Today’s review is about THAT QUAIL ROBERT by Margaret A. Stanger. I bought this on a whim at a library book sale and I’m glad I did. If you loved RAISING HARE by Chloe Dalton, you’ll love this book, too.
Author: Margaret A. Stanger
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Mariner Books
Publish Date: August 03, 1992 (originally 1966)
Print Length: 128
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That Quail Robert Synopsis
Synopsis
The acclaimed story of the little bird that won the nation’s heart
He’ll never live, the neighbors all said. But Robert, the abandoned quail chick would prove them wrong. Born on a kitchen counter in a house on Cape Cod, raised in a box surrounded by a lamb’s wool duster and a small lamp, Robert’s life began auspiciously.
What happens when a wild bird, against all odds, decides a human house is its true home?
- A Miraculous Survival: From an abandoned egg in a deserted nest to a chick born on a kitchen counter, Robert’s story starts with a fight for life.
- More Than a Pet: Discover a quail who loves people, despises open-toed shoes, enjoys tea parties, and develops a deep, loving bond with her human family.
- The Human-Animal Bond: A touching portrait of the affection and understanding between a tiny wild bird and the couple who saved her, set against the charming backdrop of Cape Cod.
- A Surprising Secret: Just when her family thinks they know everything about him, Robert reveals a secret that changes everything.
That Quail Robert Review
THAT QUAIL ROBERT is a delightful novella about a bird with a big personality. In the 1960s, a retired couple in Cape Cod come across a quail nest with two eggs. They know the family is around with a large, hatched brood, so they think these eggs are duds. They bring the two eggs indoors as a curiosity only to later find that one of them hatched. From that point on they become enchanted with this opinionated little quail.
This is a quick read at just over 100 pages. The writing style is easy and congenial to sink into and not stuffy at all. The author is actually a neighbor to the couple who raised the quail, Robert. So not only did she see Robert in her neighbors’ house, but she also took care of him for three months while Robert’s human parents were in Europe. Thus, the author has lots of acute observations and tales to relay to the reader.
Since this book is rather short, I won’t get too much into detail about the quail otherwise why bother to pick up the story! But it seems like Robert was certainly unique in his species. When Robert was rather young, the couple tried multiple times to get the quail to join the wild. But Robert simply had no interest. Robert was a bird of particular routines, which I found endearing to read about.
THAT QUAIL ROBERT reminded me a lot of RAISING HARE by Chloe Dalton. Both stories have the same calm and friendly air about them and focus nearly exclusively on the animal itself. So if you liked the latter, I think you’ll also enjoy the former.
Rating: 4.5
Content warnings: animal death
Reading format: Paperback
If you enjoyed this book, you might also like UNDER THE HENFLUENCE by Tove Danovich.
