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Harry Simpson
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The Firebirds Kindle Edition

by Harry Simpson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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It's the last day of school and seven children are being told a story by a substitute teacher when they fall asleep as though a spell has been cast over them. They awaken to discover that clones have been sent home in their place while they're trapped in school by an invisible bubble. Worse, it's now the FIRST day of school. At least their dormitory is decorated with art treasures, their windows open to historical cities like Venice and Byzantium, they have lovely stroll around gardens, and food and delicious desserts appear like magic. Their living copies must know what's going on, but they're not saying much. Is it a clever alien invasion where children are being gradually cloned and replaced? Why does their principal look like a witch? Should they try to escape their gilded cage? Why bother to do homework if you can eat cupcakes and watch 3-D cartoons all day? Besides thrills, laughs, and adventures, there's a bit of first romance, clueless adults, a peregrine falcon, a mysterious substitute teacher, two ghosts from the Titanic, and kids with amazing talents. Oh yeah...there's also a giant asteroid on a collision course with earth. As their substitute teacher says, every story has a problem.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    310 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    6 - 12
  5. Publication date
    January 1, 2013
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AW1S4XC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harry Simpson; 6th edition (January 1, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1052 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

About the author

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Harry Simpson

Harry Simpson

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Harry Simpson was born in Ross, California and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Art History with an English minor. Harry taught elementary school English and high school art at the Lycee Francais in San Francisco for many years, and continues to teach after school art in public schools in Marin County. He lives with his wife, Christine, son Teddy, dogs Harley and Lainy, and cat Maggie in San Rafael, California. Daughter Chloe attends college in Rhode Island. The Firebirds is a novel born of his teaching experience.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Flowtra
5.0 out of 5 stars Super Read
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
Super enjoyable urban fantasy all in one well-plotted complete trilogy. Plenty of adventure, thrills, and first love. Socially conscious as a metaphor. You'll love this book!
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Pop Bop
4.0 out of 5 stars Challenging but Rewarding
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2014
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Most of the bizarro fiction I've read is powered by a mix of frantic plotting and over-the-top weird characters. We're talking hollow chocolate Easter bunnies, sawdust filled teddy bear detectives with glass button eyes, and that sort of thing. That's great, but this book is different. For want of a better description it is deadpan bizarro, with a sharp but dry approach to the weird. I like that.

So what you get is a sort of reality fantasy. By that I mean it starts with a brief dreamy sort of fantasy feel that announces you're in for a bewildering ride, then it switches over to a sharp as crystal what-is-real-what-isn't mystery adventure, and then it goes full bore gonzo fantasy. (Think of a pod people type movie, of which this is an elegant variation. First you see an alien ship, then you have a lot of normal scenes, then it gets a little weird, then it gets a lot weird. That's what I mean.)

Bottom line, the seven students in the seventh form at the Poplars Academy have been replaced by alien clones. The real seven are kept isolated in comfy splendor in the school's attic. The clones who replaced the real kids pretend to go to school, but are actually preparing for...what? Through mind control the clones command the school's teachers, administrators and anyone who enters the school grounds.

Is this an alien invasion story? Is it, as one student suggests, just a class trip by extra-dimensional beings? Is it all someone's dream? Is it a time travel paradox story? Don't know yet.

But I do know that everything about this book is razor sharp. Because here's a major bonus. The book is funny, bordering at times on hilarious. There are lots of set pieces that fit within the story but stand alone as comedy gems. An officious mother visits a class and peppers a teacher with hysterically inane questions. The real girls and the clone girls have a smart mouth confrontation. Two real girls visit the library, which is maintained as a tropical hothouse, and meet the psychotic and unstable librarian. There are dozens of rapier wit exchanges and dozens more of knowing, hip and cutting throwaway lines and deadpan observations. There are multiple speaker versions of the old "who's on first bit". Even if you totally blow off the entire plot, just the character interactions are more than worth the price of the book and the reading time.

So, a hip, smart book with style to burn. A very nice find.

Be warned - this is book one of a planned three; it ends on a high, steep cliffhanger; book two doesn't seem to be anywhere near arriving yet which is another reason to go into the book for its style rewards rather than its plot and resolution.

Please note that I found this book while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to the publisher of this book.
21 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Everybody has a twin
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
the story has an interesting plot, but I started off confused. It was hard to keep all the names straight. I didn't like the giant spiders. There was a lot of dialogue and usually I like that, but this seemed to be dialogue without much thought. Then when I was ready to learn what happened, it was continued in a sequel.
3 people found this helpful
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Celia Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2021
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One of the many books that got me through the Pandemic. Well written.
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Jenn fair
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2014
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This book is full of wonderful, imaginative creation. I will be looking for the next book on amazon for kindle.
4 people found this helpful
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martha rowe
5.0 out of 5 stars I like
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2016
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, I like it
2 people found this helpful
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Ragne
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining.
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
Entertaining. I have a strong feeling Harry Simpson is a teacher, quite sneaky how he manages to teach the reader about grammar, and simile and metaphors and other fun stuff.
The story is quite original, and the book is an easy read. It's not as "all-ages" as for example "Harry Potter", but it's a good enough book. It's probably a best read for youth.
This, I got for free on Amazon. I'm contemplating whether or not to buy the next in the series.
7 people found this helpful
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Stuart N Estes
1.0 out of 5 stars The author never sent me the promised book 3 of the series.
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2020
Verified Purchase
After enjoying books 1 and 2 of the series, I ordered book 3. The Foreword says that this edition of the third book has chapters that are a synopsis only. After the author's students begged for an early version he put out this bare bones 1st edition. Since I had paid for and expected a complete book, I contacted him directly. In a handwritten note he promised me that book 3 would be made available to me when done. That was over 2 years ago and I am still waiting. His email address on his website is no longer valid.
2 people found this helpful
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