a condor who has nested with his mate a few miles from her home. The condors give Matica their precious lone egg to protect from poachers, and she raises the baby bird, who she names Talon. Because the Indians admire condors, they accept her at last and her parents are proud of her.
For the pros, the story is fantastic. It reads really well and I was amazed by the author's ability to keep interest flowing smoothly even though the story was very simple. The emotions of Matica and her family and friends were the main element of the story and held a lot of drive although almost ¾ of the book was either flashback areas to when she first met the condors or was a real-time portrayal of raising the baby condor. It was a growth journey for Matica and her family rather than a novel with a "plot," and I felt I got to know real people by the end of the book,like watching a home video. It was sweet that Matica was even able to use her small size to an advantage because it made her tiny enough to ride Talon and fly with him.
There weren't a lot of cons as this is an excellent book with outstanding message and presentation. The final third of the book got a little slow, even though it was able to hold interest most of the time, because several chapters were devoted exclusively to every little thing the baby bird, Talon, did as it lived life. But that's not a big con, certainly not enough to keep from recommending the book.
I'm pleased to give Talon: Come Fly With Me a perfect 4 out of 4 stars. The book's subtle, well-drawn cast of believable people and its detailed, accurate information about condors (I painlessly learned a lot about these birds and their fight against extinction just by reading the story) make it one I'd definitely like to see in libraries and would recommend to parents and young readers.
Book Review Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorit
Talon, Come Fly with Me: The Talon Series, Book 1 is a preteen and young adult adventure novel written by Gigi Sedlmayer. Being nearly ten years old and having the body of a two-year-old has not been without its challenges for Matica, especially since the Indians in the little village of Pucara in Peru,where she and her family live, are not at all comfortable with her and have forbidden their children to play with her. While she was born in Australia, she's been living there with her missionary parents and her younger brother, Aikon, since she was four years old. Matica loves the village, but she wishes she could have friends like her little brother does. Her interest in birds leads her to admire the Andean condors who have decided to stay in the nearby mountains. She goes out to her special place to see them every day and even takes a dead lizard, when she or Aikon can find one, to toss up to the big male condor. Then one day he lands in a nearby tree to meet her. It is a momentous experience for both Matica and the huge, intelligent bird who almost seems to understand what she says -- a life-changing one.
Gigi Sedlmayer's young adult coming of age novel, Talon, Come Fly with Me: The Talon Series, Book 1, is a moving and unforgettable story about a lonely girl's friendship with an Andean condor. The author does a fabulous job of recreating the little village of Pucara and the surrounding natural areas for her readers, and her characters are finely drawn and authentic. Matica is a grand main character and watching as she summons up the courage to meet her Tamo, the adult male condor she befriends, is a remarkable thing indeed. I could feel her fear and apprehension as she devises plans to foil the intentions of the animals mugglers who are determined to steal the condor pair's egg, and cheered along with her as she finally sees a benefit to her special stature.Talon, Come Fly with Me: The Talon Series, Book 1 is most highly recommended.
From the Author
Then Matica comes upon two condors, a male and a female. She is able to win their trust and begins to mysteriously communicate with them. Her adventure has begun. The condor's egg is stolen by poachers and Matica and herfather set out to rescue it, and they are successful. With the condor'sapproval, Matica takes care of the precious egg. When the egg hatches,Matica becomes a substitute mother to the baby condor and names it,Talon. The local's observe the success Matica has had with the condors,and they begin to warm up to her. Eventually, tiny Matica, becomes awell-liked, admired and respected part of the community.
Talon, Come Fly with Me by Gigi Sedlmayer is filled withwarmth and inspiration. It is a touching story about a nine year girlthat overcomes her disability and uses it for something extraordinary.Her love for nature changes her life and it becomes meaningful andpurposeful for her. Her disability is no longer a hindrance or something to be ashamed of.
Gigi Sedlmayer has woven a tapestry of beauty, harmony andexcitement in her fabulous story. It is filled with intrigue and evensome suspense. I loved it and couldn't put it down and read it late into the night to find out what would happen next. It brought a feeling ofserenity to my soul. I loved the tale of the giant magnificent condors,coupled with the human interaction. It is just a beautiful story thatadults and children will both enjoy. It will be fully entertaining forthe entire family.
I believe that Talon, Come Fly with Me should be a readingrequirement in schools. It is full of emotion and love with importantmessages throughout. The exemplary descriptive writing had me on thebeautiful scene watching on as the story unfolded. Gigi Sedlmayer is an excellent writer with a unique voice. This story is original, genuine and compelling. Artisan Book Reviews highly recommends it to all readers. It is a page-turner and a mustread magical tale for everyone that likes clean, thoughtful and exciting reads about animals and extraordinary people.
goodreads.com/review/show/2335876201
Come Fly with Me (Talon, #1)
by Gigi Sedlmayer
J.S. Frankel's review Mar 22, 2018
it was amazing
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
What a lovely story of determination, acceptance, and hope! Matica is a young girl trapped in a body that refuses to grow, but her own stubbornness, grit, and pluck help her to succeed. I won't spoil the plot for any potential readers, but suffice it to say that when Matica helps a couple of young condors to find their wings, we take flight with them--and with her. The novel never pushes any pity buttons. It simply shows what a young person can do when faced with a life ostensibly filled with lemons--make lemonade. Matica succeeds, and then some.
Her character is one of grit--true grit. Does that sound like a cliche?Hell yeah, and props to the author for NOT making this kind of "work a tit and succeed" trope a cliche. Highly recommended.
From the Inside Flap
but he wouldn't catch the food. Instead he passed her with an
elegant swoop. It was as if a hurricane went over her. It also appeared
to her as if the whole sky parted and let him through and that she
was blown on the wind of the universe, that he was the wind. Such
thoughts went through her mind in seconds, too fast for her to really
grasp what was happening.
She missed several heartbeats as she watched the huge bird. Is this
really happening? she thought. Then her heart started to thud as if a
fist was banging against her chest from the inside.
The big condor tried to land on one of the top branches of the
nearest huge conifer tree, but the branch was much too thin for his
size and snapped under his weight.
Oh my gosh, Matica thought. That can't be happening!
The condor dropped down, feet first, but before he could catch
himself, he knocked his body then his head at the next branch as
well as his spread out wings. Matica was shocked. Don't break your
wings! she screamed inside.
In a nanosecond, the condor stretched out his talons - clumsily,
Matica thought - and stuck his claws into the next thicker branch,
but it was too late in his fall. He couldn't hold himself upright and
so swung around and hung upside down, trying to collect himself.
As he hung there, that branch also cracked under his weight. As it
broke off, it took him further down. Since he wouldn't let go of the
branch, his fall was slowed down tremendously, but hitting the next
branch, it was knocked out of his claws.
Free of the branch now, he stuck his talons into the next one.
Hanging upside down once more, he swung around and tried to
stand up with the help of his beak and wings. It took him a while by
straining every muscle of his body, but finally he stood up. He then
looked down at Matica triumphantly with an elongated neck and his
wings spread out.
Matica started to breathe again. What a majestic bird! she thought.
The bird folded his wings and broke off some little branches that
were poking into his body, then he looked keenly at Matica with his
tilted head. His expression seemed to say: How was that? Did I do
well, or what? Now, what do you want of me?
'Hey,' she said, walking to him, 'you did all that for me? But I guess
you don't do that very often, do you? You're too big for landing on
trees.'
She stretched out her hand and, reaching his talons, she caressed
them, then she gave him his food. As he tucked it under his talon and
ripped it apart, she said again, 'Your legs aren't designed for landing
on trees. They are too short. Why not land on the ground? Wouldn't
that be better? You eat on the ground.'
Finishing his food, he grunted a 'thank you' then stretched his
neck down to her, sniffing her face and hands. Matica giggled. It
tickled. Not afraid anymore, Matica stroked his beak, his neck then
his talons again.
Before long, he flew off by jumping first to the ground then running
for a short time before lifting up into the air. Matica, happy
as she was, ran with a triumphant smile, cartwheeling all the way
home.
The next day, it wasn't as traumatic for the bird to land on that
branch. It still wasn't easy, but with each day, it became trouble free
as more little branches were broken away.
Thrilled, Matica met him like this for a week, and every time she
came to see him, his mate would circle above them. Still, she wondered
why he wouldn't land on the ground. She would ask him why
every day.
On the seventh day, he landed as usual on his branch and took
Matica's food gift. Then Matica asked him the same question again.
'Come on, condor,' she added. 'Come down, will you?' He looked
deeply into her green eyes, trying to understand her.
Then it happened.
From the Back Cover
lightning bolt. Her eyes popped open. She jumped out of bed
so fast that she nearly fell into Aikon's bed.
Aikon propped up on his elbow and rubbed his eyes, looking
sleepy. 'What's the matter?'
Matica shook her head and sat down again. 'Aikon, you saw me
flying, didn't you? It wasn't a dream, was it?'
Aikon shook his head. 'If you mean flying on Talon, then no, it
wasn't a dream. It was real. You flew on Talon. I saw you.'
'Then it's true,' said Matica.
'Of course it's true.'
'No, I don't mean flying on Talon, I just had another thought.' She
burst out laughing. All tiredness was gone as she did a cartwheel to
the door, hitting Aikon's arm with her leg, then ran to her parents.
Aikon followed her, rubbing his arm.
'Mum! Dad!' she yelled, breathless and skipping around her parents.
'I just realised something!'
'Hey,' Mira said, 'I thought you were fast asleep, but what do you
mean?'
Matica didn't answer, so Mira looked at Aikon. 'What's the matter
with her, Aikon? Did she say anything to you?'
Aikon shrugged. Matica looked from one to the other. 'But don't
you see?'
Everybody shook their heads. 'No,' Mira said, 'we don't see, and we
don't know what you mean. What's this all about?'
'My advantage, of course!' Matica paused, letting it sink into their
heads.
Mira's eyes went wide then she knocked at her forehead. 'Of
course.'
'Finally,' Matica went on, 'finally I know and understand why I'm
so small. It all has a purpose, right? You told me that, and you also
told me that I would find an advantage in being so small. Now I have
found it. Even a b-i-i-i-g one, the biggest ever. If I had been as tall as I
should be for my age, I could never have flown on Talon, right?'
Mira put her hands on both of Matica's shoulders then hugged
her. 'I didn't realise that,' she said. 'Yes, I always said there would be a
good reason for you being so small. It wasn't even that long ago that
I said it to you again.'
'Thank you, Lord,' Matica said. 'The Indians can't tease me any
longer. They have to see that I'm special, because no one else can fly
on a condor.'
Lifting her chin, Matica showed two rows of white teeth and her
eyes sparkled like green fire.
'But Matica,' her mum said, 'I thought the Indians weren't teasing
you any more because of Talon. You even talk to them now.'
'Yeah, that's true. Since Talon, they have accepted me, but now
they will think I'm special too, right?'
As she raced with outstretched hands around the room, Matica
said, 'Not even Aikon can fly on a condor; he's already too big and too
heavy.' She hugged him. 'Sorry, Aikon.'
'That's okay. That's for you, only for you.'
Matica hugged her father. He whispered into her ear, 'Keep flying.'
She mouthed: 'But what about Mum?'
He mouthed back: 'Don't worry about her.'
Matica grinned, happy.
Back in her bedroom, she thought the world was wonderful. And
what adventures would she have with Talon? she wondered.
In the last seconds before she fell asleep, she murmured, 'I always
thought there must be more to life than to only eat, play, learn, sleep
and work ... and to grow - or not grow, as it is with me.'
Aikon was listening. 'Yes, there is,' he whispered, nodding. 'You
forgot fun - to have fun as you will have now with Talon. That is life.'
Yes, that is life, and also another story.
About the Author
Her family escaped to the West just before the infamous wall went up. They moved around in Germany until finally settling in Munich where Gigi studied architectural drafting and met Albert in 1965, marrying in December 1967. She worked as a civil draftsperson in various private consultancies in Munich.
Since her uncle was a writer, she tried to write short animal stories herself. Nothing further came of it, but she developed a love for the written word and started to consume books.
In May 1975, Gigi and her husband moved to New Zealand. Because of language challenges, she started a handicraft business. As a specialty, she made colourful parrots of which she sold thousands in a few years.
In 1988, they decided to adopt and became adoptive parents of twin girls the year after. They lived in New Zealand for eighteen years and moved to Australia in September 1992.
Two years later Gigi was diagnosed with cancer. After operations and radiation, she withdrew, thinking that she would probably soon be dead, like her friend who died of cancer, but her two little girls gave her the courage to keep going. After a few years, still among the living, her brain started to work again, so she thought, 'Get a grip on yourself and do something good with your life'.
She remembered the time she wrote short stories and got inspired again, seeing her husband Albert writing the story of their adoption. Her English became increasingly better so she pressed on to develop her creative writing.
Albert taught her how to use a computer and she wrote many short stories. She entered them in competitions and often got very good reports back, which gave her confidence to go on writing. One day the idea for the TALON series came to her and she spent the next several years bringing the story and the characters to life.
Product details
- ASIN : B00J2643PG
- Publisher : Aurora House (March 16, 2014)
- Publication date : March 16, 2014
- Language : English
- File size : 1045 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 238 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #23,474 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Book Excellence Award Finalist 2017, Sole Award Medalist winner with 'New Apple' 2017, Nominee with Global Ebook Award 2017, silver book award with Readers' Favorite
Sigh up for Gigi’s website http://www.gigised.com
Gisela (Gigi) Sedlmayer was born on 19 May 1944 in Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin in Germany.
Her family escaped to the West just before the infamous wall went up. They moved around in Germany until finally settling in Munich where Gigi studied architectural drafting and met Albert in 1965, marrying in December 1967. She worked as a civil drafts person in various private consultancies in Munich.
May 1975, Gigi and her husband moved to New Zealand. Because of language challenges, she started a handicraft business. As a speciality, she made colorful parrots of which she sold thousands in a few years.
May 1989, they became adoptive parents of twin girls from Fiji.
September 1992, they moved to Australia.
November 1993 Gigi was diagnosed with cancer. By the grace of God, she survived and seeing her husband writing the story about the adoption, she started to write short stories for competition since her English became increasingly better.
She entered them in competitions and often got very good reports back, which gave her confidence to go on writing. One day the idea for the TALON series came to her and she spent the next several years bringing the story and the characters to life.
https://www.facebook.com/gisela.sedlmayer
https://www.facebook.com/gigisedlmayer/
https://twitter.com/GigiSedlmayer
Currently working on the sixth book, TALON, WINDSONG
and the seventh TALON, THIS IS WHO I AM
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Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2023
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This is in many ways a story about a young girl, too small for her age and too different to be like everyone else. But it is also a story about courage and inner strength and about one girl’s love for life and the animals around her.
High up in the Peruvian mountains and hills, on a vast plateau, Matica forms a bond with two Condors, Tamo and Tima. She observes them from a distance at first as she and her brother Aikon search for the carcasses of small dead animals to feed these majestic birds with. But it is in a special place Matica calls Ramah, that she gets close enough to the birds to finally be able to make contact. She eventually gains their trust and learns that she has the ability to understand their body language; even what they are thinking.
To her family, Matica is a girl desperate for friendship and to the villagers she is an oddity, someone to be feared and even shunned. But to these two birds, Matica is their only close contact with humans, that is, except for the poachers who are desperate to steal the eggs from the endangered Condors. When the poachers almost succeed, Matica, with her father Crayn’s help, finds herself in a desperate race against time to protect the birds and their unborn young. So begins a tremendous story of courage, love, family and a beautiful friendship, culminating in some quite extraordinary scenes in the book.
There are moments in this book where I thought it more a myth brought to life by beautifully crafted narrative, full of believable dialogue. But there are other moments I thought this story was an environmental book as well, a cautionary tale perhaps, aimed at reminding us all of the fragility of our eco-systems and the horrible way some people treat our animals on this planet. In this respect, Matica is not only a courageous hero, but an environmental warrior who is willing to risk it all to protect the creatures she has come to love, even referring to as family.
The book culminates in some extraordinary scenes, one of which near the end of the book, I guarantee will leave the reader breathless. This is by no means just a story for children or young adults, but a story for adults, who also love adventure just as much. With its short, punchy chapters and its unique dialogue-driven narrative style, this book is easy to read and understand. It is such a unique story I cannot even begin to compare it to anything else. It is not just a adventure, nor is it merely a story that everyone will love. It is more than that. It is an important book that teaches us respect for our wildlife and especially those endangered by our own stupidity.
This is also a coming of age and has some real life lessons to teach us about our own limitations and that we should never let those limitations dictate our path through life, rather embrace them and put those apparently negative aspects to positive use.
Matica’s story invites the reader to see the world as she does, through the eyes of a little girl with a big heart and great challenges she must overcome. But when she does overcome, she takes everyone, her family, her village and the reader, along for this joyous and addictive ride.
I bought a copy of this book on my Kindle App.
Paul G Day is author of The Black Fairy & The Dragonfly, Children of Mars, Star Child: The Cosmic Birth and Kipp The Kid
Please visit his home page at http://www.bravebearbooks.com
Matica has a growth disability. The Indians believe some evil spirit possesses her. They keep away from her and do not let their children play with her. Lonely and melancholy, Matica finds a private area with a big rock, and calls it Ramah, her own special place; there she goes to think and dream.
At Ramah, she makes friends with Tamo, a large condor. The two of them are affectionate to each other, and Tamo even eats out of her hand. Matica talks to Tamo, and he begins to understand her. Tamo learns to nod and shake his head and follow her instructions. Matica, in turn, does what Tamo wants her to do. Tamo’s mate, Tima, is eventually affectionate and friendly, as well.
Condors are huge black, glossy birds, seemingly too heavy to fly. Their wings have a tremendous span, however, and create a great, uplifting wind. Matica would feel the rush of wind as Tamo flew near her. Gigi Sedelmayer writes a beautiful description of Matica’s feeling about Tamo’s wind: “She had thought that he was blown on the wind of the universe and was dancing in the sky”.
We learn some more about these birds: Condors are almost extinct. Farmers, thinking that condors attack their livestock, kill them. Some of these birds are poisoned by tainted meat; this is meat that was meant for coyotes. Urban growth threatens their habitat, for the birds require open, hilly terrain. These birds are important to the environment. They are scavengers; they eat dead animals. They are “cleaners”, in that they serve to eliminate some of the decaying corpses that spread disease. Their necks and heads are bald, so the sun can destroy bacteria, and the rain can wash it away.
Matica thinks the condors are beautiful. Her father, Crayn, thinks they are ugly, but learns to admire their intelligence. The Indians think the condors are “monsters” at first, but they soon are in awe of Matica’s friendship and close relationship with the birds.
Matica helps save Tima’s egg from the Indian poachers. With Tamo’s help, the poachers are outwitted. Tamo and Tima give the egg to Matica for safekeeping. Matica wraps it in towels and a blanket until the chick hatches. Baby Talon lives with Matica and becomes part of her family. Matica and her little brother, Aikon, feed Talon, and the little bird grows rapidly. At 6 months, Talon begins learning to fly, but he walks most of the time. Talon does not yet have the feeling of flying. Eventually, with Tamo and Tima’s help, Matica and her parents take Talon to the mountains to give him a push off the cliff. Talon is afraid, but he loses his balance and goes over the cliff; at the last moment he uses his wings and flies.
The Indians are impressed with Matica’s friendship with the condors. The whole community is excited. People come from outlying towns to hear Matica tell them stories about the condors. Matica is accepted now and even considered “special” by the community.
Yet, Matica’s dream is to fly with the condors. She eventually rides on Talon’s back and flies with him. She is ten years old at this point. Matica believes her small size has a purpose, after all. Even her little brother, Aikon, is too heavy to fly with Talon.
Top reviews from other countries

I became immediately struck by the calm and beautiful tone and flow of language and I languished and delighted in the DESCRIPTIVE nature of the prose and atmospherics of the scenery. The little village life, Matica, the child who developed such a special relationship with the Condors and the tale of how she cared and loved from the egg hatching to adult the sibling bird. Written with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for nature I have to admit I was taken in by this story from the start to finish and now look forward to reading the next book in the series. There is a bond between the disabled child and helpless bird whom she loves and we see a gratifying return of love and respect from the baby bird as it matures. The wonder of this love and devotion is relayed throughout the village Indian Tribe who look on in amazement. Acceptance into a society has been achieved for the disabled child and the bird has brought her closer to others in the village as the people begin to love and admire and follow the child's unique powers with curiosity. A fabulous story for children and adults. I thoroughly enjoyed Gigi Sedlmayer's book. Reviewed by Irene Edwards

This book is simply brilliant; it’s also simply delightful and delightfully simple as well. I confess I took it up with trepidation. I felt it would not be for me. Maticia, an Australian girl, living with her parents and younger brother high in the Andes of remotest Peru. A girl with serious problems, not the least of them regarding her growth. A ten year old trapped in a two year old’s body, ostracized by the locals, their children forbidden to play with her for fear she would bring them bad luck. A lost, lonely little soul who manages to bond with a pair of condors and finds herself entrusted by the birds with their one precious egg in the hope that she can save it from poachers. It seemed unlikely, I thought. But I opened the book as I felt I must and then did not close it again till the end which, alas, came all too soon.
The style is plain; it’s simple, straightforward English; very instructive to children, I thought. Yet in no time at all disbelief was suspended and rich imagery - that came from I know not where - had me soaring on a more than three metre wing span, soaring with a pair of condors, high in the pure Andean air. That and waiting in nail biting tension with Maticia and her family to see if the pair’s egg would hatch.
Does it? No way do I say. There will be no spoilers from me. But I will say that the tale has a high moral ending which is extremely uplifting as well, particularly for Maticia. Obviously the book is intended for children and young adults but if it can entrance a hard bitten seventy year old like me it must be good for everyone.
“Talon” by Gigi Sedlmeyer (Aurora House) I recommend it to all.
D. A. Barker; Author of “Killing for Christmas,” & “What Am I?”

On top of being an outsider in a closed community, Matica suffers from a growth deficiency that causes the other kids to single her out for ridicule. The ostracized Matica befriends a male condor, Tamo, and slowly earns his trust. Impoverished poachers are after the highly prized condor eggs and Matica makes it her duty to protect them. Her bond with the condors finally earns the villagers respect and acceptance when Matica defends them from the poachers. Matica lovingly looks after the condor egg and then nurtures the hatchling, naming it Talon. I don’t want to spoil the story for younger readers but that’s when the real magic happens and Matica realizes that she is special.
Passed TALON, COME FLY WITH ME on to my 12yr old daughter to read; I know she will love the story and the important message it delivers of wildlife conservation. If only more people were as caring and compassionate as the wonderful Matica!

