When teenager Maria Rossi skipped school one day because she had been bullied by one of the boys in the school and was found crying in the bird hide overlooking the sea and the salt marshes by Dr Wilson, an elderly retired doctor who had spent his whole working life working with children, it started a rather more unusual friendship between the two of them as he shared his love of seabirds with her and he slowly taught her more and more about the wildlife out on this desolate peninsula.

As a result of their regular Saturday morning meetings together, they ended up saving not only the lives of some wildlife but of some people as well.

This chance first meeting was to plunge them into an adventure that neither of them could have dreamed would happen.

Claire Rosemary Jane grew up in Malvern in Worcestershire and is the eldest of six children. Her father was one of the Bawdsey Manor radar pioneers. Claire has always liked reading but her peak childhood reading was between the ages of 9 and 12. At school, her favourite subject was geography, although she also liked both writing and music. Claire went on to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor. She has travelled widely to many parts of the world and as a result has progressively become more and more interested (and concerned) in what humans are doing to harm the planet.

Customer Reviews

5.0

7 reviews

Claire Sheppy

I thoroughly enjoyed it, and mindful that I don't read a great deal, I almost binge-read it. I have submitted reviews as you requested, and I hope this will be beneficial to you across the world. A storyline for all ages, and I will be passing Maria's story to my Grandchildren when they are a tad older I will look forward to your next book. Could it be a continuation of Maria's life?
Andrew Moore

What a lovely book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. All ages will enjoy the adventures of Maria and Dr Paul, not to mention the introduction and part played by other characters. I am sure others will now want to become keen bird watchers and follow in Maria's footsteps. Excellent in the way the book addresses several issues which arise in life! Could there be a Part 2 in due course. Thank you Claire Rosemary Jane.
Mandy Coombs

Maria and the Shelduck is another great book written by Claire Rosemary Jane. I loved being part of the relationship that develops between Maria and a retired doctor over their love of wildlife. The story keeps you engaged until the very end and I would highly recommend this book for readers of any age, particularly if you have an interest in birds and wildlife.
Mickathome

Maria and the Shelduck is an excellent story, with many topical issues covered in this gripping tale of a young girl and her various life challenges. I look forward to sharing this story with my grand children in the coming years, and to whatever comes next from the pen of Claire Rosemary Jane.
Keith

I really enjoyed Maria and the Shelduck by Claire Rosemary Jane. It’s a charming and gentle story with a lovely focus on birds and the natural world. The writing is descriptive and easy to read, making it very easy to picture the scenes and feel connected to the wildlife being described. I’ve enjoyed Claire Rosemary Jane’s previous books as well, and this one continues her warm and engaging style. A very pleasant read that I would happily recommend to anyone who enjoys nature and birds.
Jess

A fantastic and well-written book by a fantastic author - Claire has a gift for writing engaging stories suitable for both children and adults, covering incredible adventures and important and engaging topics. Maria and the Shelduck is great book for any wildlife lover.
Carolyn Cooper

Having read several books by Claire Rosemary Jane I can recommend her as a brilliant author who engages the reader fully. Claire Rosemary Jane’s latest book, Maria and the Shelduck is a must for anybody with an interest in wildlife, but also anybody with an interest in human life too. This book will engross the reader with real life issues, bad and good, and take you on a great adventure. Read it for yourself and you will be glad you did.