Talon, Come Fly with Me

Talon is a heart-warming story of nine-year old Matica, who, because of a disability, is shunned by the Peruvian community where she lives. Over a period of several months she manages to earn the trust of Tamo an adult Condor and his mate Tima. When their nest is threatened by poachers, Tamo needs Matica´s help. She takes the egg to the safely of her home.

When the condors begin to visit their baby almost on a daily basis, the villagers are scared of the Condors at first, but little by little they begin to accept them. Their interest grows, not only in the birds, but also in Matica who has managed to do the impossible, tame the Condors. Matica may have helped Tamo, but he in return has helped her as the community finally accept her.

There is a hidden moral to the story, showing that everyone should be given a chance. Just because you are different doesn´t mean that you can´t belong and be a valued member of a community.
This children´s book is ideal for any young, budding bird enthusiasts, as the story explains little by little how Talon, the fledgling Condor grows and matures; the importance of bird preservation and the threat of extinction -all valid points that younger generations need to be aware of.

Have you ever felt like you would never fit in? Of course you have, we all have at one point or another. But for some this is not simply being awkward socially, but much more. For 10 year old Matica, the problem is a physical one. She is not growing. Despite her age and having a younger brother, Matica has the body of a much younger child which has made her life a real challenge as far as making any friends in the little village in Peru where her parents are missionaries trying to help the local tribe. The tribe finds Matica’s situation strange and tend not to associate with her, making her more lonely than ever.

However, Matica does have knack for making friends. In this case its a pair of condors, which seems to fascinate the local villagers. But they are even more surprised when the bond between the undersized girl and the huge birds becomes so strong that when their egg is threatened by poachers they allow her to watch over and care for it. Soon the egg hatches and Talon is born. The villagers are more impressed than ever by the young girl as she helps raise the young condor, becoming an expert on the birds and soon Matica finds herself no longer the source of curious glances but a bit of a celebrity. But her true love for family and her condors never takes a backseat to this new status. Her dedication to both her families is unwavering and continues to grow just as quickly as Talon who is soon big enough and strong enough to take flight. But is he powerful enough to grant Matica’s most secret wish?

Aimed at preteens, this is a story that can be enjoyed by any age. As I said at the beginning of this review, we’ve all felt out of place and thought we’d never find where we truly belong. Matica’s journey is a tale that everyone can relate to. Sometimes its not finding where YOU fit in, but making a place for yourself in the world and watch it start swarming towards you.

This is such a wonderful tale, I have not problem giving it the 5-Star rating it deserves. I’m even more delighted to know that this is only the first installment. As of the writing of this review, there are four more books in the series. Needless to say, I’ll be adding them to my library and more reviews will come with time.

And now I will take my hat off to the author Gigi Sedlmayer, may she, Talon, Matica and the rest of this fine cast soar high and far for many years to come.

Talon Come Fly with Me by Gigi Sedlmayer is an inspirational, engaging and thoughtful must read story. It follows the story of a little nine year old girl whose parents are missionaries in the small village of Pucara, Peru. Matica, finds making friends with the local kids to be difficult. Matica has a condition that has hindered her growth, so she is extremely small like that of a two year old. The local Indians and villagers, don’t understand her and are leery and mistrustful of her.

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 her father set out to rescue it, and they are successful. With the condor’s approval, 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 a well-liked, admired and respected part of the community.

Talon, Come Fly with Me by Gigi Sedlmayer is filled with warmth and inspiration. It is a touching story about a nine year girl that overcomes her disability and uses it for something extraordinary. Her love for nature changes her life and it becomes meaningful and purposeful for her. Her disability is no longer a hindrance or something to be ashamed of.

Gigi Sedlmayer has woven a tapestry of beauty, harmony and excitement in her fabulous story. It is filled with intrigue and even some 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 of serenity to my soul. I loved the tale of the giant magnificent condors, coupled with the human interaction. It is just a beautiful story that adults and children will both enjoy. It will be fully entertaining for the entire family.

I believe that Talon, Come Fly with Me should be a reading requirement in schools. It is full of emotion and love with important messages throughout. The exemplary descriptive writing had me on the beautiful 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 must read magical tale for everyone that likes clean, thoughtful and exciting reads about animals and extraordinary people.