Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • The Bone Sparrow

  • A Refugee Novel
  • By: Zana Fraillon
  • Narrated by: Gareth Locke
  • Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (72 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Bone Sparrow cover art

The Bone Sparrow

By: Zana Fraillon
Narrated by: Gareth Locke
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Giver cover art
An Inspector Calls (Classic Radio Theatre) cover art
Noughts and Crosses cover art
Salt to the Sea cover art
Stonebird cover art
Macbeth (Dramatised) cover art
Stone Cold cover art
That Eye, The Sky cover art
Refugee Boy cover art
Macbeth cover art
The Night Diary cover art
Pigeon cover art
Artichoke Hearts cover art

Summary

Shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction prize 2016.

Perfect for fans of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

This is a beautiful, vivid and deeply moving story about a refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre. This novel reminds us all of the importance of freedom, hope and the power of a story to speak for anyone who's ever struggled to find a safe home.

Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he's at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. And one day it brings him Jimmie.

Carrying a notebook that she's unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck - both talismans of her family's past and the mother she's lost - Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence. As he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie's family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures.

©2016 Zana Fraillon (P)2016 Orion Children's Group

Critic reviews

"...a special book." (Morris Gleitzman, author of the acclaimed Once series)

More from the same

What listeners say about The Bone Sparrow

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    36
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    35
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a refugee story of fantasy and truth

Based on real refugee camp accounts in Australia. The story carries the tale of dreamlike hope and survival despite the inhuman treatment of some of the most traumatised and vulnerable people in the current crisis.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • s
  • 10-06-17

You must listen to this story.

Thought provoking. Deals with the very relevant issue of refugees. There but for the grace of God go I. It shows how we can learn so much from children, their love and acceptance breaks down barriers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

odd but enjoyable

i thought it was O U T S T A N D I N G.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Irritating narration

Honestly the narration made me cringe and rather spoilt the book for me. It was amateurish, one dimensional and some of the pronunciation set my teeth on edge. The story is ok and obviously has a serious message, but the whole thing just felt a bit shallow and didn’t really go anywhere. I’m a bit perplexed by reviews a containing words like ‘haunting’ and ‘moving’. In my opinion: just ok.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A harrowing read

I loved this book and found it deeply moving, but I see it is recommended for children from the age of five! I would never read it to a young child!
It is so scary and deals with the death of siblings and parents, necessary to teach children but not in such detail and frequency!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

moving beautiful and important story. fantastic narration. it really makes you think. highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A great eye opener

I did a mix of reading and listening to this story, with a fair chunk of time wrestling with my social conscious. Whilst terrible injustices, it is a balance between those persecuted and those just seeking economic advancements. I do hope this book turns a light on the fair treatment of all, with a change to swift and supportive decision making. Would love to know what happens next.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!