About the Book:

Nine-year-old blond Matica lives in a remote little village on a dry plateau in the Andes of Peru. She moved here with her Australian missionary and schoolteacher parents when she was five years old. Ever since she could remember she faced cruel rejection because of her growth handicap. She is trapped in a body the size of a two year old. Because of that the local Indians wouldn’t accept her into their community or allowed her to play with their children. Under the watchful eyes of her parents who understand her, lonely Matica explores the plateau for entertainment.

Back when she was seven years old she had noticed a pair of condors soaring near the mountains. With patience and a sense of adventure she befriended them and named them Tamo and Tima. A strong bond and love developed between them.

The book begins nearly two years after this, where she helplessly witnesses poachers stealing the condors’ egg from its ledge. After a dramatic fight between Tamo and the poachers, Tamo drives them away and the poachers leave the egg on the way down. Being unable to bring it back to the ledge, Tamo and Tima makes it clear to Matica to take care of the egg, so she dose. On exactly Matica’s tenth birthday, the condor fledgling ‘Talon’ hatched.

The book describes in detail how Matica helped Talon grow into the majestic bird he was meant to be. When the time comes for Talon to fly, he can’t get off the ground. He needs to jump off a high place to be able to fly, like all condor fledglings. Therefore, the family takes Talon on a long walk to a suitable cliff. After a difficult climb with Talon, they eventually reach the precipice. Talon then musters the courage to jump and learns to fly.

Two months later the most unbelievably amazing thing happens. What Matica had dreamed of ever since she first befriended the condors, actually unfolds. That changes her life so completely that she can now see a positive side to her handicap. The Indians then fully accept the new Matica into their community.

This is the beginning of a time of incredible adventures with Talon and Matica.