Birdgirl

BIRDGIRL is a mindful, reflective and uplifting account of a life devoted to avian observation, and an activist’s journey towards environmental and racial justice. But more than that – it is a deeply moving story about family and mental health, and how her passion has enabled her to cope with challenging life situations and unexpected trauma. It was snapped up by Jonathan Cape in a 14-way publisher auction, with the rights sold in a string of other territories including a significant US deal.

Meet Mya-Rose – otherwise known as ‘Birdgirl’. Birder, environmentalist, diversity activist. To date she has seen over five thousand different types of bird: half the world’s species.

Every single bird a treasure. Each sighting a small step in her family journey – a collective moment of joy and stillness amidst her mother’s deepening mental health crisis. And each helping her to find her voice. Since she was young, she has visited every continent to pursue her passion, seeing first-hand the inequality and reckless destruction we are inflicting on our fragile planet. And the simple, mindful act of looking for birds has made her ever-more determined to campaign for all our survival.

This is her story; a journey defined by her love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Mya-Rose Craig is a British-Bangladeshi ornithologist and campaigner for equal rights. In February 2020, she received an honorary doctorate in science  (DSc hc) from the University of Bristol – awarded for her creation of the non-profit organisation Black2Nature, which runs nature camps for black and minority ethnic children – and is said to be the youngest British person to receive such an award. She is now studying Human, Social and Political Science at the University of Cambridge. Mya-Rose is represented by Claire Paterson Conrad at Janklow and Nesbit, and BIRDGIRL was be published by Cape on 30^th June 2022.