范祎（英文名Nancy Yi Fan），北京女孩，7岁随父母来美国学习。2006年12岁的她写出了英文奇幻小说《剑鸟》（Swordbird），并由世界第二大出版集团哈珀柯林斯在全球出版，旋即登上了《纽约时报》畅销书排行榜，创造了华裔少年作家史无前例的奇迹。同年，范祎亲自把《剑鸟》翻译成汉语，在中国由人民文学出版社出版了英汉对照版的《剑鸟》。一时间，美国、中国、英国的各大媒体争相报道，权威书评机构和世界各地的读者纷纷赞扬此书。《剑鸟》还被美国《Book Sense》选为儿童推荐图书，被美国NBC电视台Al Roker的儿童读书俱乐部选为2007暑假四本推荐儿童小说之一，被中国新闻出版总署评选为2007年“百种优秀少儿书目”之一。
I am honored to make a statement about Swordbird and its remarkable 13 year-old author, Nancy Yi Fan. The more I learn about Nancy, the more I admire her. I was so impressed to find out that even though Nancy had to learn English when she moved to the US from China [at age 7], she studied so hard that she was able write an entire book in English just a few years after learning it! I am very happy that she has continued to study Chinese and was even able to translate Swordbird from English to Chinese. It always makes me sad to hear about Chinese who move overseas and leave behind their language and customs. I am so proud of Nancy for continuing to treasure our culture.
Swordbird is a story about peace, freedom, and tolerance. These are all things that are very close to my heart. When I travel throughout the world and see what happens to people because of war and violence – for example, the landmine victims in Cambodia – it breaks my heart. I know that Nancy wrote her story partly as a reaction to the events of 9/11. I’m happy that she found a way to express her desire for peace and freedom. I think that Nancy is an inspiration to a lot of people and she is proof that if you work hard and dream big, anything can happen!
It’s hard to believe but the author was only 12 years old when she wrote this thrilling, beautifully crafted fantasy about evil Lord Turnatt, a hawk who has enslaved birds to build a fortress and has set the cardinals and bluejays to fighting each other.
She creates vivid characters with wonderful names (Flameback the cardinal, Dilby the loon) and other cool words like “nobird”, “somebird,” and “everybird.” There’s a hummingbird circus, birds dining on raspberry pie and fending off invaders with scalding bean soup. Best of all each chapter starts with a quotation from some book of bird lore, including the Book of Heresy which promises the terrible Turnatt eternal life - if he eats the egg of one woodbird every day.
I read Swordbird last weekend and was amazed. It’s an extraordinary work, and would be an accomplishment for an adult author. That the writer was so young really makes this work remarkable. The bird characters, the juxtaposition of the Book of Heresy and Old Scripture sayings, and the almost allegorical tone give it a solid fantasy feel. In short, I loved it, and I think kids
will really enjoy it, both as a great story and as a phenomenal work by one of their peers.
We’ll be adding the book to the reading program and including it in our book fair offerings!
Congrats!
Kevin Washburn, Ed.D.
Clerestory Learning/Make Way for Books
Pelham, AL
I am a 10 year old who has just devoured the book Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan. I loved the book! I think it will be a hit and anxiously await a sequel.
Paul Carstens
Be sure to read Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan. It is not only a wonderful story about the birds of Stone-Run Forest, it is a lesson in what fighting can do to a community and the heroism and courage needed to find peace.
Turnatt takes control over the hawk population of Stone-Run Forest. He demands loyalty and will punish those who disobey though he can be fickle and inconsistent with his commands. His goal is become the Evil Conqueror and Slayer known as the “Tyrant of Fortress Glooming” that will eventually encompass the entire forest.
As his forces attack the other bird species, the blue jays and the cardinals think the other has attacked them. Their hostility is open and war seems imminent with the only winner being Turnatt whose minion caused the argument between the blue and the red. Unless a miracle occurs many will die and a free forest will become a vicious malevolent dictator’s realm. However, only the Swordbird, son of the Great Spirit, can prevent the tragedy and return the forest to domestic tranquility for all its creatures. The only problem is the Swordbird is a myth.
This is a fascinating well written personification fantasy aimed at the 8-12 years old crowd. Readers will see differing personalities especially between the various bird species. As the non Hawks pray for a hero especially Swordbird, fans will enjoy the confrontation between evil and good.
I think this book should be made a best seller, it has what all books need, a great story, adventure, and a great writer to write. Nancy Yi Fan should continue writing!
This was an engaging, amazing ,beautifully written book. I loved her first sentence and called my sister, a school librarian in California, who orders books for her district, right away.She is going to order it for her schools. I love birds and the cardinals and blue jays are here in New Jersey in abundance and peaked my interest. I am a retired teacher and if still teaching 3rd grade, would read this book to the class. We would do a unit, including the different birds, vocabulary, and theme. I gave the book to my daughter, who is a teacher and she is going to read it and do activities with her 5th graders. Good luck to Nancy with her writing career.
by: Mary Lou Neill
New Jersey
retired elem teacher
I just finished Swordbird and it’s an excellent book. I thought it was nice that I’m not the only one who has thoughts about peace and war. It was a powerful book. If the book becomes a movie, I think it would win an award. Great job. It gave me inspiration to turn my story into a book.
Most impressive! It will be interesting to see how Fan develops as an author as she matures. The next great American novelist just may be from China.
-Linda,
Manchester Center, VT
给我留下最深印象的小说！很有趣看着范祎今后如何发展。美国下一代的伟大小说家或许来自中国。
-琳达
曼切斯特中心，佛蒙特州
始终追求 (2008-8-19 02:49:10)
What an incredible story! It’s exciting, adventurous, and magnificent. It has fabulous characters in a captivating world that really sucked me in. Loved it!
Linh (San Jose, CA)
This book is amazing, the characters and the plot were magical. This book is for people who like Warriors! I should know I am one. Yeah, overall the book was very great. I hope Nancy Yi Fan continues writing for the rest of her life!
I don’t like fantasy books, but I thought Swordbird was marvelous! Nancy Yi Fan is an incredible young writer. She cleverly uses personification to show how war hurts both sides and the strong feelings that evolve from it. In fact, her characters become so life-like that at times I cried along beside them, laughed at them, or became angry with them. I look forward to Nancy’s next creation!
最新回复
始终追求 (2008-8-02 03:54:52)
— 访纽约时报畅销儿童书排行榜小说《剑鸟》的作者范祎
美国《华人周末》报2008年2月28日
范祎（英文名Nancy Yi Fan），北京女孩，7岁随父母来美国学习。2006年12岁的她写出了英文奇幻小说《剑鸟》（Swordbird），并由世界第二大出版集团哈珀柯林斯在全球出版，旋即登上了《纽约时报》畅销书排行榜，创造了华裔少年作家史无前例的奇迹。同年，范祎亲自把《剑鸟》翻译成汉语，在中国由人民文学出版社出版了英汉对照版的《剑鸟》。一时间，美国、中国、英国的各大媒体争相报道，权威书评机构和世界各地的读者纷纷赞扬此书。《剑鸟》还被美国《Book Sense》选为儿童推荐图书，被美国NBC电视台Al Roker的儿童读书俱乐部选为2007暑假四本推荐儿童小说之一，被中国新闻出版总署评选为2007年“百种优秀少儿书目”之一。
在媒体热、书评热持续升温的同时，范祎又于2008年初出版了《剑鸟》的前传《剑之寻》(Sword Quest)，并在美国7大城市演讲、签书。记者有幸在签书现场采访到了范祎。
戴着一副眼镜的范祎刚刚表演完了剑术。看着眼前文静的女孩，我惊叹地问：“写作是静的活动，而武术正好相反。你怎么想起学习练剑的？”她说：“我学剑的念头是在写《剑鸟》的过程中产生的。当时，写格斗场面感到不够逼真，就想亲自练练剑。我就进了武术训练班，先练基本功练起。每次练完腰酸腿痛，叫苦连天。有天我实在忍不住了，就请教练请直接教我练剑。没想到她同意了。不过，她说每个动作每天至少要练数十遍。她问我能不能做到，我说能。既然答应了，我就咬牙坚持练了下去。吃了不少苦，可至今我还是个初学者。从这件事我懂得了功夫的真正含义。”
我问她：“听说成龙得知你写出了武功奇幻动物小说《剑鸟》，还亲自写信祝贺你，赞扬你，是不是？”范祎说：“是啊，Jackie Chan是我的偶像。我的美国同学都知道Jackie Chan。他的中华武功是我为之骄傲的。他还鼓励我继续努力，向更大的目标奋进。”
当我问她出名以后的感受时，范祎说：“挺累的，不过我对自己的要求更严了。比如，写第二本书时，我总想写得比第一本书好，有时一个情节就能把我折腾得精疲力尽。在学校也是这样，写个小作业我也不敢怠慢。其实我是在给自己加码。不过也好，这样就能进步了。”
《剑鸟》的主题是自由、和平，《剑之寻》的主题是命运。谈到这些主题时，范祎反问了我一句：“你是不是觉得这些主题太大了？”“事实上，我是用小孩子的蜡笔画宇宙、画太阳。在《剑鸟》中奴鸟冲出了牢笼，飞向自由，更增强了自由所带来的快乐。《剑之寻》是与命运抗争的故事。其中，寻找剑就是寻找理想、寻找正义。我觉得儿童关心这些主题，因为我们知道没有和平的环境，我们就没有学校和书，没有勇于探索的精神，我们就很难拥有美好的明天。虽然我的小说主题很大，但我的故事情节却是充满童趣的。”
谈到创作灵感时，范祎告诉记者《剑鸟》是源于一个梦，梦中有一只爪持宝剑的巨大白鸟让她醒后一直难忘，这就是剑鸟的原型，他是神的儿子，是正义、和平的化身。当然，范祎从小就喜欢鸟，喜欢读有关鸟的科普读物，喜欢森林。这些都是促使她创作《剑鸟》的源泉。她打算把剑鸟的故事创作成系列小说。除了已经出版的《剑鸟》、《剑之寻》之外，她目前正在创作第三本小说，是有关金鹰皇族的故事。“这本书的主题是平等。又是一个大主题。”她笑着说。“在这本书里，我要注重心理描写。”
当记者问范祎怎么看待学业时，她答得很简洁。“学业永远是第一位的。我的功课一直门门是A。我希望将来能考上世界著名大学。”
虽然还是14岁的小姑娘，但范祎敏捷的思维和形象的比喻给我留下了很深的印象。祝愿她将来写出更多好书来，如她笔下的剑鸟一样在美丽的世界里继续飞扬。(特约记者：千里)
始终追求 (2008-8-07 01:03:13)
Swordbird is a story about peace, freedom, and tolerance. These are all things that are very close to my heart. When I travel throughout the world and see what happens to people because of war and violence – for example, the landmine victims in Cambodia – it breaks my heart. I know that Nancy wrote her story partly as a reaction to the events of 9/11. I’m happy that she found a way to express her desire for peace and freedom. I think that Nancy is an inspiration to a lot of people and she is proof that if you work hard and dream big, anything can happen!
- Jackie Chan
from Los Angeles, CA
March 22, 2007
我很荣幸为《剑鸟》和它的作者十三岁的天才小作家范祎写几句话。我对范祎了解得越多，就越佩服她。给我留下深刻印象的是：范祎七岁移居美国，她不得不学习英语，而她学习是多么刻苦，只经过几年学习就能用英语写出一本小说来。我非常高兴范祎能继续学习汉语并把《剑鸟》从英语翻译成了汉语。当我听见一些人移居海外就放弃了他们母语和文化传统时，我很伤心。我为范祎能珍视我们的文化和传统而感到骄傲。
《剑鸟》是讲述一个和平、自由和宽容的故事，这些都是我心里所崇尚的东西。我在世界各地旅行时，看到战争和暴力带给人民的灾难（比如在柬埔寨看到了一些地雷受害者）时很伤心。我知道范祎写这个故事，部分是对“９.１１”的反思，我很高兴她找到了一个能表达她向往和平和自由的方式。我认为范祎这个例子，对许多人都是个鼓励。它向人们证明：只要树立远大理想，努力奋斗，就会有奇迹发生。
成龙
于美国洛杉矶
[ 本帖最后由 始终追求 于 2008-8-23 08:59 编辑 ]
始终追求 (2008-8-08 09:11:24)
《儿童文学》期刊书评
《寻》作者范祎
在这本探寻类小说中，鸟演绎了不寻常的主题。小说从英雄即将到来的预言开始。一个始祖鸟的黑暗帝国在强大，他们甚至把很健壮鸟如乌鸦等都变成了奴隶。一个叫“013无类鸟”的奇怪白鸟，在故事的一开始也被抓为奴。当他试图放走一个俘虏时，他突然想起了母亲给他起的名字——风声。他也逃了，变得更坚强了，并以“风声”的真实身份重新开始了他的历险生活。小说跟着他的旅程，飞越了山山水水，围绕着他如何阻止邪恶的猫迪尔去拿英雄宝剑的线索展开。这本小说是关于如何发现自己内在的英雄潜能以及生活中最重要的东西—— 如家庭、朋友、和平，而不是权势和财宝。范祎这么小的年纪就写出了这么出色的小说，实在令我佩服。我也非常喜欢丽欧克丝很有特点的铅笔画插图，这些插图给角色增添了魅力。总之，文字和插图这两方面合在一起使得这本充满想象的小说变得那么有趣。
— 劳拉.卢迪格
《寻》
（4-6年级） 《寻》是《剑鸟》（哈珀柯林斯出版集团，2007）的前传。在这本主题为正义战胜邪恶的书中，读者会看到一股邪恶势力企图控制鸟的世界时所展开的离奇故事。预言说有个英雄将在英雄日到来，但是这个英雄是谁却是个迷。分散在世界各地未知角落的丽桑宝石能指向英雄宝剑所在之处，所以英雄必须先寻找宝石，然后才能取到剑。始祖鸟，一群无恶不做的鸟，在他们凶恶首领的带领下到处干坏事。 猫迪尔，始祖鸟的头儿，*邪魔法得到了一个奇怪的翅膀，跟蝙蝠的翅膀很相似。他把眼睛盯上寻剑这件事上了。与此同时，一些不大可能成为剑主的鸟不顾生命的安危去寻找宝剑的线索，以确保剑被英雄拿到。在这群鸟中，天雷山鹰族王子福来多， 鹩哥胃哥，啄木鸟翼哥都跟随着一只叫“013无类鸟”的鸟去完成这个使命。“013无类鸟”长得很像鸽子，当过奴隶。读者将发现所有这些角色都令人信服，非常适合历险故事的角色。故事线索紧凑，扣人心弦。其中故事最重要的成分，也是最能打动读者心灵的是它蕴涵的主题 —— 爱。
—— 萝宾. 乔亚 美国《学校图书馆》杂志
始终追求 (2008-8-09 10:33:39)
She creates vivid characters with wonderful names (Flameback the cardinal, Dilby the loon) and other cool words like “nobird”, “somebird,” and “everybird.” There’s a hummingbird circus, birds dining on raspberry pie and fending off invaders with scalding bean soup. Best of all each chapter starts with a quotation from some book of bird lore, including the Book of Heresy which promises the terrible Turnatt eternal life - if he eats the egg of one woodbird every day.
Nancy Yi Fan is a talent to watch!
- Jean Westmoore, The Buffalo News
简直难以相信作者在写这本令人赞叹、精雕细琢的奇幻小说时只有12岁。这个故事描述了邪恶老鹰特耐特君主如何抓鸟为奴，为他建造堡垒，并挑拨红蓝鸟相互打仗。
她创作出许多栩栩如生的角色，并给他们起了绝妙的名字如红鸟火焰背，潜鸟迪比等，另外作者还自创了其他一些很酷的英文词语如“nobird”，”somebird”和 “everybird”。有一群剧团鸟，用红莓派和滚烫的豆子汤阻击入侵者。更精彩的是书的每章前都有一段引语，或者是引自充满鸟族古老传说的《古经》，或者是引自《邪经》。《邪经》让恶霸特耐特着迷的是里面的一句话：每天吃一只林鸟蛋，生命延续到永远。
范祎是令人值得注目的天才！
-琼.韦斯特莫尔 《布法罗新闻报》
始终追求 (2008-8-10 02:44:25)
will really enjoy it, both as a great story and as a phenomenal work by one of their peers.
We’ll be adding the book to the reading program and including it in our book fair offerings!
Congrats!
Kevin Washburn, Ed.D.
Clerestory Learning/Make Way for Books
Pelham, AL
上周末我读了《剑鸟》，感到很惊讶。它是一本非凡的小说，就是成人作家若写成这样也是很大成就了。作家的小小年纪更使这本小说令人瞩目。鸟的角色，《邪经》和《古经》的穿插引语，以及那带着寓言似的的语气都给小说增添了十足的奇幻色彩。我喜爱它，我想孩子们一定会由衷地喜欢它，这不仅因为它是一个伟大的故事，而且因为它是由同龄人写出的杰出的作品。
我们将把这本书列为读书活动的必读小说，并把它放到我们书市的展台上。
祝贺范祎的成就！
凯文.沃什泊恩，教育学博士
《学习窗》/《读书之路》
huaixiang (2008-8-11 01:08:01)
始终追求 (2008-8-11 03:03:04)
Paul Carstens
我10岁了，我一口气读完了范祎的《剑鸟》。我太喜欢这本书了！我想它一定会受到大家喜欢的。我焦急地等待着她的下一本书。
- 保罗.卡斯腾斯
始终追求 (2008-8-13 13:07:46)
北京奥运会终于开幕了。这是多么令人激动的时刻啊！全球几十亿双眼睛同时看着北京，看着这个有着五千年文明历史的古国。一个巨大的画卷展示了中国文化的精华，古代四大发明、鼎盛的王朝、敦煌艺术、郑和下西洋等场面都表达了中国从古至今一直延续的思想——求和。整个开幕式给我的感觉是中国人丁兴旺、气势宏伟。中国没有侵略他国的历史，有的只是自强不息、靠自己双手与天斗、与地斗的辉煌文明。最令人感动的是当那2008张孩子的笑脸出现的时候，谁不会感到这个世界充满了希望呢？一个鸟巢预示着美好的未来；和平鸽的飞翔象征发展。我对张艺谋独具匠心的艺术天才感到惊叹。
---范祎
始终追求 (2008-8-14 08:22:11)
- Mrs. Chenique
一定要读范祎的《剑鸟》哟！这本书不但写了一个石头跑森林鸟族的奇妙的故事，而且它阐述了战争带来恶果，寻求和平需要勇敢和胆量这个道理。
- 琴尼克夫人
猪小象 (2008-8-14 12:43:19)
始终追求 (2008-8-15 03:14:24)
As his forces attack the other bird species, the blue jays and the cardinals think the other has attacked them. Their hostility is open and war seems imminent with the only winner being Turnatt whose minion caused the argument between the blue and the red. Unless a miracle occurs many will die and a free forest will become a vicious malevolent dictator’s realm. However, only the Swordbird, son of the Great Spirit, can prevent the tragedy and return the forest to domestic tranquility for all its creatures. The only problem is the Swordbird is a myth.
This is a fascinating well written personification fantasy aimed at the 8-12 years old crowd. Readers will see differing personalities especially between the various bird species. As the non Hawks pray for a hero especially Swordbird, fans will enjoy the confrontation between evil and good.
Harriet Klausner
老鹰特耐特试图占领石头跑森林。尽管他喜怒无常、朝令夕改，他还是强制他爪下的士兵听从他的命令，谁敢违抗就惩治谁。他的目标是成为征服者，杀戮者，“阴森堡垒的大王”，进而统治整个森林。
当他的士兵偷袭当地鸟族时，土著鸟红蓝鸟都误以为是当地鸟的一方洗劫了他们。他们之间由仇恨转为战争，情况十分紧急，而特耐特在由他爪下挑拨起来的这场战争中渔翁得利。除非有奇迹出现，不然许多当地鸟就会死亡，一片自由的森林就会落到暴君的魔爪中。然而，只有神的儿子剑鸟能阻止这场悲剧的发生，使这片森林恢复往日的平静。问题是剑鸟只是传说的鸟还是真的存在。
这是一本用拟人手法写成的迷人的、文笔隽秀的奇幻小说。它的目标读者群是8到12岁的孩子。读者会看到各种性格各异的鸟的角色。当林鸟呼唤剑鸟时，读者粉丝会被正义和邪恶的斗争场面所吸引。
哈丽雅特.克劳斯纳
[ 本帖最后由 始终追求 于 2008-8-15 03:19 编辑 ]
始终追求 (2008-8-15 13:54:14)
[ 本帖最后由 始终追求 于 2008-8-15 14:47 编辑 ]
始终追求 (2008-8-15 14:49:07)
I think this book should be made a best seller, it has what all books need, a great story, adventure, and a great writer to write. Nancy Yi Fan should continue writing!
Catherine M Newman
这是我看过的最好的书！
我认为这本小说会成为畅销书，它具备所有书需要具备的东西，好故事，历险，由天才作家所写等。范祎应该继续写下去！
-凯瑟琳.纽曼
始终追求 (2008-8-16 08:37:53)
by: Mary Lou Neill
New Jersey
retired elem teacher
这是一本引人入胜、令人惊讶、刻画完美的小说。书中的第一个句子就迷上了我，我马上给我的妹妹打了电话，她是加州的一所学校的图书馆员，她为她学区负责定书。她准备为她学校定这本书。我喜欢鸟，我们新泽西州这儿有许多红鸟和蓝鸟，我对它们十分感兴趣。我是退休教师。若我还教三年级的话儿，我会把这本书读给学生听的。我可能安排一个课程单元，包括了解各种鸟，词汇和主题等。我把这本书给了我的女儿，她现在是老师。她打算给她5年级的学生读这本小说，并做些活动。
向范祎祝好，望她写出更好的小说来！
玛丽.卢.尼尔
始终追求 (2008-8-17 13:45:03)
- Megan Cahill, 14 years old, Long Island, NY
我刚刚读完了《剑鸟》，这是一本很棒的书。我认为它写得好，看来不只是我在关注战争与和平了。这本小说很有感召力。如果把这个故事拍成电影，我认为一定能获奖的。故事写得完美。受这本书的启发，我也想把我的故事也写成一本书了。
-梅甘.卡希尔, 14岁, 于纽约州,长岛
始终追求 (2008-8-18 03:12:51)
-Linda,
Manchester Center, VT
给我留下最深印象的小说！很有趣看着范祎今后如何发展。美国下一代的伟大小说家或许来自中国。
-琳达
曼切斯特中心，佛蒙特州
始终追求 (2008-8-19 02:49:10)
Linh (San Jose, CA)
简直写出了一个令人难以置信的故事！扣人心弦、充满冒险、场面宏大。在她描画出的那个迷人世界中那一个个神奇的角色完全把我吸引住了。太爱读这本书了！
-琳
圣何塞，加利福尼亚州
始终追求 (2008-8-20 07:17:00)
- Mychajlo
Philadelphia, PA
这本小说写得太美妙了，书中的角色、情节充满了神奇。这本书会吸引爱读《勇士》的书迷的！至少我已成了它的书迷了。是的。总之，这本小说写得太棒了。我希望范祎今后一直写下去！
- 迈卡亚罗
费城，宾西法尼亚
始终追求 (2008-8-20 22:35:30)
-Toni
Onalaska, WI
我一般不太喜欢奇幻小说的，但是我认为《剑鸟》写得太好了！范祎是个天才小作家。她巧妙地运用拟人的手法向读者展示战争如何伤害双方，以及从中衍生的强烈的感情。事实上，她描写的角色栩栩如生，我不时地跟着他们一起哭，一起笑，并跟角色生气。我盼望早日读到范祎的下一本书。
-托尼
始终追求 (2008-8-21 13:42:19)
[ 本帖最后由 始终追求 于 2008-8-23 13:15 编辑 ]