What do you think?
Rate this book
With Just One Wing
The story of an adopted boy and the bird he rescues
Everyone expects Coop to be musical like his beloved parents, but he’s not. That’s one of the few things he finds awkward about being adopted—well, that and the fact that he sometimes wonders why his birth mother didn’t love him enough to keep him. This summer, he’s stuck at home with a broken arm after falling out of a tree trying to get a closer peek at a mockingbird nest. Later, when the eggs in the nest have hatched and the fledglings fly away, he and his friend Zandi notice that one of them stays behind. Taking a closer look, they realize the bird only has one wing. Since it won’t survive in the wild, they adopt it and name it Hop, and then learn everything they can about birds so they can care for Hop properly. Unfortunately, when a hawk injures Hop, the vet says it’s illegal to keep mockingbirds as pets. Faced with a difficult decision about surrendering his beloved little bird to a bird sanctuary, Coop starts thinking about his birth mother’s motivation in a new light.
Everyone expects Coop to be musical like his beloved parents, but he’s not. That’s one of the few things he finds awkward about being adopted—well, that and the fact that he sometimes wonders why his birth mother didn’t love him enough to keep him. This summer, he’s stuck at home with a broken arm after falling out of a tree trying to get a closer peek at a mockingbird nest. Later, when the eggs in the nest have hatched and the fledglings fly away, he and his friend Zandi notice that one of them stays behind. Taking a closer look, they realize the bird only has one wing. Since it won’t survive in the wild, they adopt it and name it Hop, and then learn everything they can about birds so they can care for Hop properly. Unfortunately, when a hawk injures Hop, the vet says it’s illegal to keep mockingbirds as pets. Faced with a difficult decision about surrendering his beloved little bird to a bird sanctuary, Coop starts thinking about his birth mother’s motivation in a new light.
176 pages, Paperback
Published May 27, 2025
4 people are currently reading
2166 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Woods
24 books70 followersBrenda Woods was born in Ohio, grew up in Southern California, and attended California State University, Northridge. Her award-winning books for young readers include The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond (a CCBC choice and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book); the Coretta Scott King Honor winner The Red Rose Box; the ALAN Pick Saint Louis Armstrong Beach; and VOYA Top Shelf Fiction selection Emako Blue. Woods’s numerous awards and honors include the Judy Lopez Memorial Book Award, the FOCAL International Award, and the ILA Children’s Choice Young Adult Fiction Award. She lives in the Los Angeles area.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 31, 2024
SYNOPSIS
Coretta Scott King Honor–winner Brenda Woods’s poignant, heartfelt story of an adopted boy and the bird he rescues.
MY THOUGHTS
This is a wonder of a book for young readers, with that glorious cover that would not let me look away, and a heart-tugging story that uses animal rescue to illuminate issues related to adoption.
I fell in love with the young African American boy Coop, who struggles with the fact that he was adopted, and with Hop, the one-winged baby bird he rescues. I cried when a hawk injures Hop, and even more so when the vet it is taken to says mockingbirds can't be kept as pets, leading Hop to be given to a bird sanctuary.
"How could my mother ever give me up?" Coop ponders repeatedly, until he finally comes to a new understanding after he gives Hop up to the sanctuary. What a moving story, beautifully written and illustrated, and destined to bring this stellar Cincinnati-born author many more awards as she brings comfort and hope to readers. Brava, Brenda! Brava, Nadia Fisher!
Thanks to Brenda Woods, Nancy Paulsen Books, Nancy Paulsen, #ariadelsole, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
Coretta Scott King Honor–winner Brenda Woods’s poignant, heartfelt story of an adopted boy and the bird he rescues.
MY THOUGHTS
This is a wonder of a book for young readers, with that glorious cover that would not let me look away, and a heart-tugging story that uses animal rescue to illuminate issues related to adoption.
I fell in love with the young African American boy Coop, who struggles with the fact that he was adopted, and with Hop, the one-winged baby bird he rescues. I cried when a hawk injures Hop, and even more so when the vet it is taken to says mockingbirds can't be kept as pets, leading Hop to be given to a bird sanctuary.
"How could my mother ever give me up?" Coop ponders repeatedly, until he finally comes to a new understanding after he gives Hop up to the sanctuary. What a moving story, beautifully written and illustrated, and destined to bring this stellar Cincinnati-born author many more awards as she brings comfort and hope to readers. Brava, Brenda! Brava, Nadia Fisher!
Thanks to Brenda Woods, Nancy Paulsen Books, Nancy Paulsen, #ariadelsole, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
December 11, 2023
Cooper Jaxon Garnette was a Safe Haven Baby; his birth mother brought him to the local hospital emergency room when he was one day old.
Coop was adopted by his first foster parents and raised in a loving household with two parents and, across town, two paternal grandparents, all extremely musically talented. Coop could not even carry a tune, but he knew he was loved. However, for eleven years he wondered how a mother could give a baby (him) away. He has unrelenting questions that he asks himself, “Where is she, somewhere close or far away? Does she ever think about me? Would I recognize her if I saw her? Would she recognize me?” (ARC 11)
Watching some bird eggs in his G-Pop’s tree and then climbing for a better look, the bird parents protect their eggs, divebombing Coop, and he falls and is in a coma. Finally released from the hospital with a broken arm and no basketball to keep him busy, he and his friend Zandi watch the birds become hatchlings and then nestlings and, finally, three of the four become fledglings, leaving the nest and learning to fly.
He and Zandi rescue the mockingbird baby born with only one wing and research how to care for and feed him. They grow to love Hop and builds a small Bird Sanctuary in G-Pop’s yard which he can watch from his cage and the deck.
But when Hop gets lose, is injured, and taken to a vet, they learn that it is illegal to keep a mockingbird caged. Coop and Zandi also understand that Hop needs other birds to help him learn to sing. They can follow the law and put Hop in a safe place if they relinquish him to a bird aviary run by the Yolanda, the Bird Lady. “’Thank you, Coop,’ Yolanda replied. ‘Giving up something we love because we know it’s the best thing to do takes courage.’” (ARC 154).
Even with all the unfortunate events, the summer experiences just may have helped Coop to understand why his birth mother may have done what she did.
Brenda Woods’ new novel could serve as a mirror for children who are adopted or in foster care as well as any grade 4-8 readers looking for characters who show resilience.
Coop was adopted by his first foster parents and raised in a loving household with two parents and, across town, two paternal grandparents, all extremely musically talented. Coop could not even carry a tune, but he knew he was loved. However, for eleven years he wondered how a mother could give a baby (him) away. He has unrelenting questions that he asks himself, “Where is she, somewhere close or far away? Does she ever think about me? Would I recognize her if I saw her? Would she recognize me?” (ARC 11)
Watching some bird eggs in his G-Pop’s tree and then climbing for a better look, the bird parents protect their eggs, divebombing Coop, and he falls and is in a coma. Finally released from the hospital with a broken arm and no basketball to keep him busy, he and his friend Zandi watch the birds become hatchlings and then nestlings and, finally, three of the four become fledglings, leaving the nest and learning to fly.
He and Zandi rescue the mockingbird baby born with only one wing and research how to care for and feed him. They grow to love Hop and builds a small Bird Sanctuary in G-Pop’s yard which he can watch from his cage and the deck.
But when Hop gets lose, is injured, and taken to a vet, they learn that it is illegal to keep a mockingbird caged. Coop and Zandi also understand that Hop needs other birds to help him learn to sing. They can follow the law and put Hop in a safe place if they relinquish him to a bird aviary run by the Yolanda, the Bird Lady. “’Thank you, Coop,’ Yolanda replied. ‘Giving up something we love because we know it’s the best thing to do takes courage.’” (ARC 154).
Even with all the unfortunate events, the summer experiences just may have helped Coop to understand why his birth mother may have done what she did.
Brenda Woods’ new novel could serve as a mirror for children who are adopted or in foster care as well as any grade 4-8 readers looking for characters who show resilience.
June 6, 2024
What worked:
The book shares a heartwarming tale of Coop’s efforts to save a mockingbird. He knows the bird is defenseless in the wild and he refuses to let it die. Coop learns what Hop needs to survive with much of the research being done by his friend Zandi. Coop’s grandparents pitch in too since G-Pop’s backyard bird-watching is what allows them to find Hop in the first place. Coop and Zandi constantly consider what will make the bird happy and Coop is especially concerned the mockingbird won’t discover its beautiful singing voice. Readers will anticipate that Hop’s first song will signal a fully successful rescue.
Coop and Hop are both saved by others so adoption becomes a major topic. Readers will compare and contrast the characters’ lives as Coop experiences circumstances that evoke thoughts about his own life. Safe haven is a term used that reminds him of the hospital where he was left by his birth mother. His broken arm is similar to Hop’s missing wing but Coop realizes his injury will eventually heal. He notices Hop’s parents constantly feed and protect the bird and Coop thinks about them after Hop is rescued from the nest. Coop reflects on his own birth mother and wonders if they might recognize each other if their paths ever cross. Why did she give him up? Caring for Hop offers Coop new perspectives on the different people involved in adoptions.
What didn’t work as well:
Having the story told from Coop’s point of view lets readers know what he’s thinking and feeling but it doesn’t offer many opportunities to learn about other characters. Zandi is a close friend but readers are left wondering about her life and thoughts when Coop’s not around. Consequently, outbursts when she’s upset seem to come out of the blue since all of the attention is on Coop.
The final verdict:
The skillful description of Coop’s adventure will lead readers on an emotional roller coaster. The parallels between his life and the mockingbird deliver heartfelt lessons concerning adoption and family. I recommend you give it a shot.
The book shares a heartwarming tale of Coop’s efforts to save a mockingbird. He knows the bird is defenseless in the wild and he refuses to let it die. Coop learns what Hop needs to survive with much of the research being done by his friend Zandi. Coop’s grandparents pitch in too since G-Pop’s backyard bird-watching is what allows them to find Hop in the first place. Coop and Zandi constantly consider what will make the bird happy and Coop is especially concerned the mockingbird won’t discover its beautiful singing voice. Readers will anticipate that Hop’s first song will signal a fully successful rescue.
Coop and Hop are both saved by others so adoption becomes a major topic. Readers will compare and contrast the characters’ lives as Coop experiences circumstances that evoke thoughts about his own life. Safe haven is a term used that reminds him of the hospital where he was left by his birth mother. His broken arm is similar to Hop’s missing wing but Coop realizes his injury will eventually heal. He notices Hop’s parents constantly feed and protect the bird and Coop thinks about them after Hop is rescued from the nest. Coop reflects on his own birth mother and wonders if they might recognize each other if their paths ever cross. Why did she give him up? Caring for Hop offers Coop new perspectives on the different people involved in adoptions.
What didn’t work as well:
Having the story told from Coop’s point of view lets readers know what he’s thinking and feeling but it doesn’t offer many opportunities to learn about other characters. Zandi is a close friend but readers are left wondering about her life and thoughts when Coop’s not around. Consequently, outbursts when she’s upset seem to come out of the blue since all of the attention is on Coop.
The final verdict:
The skillful description of Coop’s adventure will lead readers on an emotional roller coaster. The parallels between his life and the mockingbird deliver heartfelt lessons concerning adoption and family. I recommend you give it a shot.
January 30, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Coop was left at a hospital as an infant under the Safe Haven law, and was adopted into a loving family. His father plays trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and his mother is spending the summer in San Francisco teaches piano at the university level. Coop spends a lot of time with his Nona and G-Pop, and enjoys being able to see his friend Zandi, who lives nearby. There is a nest of mockingbirds that G-Pop and the kids are watching. Once the eggs hatch and most of the birds leave the nest, there is still one bird remaining. Coop climbs the tree to investigate, but falls from the tree and breaks his arm. Later, they realize that the bird has not left the next because it only has one wing. They manage to get the bird down and keep it safe, feeding it every 45 minutes with an eyedropper. It's against the law to keep wild birds, so they find a rehabilitation facility willing to take the bird, whom they name Hop. Coop, however, feels sympathy for the animal and doesn't want to abandon him the way that he was abandoned, but knows that the bird needs friends who can help him learn to sing. He runs away to visit the facility on his own, and finally makes peace not only with giving up Hop, but with the fact that his birth mother faced a similar difficult decision and did what she thought was best.
Woods always manages to work music into her books in a very interesting way, like in her Saint Louis Armstrong Beach or When Winter Robeson Came. This also reminded me a little of Williams-Garcia's Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, with the bus adventure to the bird sanctuary. There were also good details about taking care of wild animals properly.
Coop was left at a hospital as an infant under the Safe Haven law, and was adopted into a loving family. His father plays trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and his mother is spending the summer in San Francisco teaches piano at the university level. Coop spends a lot of time with his Nona and G-Pop, and enjoys being able to see his friend Zandi, who lives nearby. There is a nest of mockingbirds that G-Pop and the kids are watching. Once the eggs hatch and most of the birds leave the nest, there is still one bird remaining. Coop climbs the tree to investigate, but falls from the tree and breaks his arm. Later, they realize that the bird has not left the next because it only has one wing. They manage to get the bird down and keep it safe, feeding it every 45 minutes with an eyedropper. It's against the law to keep wild birds, so they find a rehabilitation facility willing to take the bird, whom they name Hop. Coop, however, feels sympathy for the animal and doesn't want to abandon him the way that he was abandoned, but knows that the bird needs friends who can help him learn to sing. He runs away to visit the facility on his own, and finally makes peace not only with giving up Hop, but with the fact that his birth mother faced a similar difficult decision and did what she thought was best.
Woods always manages to work music into her books in a very interesting way, like in her Saint Louis Armstrong Beach or When Winter Robeson Came. This also reminded me a little of Williams-Garcia's Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, with the bus adventure to the bird sanctuary. There were also good details about taking care of wild animals properly.
June 22, 2024
Cooper plays basketball. He was adopted as an infant when he was dropped off at a hospital as part of the Safe Haven. Coop continuously wonders who she is and why she gave him up, even though his parents and grandparents are loving. A pair of mockingbirds make a nest at his grandparents backyard, and Coop and Zandi, his grandparents’ neighbor, learn about birds as they watch the nest. Coop climbs the tree to look in the nest but falls and slips into a coma and breaks his arm. When he wakes up he feels lucky. Once all of the baby birds leave the nest, Zandi and Cop realize that the last bird left gas only one wing. Coop’s dad climbs a ladder to get it and Zandi and Cop care for it in the bird sanctuary they are creating. A coooer’s hawk attacks and Hop is injured. The get informs Coop that it is illegal to keep a mockingbird in a cage. Coop runs away with Hop as he decides what he will do with Hop. He and his granpop visit the rehabilitation and Coop has a decision to make, which helps him realize his mother also had a decision to make.
June 1, 2024
Beautifully crafted middle grade fiction about Cooper (Coop) Garnette, a basketball playing adoptee in a family of talented musicians. Coop hangs out with his grandparents as well as the daughter of a neighbor while his mom is working out of town and his dad goes to his LA Symphony job. A mockingbird couple lay eggs in a tree in his grandparents yard. The adult mockingbirds are not pleased that Coop is climbing so close and he falls from the tree under their attack. A summer with a concussion and a broken arm was not what Coop planned, but as he becomes more and more interested in the birds, they begin to enlarge his life and one of them even manages to heal a private hurt that he's been carrying about his adoption. Throughout the book, the reader gains a renewed appreciation for birds and the entire interconnectedness of nature alongside Coop.
November 6, 2024
Adopted Coop spends time with his grandparents when his parents are working, and his G-Pop is into birds. Coop's attempt to touch some mockingbird eggs ends with a fall out of the tree, after the bird parents dive-bomb him. After he recovers from the coma, broken arm and deep cut, Coop & his friend Zandi notice that one of the fledglings has only one wing. Coop relates, and they "adopt" the bird, callin him "Hop".
Coop has always been sensitive to not having musical talent like both generations of his adoptive family, and he also wonders why his birth mom didn't want him. A vet tells them they can't keep a wild bird, and after they visit the bird sanctuary, he realizes that loving something can mean letting it go somewhere better, safer. And that he has other skills--basketball, for one, and he works on geting those skills back--and lefty!
Natural first person narration, from a CSKing award winner. A shortish read (176pp) with some depth.
Coop has always been sensitive to not having musical talent like both generations of his adoptive family, and he also wonders why his birth mom didn't want him. A vet tells them they can't keep a wild bird, and after they visit the bird sanctuary, he realizes that loving something can mean letting it go somewhere better, safer. And that he has other skills--basketball, for one, and he works on geting those skills back--and lefty!
Natural first person narration, from a CSKing award winner. A shortish read (176pp) with some depth.
March 30, 2025
Twelve-year-old Cooper is an adopted boy whose summer plans go awry after he falls out of a tree while trying to touch the eggs in a mockingbirds nest. Recuperating from a concussion and a broken arm, he and his friend Zandi discover that one of the chicks has only one wing. They rescue it and learn how to lovingly care for it. When they find out that keeping the bird is illegal, they reluctantly give it to a sanctuary for injured birds where they are able to visit it once a week.This is a touching story about adoption and Coop's complicated feelings about his birth mother and his loving relationship with his adoptive family. Gently and sympathetically written, the plot develops smoothly and the characters are likable and relatable. This story is recommended for ages 9 t0 12 by the SEPA Book Reviewers.
July 31, 2024
Everyone always expects Coop to be musical like his parents, but he’s not, because he’s adopted. This summer, Coop is stuck inside after falling out of a tree trying to get a closer look at a mockingbird nest at his grandparent’s place. After the fledglings have left the nest, Coop and his friend Zandi notice one bird is left behind. Upon a closer look, they realize the bird only has one wing. Knowing it won’t survive on its own, they adopt it and name it Hop. But after a hawk injures Hop, the vet says it’s illegal to keep mockingbirds as pets. Faced with the difficult decision about surrendering his little bird to a bird sanctuary, Coop begins thinking about his birth mother’s own decision.
This will be a good book for younger readers, especially those getting into the longer chapter books. I think this story, though simply written, will open the door up for discussion about Safe Haven babies and adoption.
I do wish that it wasn’t written in Coop’s POV, simply so we could get more information maybe about Zandi, because we only get what Coop thinks about her - so when he becomes upset with her, I didn’t feel like it was that justified.
Overall, this was a cute middle grade read filled with the discussion about adoption and giving something up that you love so much.
*Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This will be a good book for younger readers, especially those getting into the longer chapter books. I think this story, though simply written, will open the door up for discussion about Safe Haven babies and adoption.
I do wish that it wasn’t written in Coop’s POV, simply so we could get more information maybe about Zandi, because we only get what Coop thinks about her - so when he becomes upset with her, I didn’t feel like it was that justified.
Overall, this was a cute middle grade read filled with the discussion about adoption and giving something up that you love so much.
*Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Read
September 16, 2024Read to my three Alaska boys - and ALL liked it --- although they all thought the bird would somehow eventually fly with just one wing! A much deeper value of the book might be for a family with an adopted child - although it didn't escape the boys, it wasn't their focus as they were reading it (actually having it read to them over the phone) but were fascinated by the development of the bird with just one wing. Was good to learn about mockingbirds and why they can't be kept in captivity - good conversation with two of the boys for that. Highly recommend and will remember it for any family I might encounter dealing with "fitting in" and adoption. Wish I had known of this book years ago to recommend to various parishioners.
May 26, 2024
Starting with the cover, this book is beautiful through and through. Coop was adopted at birth and while he knows his family loves and adores him, he still wonders about his birth mother. When Coop takes a hard fall while bird watching, and ends up in a coma, some say it's a miracle he survived at all. This definitely derails his bball season. He and a neighbor girl rescue a one winged mockingbird. Through "adopting" "Hop" Coop begins making connections to his birth mother and comes to realize "Giving up something we love because we know it's the best thing to do takes courage."
Read the author's note at the end!
@wonder world book cafe
Read the author's note at the end!
@wonder world book cafe
December 30, 2024
A nice story for young readers about an adopted boy grappling with his feelings of abandonment and questions about his birth family while caring for a one-winged bird. I think it breaks down some complicated emotional turmoil and questions in a way that would be easy to digest for a young kid. Coop's relinquishing of Hop to a place better equipped to care for the bird, while far from a perfect metaphor, does help to show kinder answers to the questions Coop struggles with.
March 16, 2025
This was such a cute read. I would totally buy this for my non existent kids. This would be a good story for foster/adopted children. Stories follows Coop, a boy, who was adopted at birth but sometimes still thinks of his birth mom. One day after bird watching with his grandfather and friend, they adopt a bird with only one wing. By the end of the story, Coop has learned a wonderful lesson.
If you liked Dolphin Tale, you'll like this.
If you liked Dolphin Tale, you'll like this.
February 25, 2025
As a new foster mom, I definitely feel a lot of empathy for Coop and his mixed-up feelings about being an adoptee. I like how this story showed Coop's growing sense of identity and compassion for his birth mother's difficult decision to give him to the hospital as a safe haven baby. I wish this story went more in detail, though.
January 19, 2026
Solid family read aloud. Kids from 6-13 enjoyed it, and I did too. Short chapters made it easy to start and stop. The main character was relatable and warm and pulled my kids right in. In places we laughed, and in other places there were ideas to think about without the story being heavy. My only complaint is that it kept telling kids not to climb trees. 😂
October 11, 2024
A sweet story about a boy who was adopted and how he continues to come to grips with questions about his birth mother.
The story also focuses on birding and finding place.
A wonderful read aloud 4th to 7th grades.
The story also focuses on birding and finding place.
A wonderful read aloud 4th to 7th grades.
July 9, 2024
The storytelling was stilted, and I didn’t love the author’s note in the back as context for the story.
August 6, 2024
This was a really good book. I heard about it in a magazine so I already sort of knew the ending, but it was fun to listen to anyway!
October 6, 2024
Great for young readers.
October 21, 2024
I liked the story. I was uncomfortable when there seemed to be an attempt to connect an injured bird needing to go to a rehabilitation facility, and a child that was placed for adoption. Cringe.
November 21, 2024
Quick and sweet book about handling what life tosses at you. A boy saves a bird who ends up saving him.
January 2, 2025
I liked this book and thought it was appropriate for the age - middle grades. But I also think this is why some of the writing felt contrived.
October 4, 2025
A beautiful story!
October 24, 2025
We really enjoyed reading this aloud together. I felt like something was missing, though.
January 25, 2026
a great story of helping animals in need and survival
March 23, 2025
So far, language is not "ringing true." Some kids might refer to themselves in third person, but I hope the adults and friends and their lives will explain how annoying that is.
Adopted MC wonders why his birth parents abandoned him, but after caring for, and ultimately letting go, the one-winged bird, he understands that his birth parents might have given him up out of love.
Lesson forward, mediocre story.
Adopted MC wonders why his birth parents abandoned him, but after caring for, and ultimately letting go, the one-winged bird, he understands that his birth parents might have given him up out of love.
Lesson forward, mediocre story.
February 13, 2024
3.25* - ARC - I really like the concept of this book. But it has some really big topics, that I don’t think were properly talked about. I know my child would have questions.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews