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The Someday Birds

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TWO STARRED REVIEWS!

"Offering a mixture of suspense, mystery, tragedy and humor, Pla's story captures both the literal and figurative meanings of journey." Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Pla gives us a memorable hero in this lyrical and funny book.” Shelf Awareness (starred review)

The Someday Birds is a debut middle grade novel perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree, filled with humor, heart, and chicken nuggets.

Charlie’s perfectly ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan.

When his father heads from California to Virginia for medical treatment, Charlie reluctantly travels cross-country with his boy-crazy sister, unruly brothers, and a mysterious new family friend. He decides that if he can spot all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday along the way, then everything might just turn out okay.

Debut author Sally J. Pla has written a tale that is equal parts madcap road trip, coming-of-age story for an autistic boy who feels he doesn’t understand the world, and an uplifting portrait of a family overcoming a crisis.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2017

187 people are currently reading
6461 people want to read

About the author

Sally J. Pla

10 books272 followers
Sally J. Pla is the author of ALA Schneider Award-winning THE FIRE, THE WATER, AND MAUDIE McGINN, the Dolly Gray Award-winning THE SOMEDAY BIRDS, and other acclaimed novels and picture books. Her work has gained many awards and starred reviews, and has been included on many state awards lists and “best book” roundups.

Sally has appeared on television and radio as an author and neurodiversity advocate. She also runs A Novel Mind, an online resource for neurodiversity/mental-health/disability representation in children's lit.

Sally believes in the beauty of different brains. We are all stars shining with different lights.

For more, visit her website at sallyjpla.com .



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5 stars
1,411 (43%)
4 stars
1,288 (40%)
3 stars
425 (13%)
2 stars
69 (2%)
1 star
21 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 560 reviews
Profile Image for Merriam Sarcia.
Author 5 books26 followers
September 23, 2016
As a psychotherapist who specializes in working with the Austism Spectrum, I am always a bit nervous to read novels that reflect ASD characters. Authors with the best of intentions don’t always get it right, leaving readers with many misconceptions. Sally Pla not only gets it right, but she does so in such a lyrical and page-turning way. We become swept away not only in the adventure and mystery of the story, but also in Charlie’s lovable, literal, anxious and reluctant point of view. Sally Pla’s writing is absolutely beautiful and engaging, while staying true to the voice of young Charlie’s character. By the end of the story, you are cheering, crying and relieved—but also sad to say goodbye to this sweet, sweet boy. Kids will love the adventure (and possibly develop an interest in birding!) and grown-ups will appreciate a perspective that will provide an understanding of and empathy for differences. A must in the library.
Profile Image for Patrick.
387 reviews
March 13, 2017
Such a beautiful story of a boy, his father, siblings, a cross country journey, and a list of birds. The writing was top notch and the relationships quite special. Really enjoyed this MG novel
Profile Image for Jess.
214 reviews163 followers
February 28, 2017
Disclaimer: I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I'm absolutely blown away by the perfection of this book. This is an amazing debut novel and I hope that Sally J. Pla writes many more books in the future! (I WILL READ ALL OF THEM!)

THE SOMEDAY BIRDS is about Charlie, a 12-year-old bird enthusiast who likes things to always be in order. He ends up being forced to go on a cross-country road trip with his family and meets some new friends along the way. The story is absolutely life-changing for both Charlie and the reader. I feel like I'm closing this book with a new perception on life.

The writing was just like the story- absolutely perfect. I felt like I was able to connect with all of the characters and really get involved in the story. THE SOMEDAY BIRDS is just enchanting. I highly recommend it to ALL readers. (Seriously, GET THIS BOOK!)
1,018 reviews14 followers
April 15, 2017
This story is for middle-school children but the use of two unnecessary swear words by the grandmother at the beginning made me hesitate to read this book. But I'm glad I continued, no more foul language, and a delightful story through and through for any age. Without the harsh swear words, which I doubt the grandmother would have choose to use, this story would have been just as good, if not better.
Profile Image for Janice.
Author 12 books34 followers
December 5, 2016
Among the charms of this debut novel is the generosity with which Sally J. Pla writes about twelve-year-old Charlie, a sweetly nerdy kid who understands that his deep need for order and compulsive hand-washing complicate his life and drive his family nuts. (He seems to be on the autism spectrum, but Pla wisely doesn't label him.) She also brings compassion to Charlie's exasperated family. And his transformation in the book involves awakening his own empathy for others, including a three-legged dog that he comes to loves despite its smelly fish breath.

Charlie has managed to organize his life in a way that keeps his anxiety from overwhelming him. That all changes when his dad, a journalist injured in Afghanistan, needs surgery, and Charlie's forced into a cross-country road trip with his three siblings and the strange pink-haired woman who's taking care of them.

Charlie and his dad share a love of birds. To give himself an anchor on the trip—and, in a touching bit of magical thinking, to make his dad well—he decides he has to look for every bird on a list they've made of "someday birds," rare birds they hope to see once in their lives.

Yes, birds appear, in a number of gratifying ways. So do some delightful science-obsessed adults who suggest the special kind of person a boy like Charlie might become.
Profile Image for Jenn Bishop.
Author 5 books242 followers
March 12, 2017
I have a feeling this will hang on as one of my favorite MGs of the year. Truly a beautiful story with rich and memorable characters.
Profile Image for Lynda Felder.
Author 2 books6 followers
September 20, 2016
The experience of reading The Someday Birds is intense and intensely satisfying. Within the first few pages you fall for the main character, Charlie, who narrates the tale. Charlie is a reluctant hero, dragged into a journey, travelling across the country in a vintage RV named Old Bessie along with his three siblings, a three-legged loveable hound rescued in Las Vegas, and a strange young woman called Ludmila. Their final destination is a hospital in Virginia, a place where Charlie’s dad may or may not recover from a brain injury.

Charlie’s dozens of quirks annoy his companions to no end yet make him incredibly endearing. He doesn’t like change and frequently resorts to a ritual hand-washing that sooths his overloaded senses.

Like most reluctant heroes, Charlie has a mentor -- none other than Tiberius Shaw, PhD, legendary ornithologist, artist and philosopher. Throughout the novel and especially at the beginnings of chapters, Shaw offers threads of wisdom that apply to both bird and human habits. Along Charlie’s journey, readers also meet brilliant scientists who teach Charlie about the stars, humanity, and aviary genomics.

This book is chock full of delightful moments, heartwarming stories, and fun facts. It’s definitely a book I’ll read again!
Profile Image for Kim.
Author 9 books15 followers
October 11, 2016
With wit and sensitivity, Pla gives her readers a ride in the skin of hand-washing, chicken nugget-eating, bird-loving Charlie on his way across the US in a rickety RV named “Old Bessie,” along with his siblings, a three-legged dog and a new "family friend" who also might be taking them to a mountaintop cult.

Through their cross-country adventures, the reader gets a real sense of what it’s like to be … well… Charlie. His “condition” never gets labeled, and I like that. We get to see how the world looks through his eyes, how he tries to create order in his seemingly disordered life. His siblings respond to his habits as family members do: sometimes with impatience, sometimes with understanding, and, under it all, with love.

The relationships in this book feel real, and there is just enough wondering what will come next to keep the reader in that beat-up camper as it makes its way across the United States. This book is sure to become a favorite with young people, their parents and teachers around America—maybe even the world!
Profile Image for Brenda Kahn.
3,811 reviews60 followers
February 27, 2017
I wanted to read this the moment I heard of this debut sometime early last summer. The road trip angle appealed to me but it was the birding part that made me WANT this big time. I pre-ordered a copy but have been really busy with other reading commitments. Plus I wanted to read it at a quiet and uninterrupted time. Charlie's voice is just so endearing and his interest in birding as well as the comfort he finds in it as a distraction from his huge worries was such a unique plot point. I love how the author thematically linked chapter names with the birds as well as the quotes by Charlie's hero, Tiberius Shaw. It's introspective and lovely; definitely one to give your more thoughtful readers, especially ones who love sad books. The sadness is leavened with humor. The road trip is interesting. Charlie's growth is believable. Hopefully, the birding descriptions will entice young readers into what I think is a fascinating pastime.
Profile Image for Scott Fillner.
266 reviews41 followers
December 10, 2016
A character can elicit so many different emotions in a reader regardless the story, but when the two come together, you just don't seem to want it to end. In Sally Pla's debut novel this is most certainly the case. The main character is one that you make an instant connection with and just want to know more and more about. In fact all the characters in Sally's novel are so unique and interesting.

The story is is unique and has you making connections not only with geography but science and ornithology as well.

I believe many children and adults will find this story and these characters appealing.
Profile Image for S.F. Henson.
Author 1 book80 followers
September 6, 2016
Phenomenal! This story is truly special. Pla's writing allows you to crawl inside the main character's head and see the world how Charlie sees it. If you have Asperger's or OCD, you'll see yourself reflected in these pages. If you know a child or coworker or loved one with Asperger's or OCD, this book will help you gain a new understanding of their everyday trials and victories. Pla captured so much in these pages. I could've spent forever with these characters. You definitely want this book on your must read list!
Profile Image for Ali Standish.
Author 19 books332 followers
February 21, 2017
This book was funny, poignant, bittersweet, and wholly lovable. A fantastically whimsical premise with an equally strong delivery and full of unexpected twists and turns that will tug at your heart. A great addition to any middle grade bookshelf!
2 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2017
The cover art will draw you in. The interior pages will make you stay.

The Someday Birds is a charming, original, middle-grade debut that this fifty-something reader devoured in a sitting. The author has succeeded in creating lovable, believable characters. One in particular, 12-year-old Charlie, will remain indelible for many reasons, not least of which is his keen worldview.

When his father is moved from California to Virginia for treatment of a war-related traumatic head injury, Charlie sets out on a journey across the country in a rickety RV with his teenage sister, rowdy twin brothers, and a mysterious family friend, Ludmila. He decides that if along the way he can spot all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday, his father will recover. Readers have a chance to take that journey with Charlie and will find themselves celebrating each of his victories on the 2,500 mile excursion.

This is a story of compassion, family, hope and humor. It’s also about behavioral idiosyncrasies, the impact of war, a three-legged dog and the calming effect of chicken nuggets. The author has masterfully woven seemingly disparate elements together and in doing so created a quirky, intensely readable novel with heart.

The book is interspersed with gorgeous illustrations, prophetic quotes from a reclusive ornithologist, intriguing chapter headings, and scientific information related to the birds on Charlie’s list, making the story educational as well as entertaining.


Profile Image for Melissa.
Author 2 books101 followers
October 31, 2016
Sally J. Pla's contemporary middle-grade debut novel, THE SOMEDAY BIRDS, blew me away. Charlie, a 12-year-old bird enthusiast with a passion for chicken nuggets and a need for order, is forced to go on an unexpected cross-country road trip with his siblings, a mysterious family friend, and a three-legged dog named after Charlie's idol, bird expert Tiberius Shaw. Their destination? The Virginian hospital where their war-reporter dad is recovering from a head injury sustained in Afghanistan. What Charlie discovers along the way - about himself, and about his family - is in equal parts wildly funny and heartbreakingly sad. Beautifully written and sensitively told, this middle-grade gem does everything a great novel should: entertain, enlighten, and enchant. Highly and enthusiastically recommended.
1 review1 follower
November 14, 2016
The Someday Birds is a touching story of a boy named Charlie learning how to open his mind to new experiences and emotions as he and his siblings traverse the country. In the beginning, Charlie is full of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of change. As he gets closer and closer to his father and to completing his "Someday Birds" list, we see Charlie's fear melt away. All of the new people and all of the new experiences Charlie has over his journey really changes him. I personally think that this story is not about a father injured in Afghanistan, nor is it even a story about birds. This is a story about a boy who suddenly realizes that there is much, much more to life than what he has seen.

Sally J. Pla has written such a moving story, and captured the voice of Charlie so expertly, that when I finally finished the story I was already wishing for more.
Profile Image for Sarah Evans.
671 reviews15 followers
July 18, 2018
Sometimes youth literature featuring characters with disabilities either has a character that's too stereotypical or the book feels like a moral lesson without much entertainment. But this one gets everything right. It's a great road trip story, family story, war survivor story, even a STEM story (birds and astronomy!) that is full of real people and real hope. The plot has a bit of magical realism, but it doesn't distract, it just reminds us that there is more good in the world than bad. Recommended for ages 10 to 100.
Profile Image for Sandy.
2,791 reviews72 followers
January 17, 2018
I want to recommend this book to anyone who likes novels that are fast-paced. I felt that the characters in this novel were constantly moving from one thing to another, always on the go. There wasn’t a lot of time to appreciate or analyze the situation they were currently in before they were onto the next best thing. I found this frustrating at times as a reader but I also understood they were on a journey, an adventure, and with a vanful of children, you need to live each day to its fullest. This novel is also geared towards children/middle school readers who like that continual change of scenery and this novel definitely provided that.

The story is told by twelve-year-old Charlie who has some OCD behaviors. He has an older sister and two younger brothers. His father, a journalist, came home from Afghanistan with a brain injury. I enjoyed that the story took off right away with Gram staying with the children while dad is getting treatment in the hospital. Dad is offered additional free treatment across the country where they decide he will go, with Gram accompanying him. The childcare situation doesn’t pan out and the strange woman who was visiting their father in the hospital ends up coming to their house to babysit. The kids decide then that they’re not staying with her and set out to be with their father. Road trip!

The fast road trip to reach their father ends up becoming a scenic drive as one thing leads to another. The children find themselves finishing their road trip in a dusty camper with a three-legged dog. You have to enjoy their adventure on this scenic drive as each individual has desires they want fulfilled along the way. It’s comical at times as they stop to enjoy the sights. Charlie’s obsession with birds, the twins’ obsession with anything that catches their eye, and Davis’ obsession with boys. I had to wonder if they would ever reach their father.

I thought the ending was super and one of the best parts of the novel. I liked how realistic the children felt and their interactions with one another. The mystery of Ludmila was a mixed bag for me. Why was she sent to watch the kids when they didn’t know who she was? I found this frustrating and that frustration grew the more I read about her until her relationship was finally revealed. I really liked the part where Davis shows Ludmila the flash drive, I got chills just reading this. I wished there would have been more depth to the characters, a chance to get to know them better.
Profile Image for Susan .
464 reviews20 followers
March 28, 2023
"It's amazing, the things we are capable of, in our dreams. If only we could harness that power when we wake."
Profile Image for Nestor Cedeño.
Author 3 books9 followers
January 24, 2025
Told through the eyes of a young, autistic who wants to connect more with his ailing father through a checklist of birds they have never seen before.
The book is for 12-15 year olds, but I have my reasons for reading this. 🧩
Profile Image for Arielfranchakyahoo.com.
178 reviews9 followers
October 24, 2018
Full of many layers and lessons to learn, The Someday Birds is a heartwarming adventure that explores family, friendship and finding your flock. The reader is sure to walk away with new perspectives and greater empathy. As a reading teacher, I can honestly say that this book is pure gold. I will continue to discuss it, use it in my classroom and when my own children are old enough, encourage them to read it as well. Overall, I just love the strength and personal growth of Charlie, the main character, as he begins to face his fears, form new relationships and strengthen older ones. This book should be in every middle grade classroom!
18 reviews
October 31, 2023
"The Someday Birds" by Sally J. Pla is an emotional and perceptive read that conveys the spirit of family and the strength of overcoming one's fears. The story centers on the adventure of 11-year-old autistic Charlie, his three siblings, and their caregiver as they travel the country by car. The way this book adds the aspect of neurodiversity and how it is portrayed in this book is what makes it very special. Through Charlie's distinct viewpoint and the tribulations he encounters, readers are able to really understand autism in a new light and the need for acceptance and empathy in a sensitive and genuine manner. The strength of familial love and the relationships that connect the family together throughout their journey are other themes covered in the novel.

The story's road trip component offers a sense of exploration and adventure, and it's heartwarming and inspirational to see how the kids interact with their environment and grow as individuals. One of the main themes in this book was familial relationships and the impacts of these ties on the main character. The author writes with a captivating style that really conveys the four brothers' unique characters, making them likable and relatable to the reader."The Someday Birds" tells the story of a singular and unforgettable main character as well as of growth, resiliency, and the hidden beauties of everyday life. This is a novel that teaches and promotes empathy in addition to being engaging. This book is a great addition to any bookcase because it will be enjoyable and thought-provoking for readers of all ages.
Profile Image for Nancy Kotkin.
1,405 reviews30 followers
June 8, 2017
Middle grade novel about a twelve-year-old boy on the autism spectrum, who also struggles with OCD, on a road trip wth his siblings to visit their brain-injured father. The family dynamics are superbly crafted. Charlie's love of birds is woven throughout the entire story, in ways that readers can appreciate even if they are not birders themselves. It's extremely challenging to write an entire novel with a protagonist who struggles with mental illness, but Charlie's characterization is accurate, sensitive, endearing, perceptive despite his limitations, and evokes empathy. Charlie is an unlikely hero who is certain to instill sensitivity in his readers. Writing is high quality. Happy but realistic ending. My only (rather small) gripe about this book is my wish that a map of their route from San Diego to Washington DC was included. This novel is my favorite (so far) for the 2018 Newbery.
Profile Image for Kristin.
Author 4 books62 followers
October 3, 2016
I finished the last pages of THE SOMEDAY BIRDS with a lump in my throat. What a heartfelt debut. I loved every moment I spent on this zany, cross-country journey with Charlie and his family in a clunky camper called "Old Bess". This books touches on so much, I'm not even sure where to start - history, geography, neurodiversity, war, family, and the handling of nature with the utmost care. And while some parts are yes, heavy, Pla never leaves her readers feeling hopeless. She treats every topic with grace and respect. I loved Charlie's voice, his deadpan wit, and his literal view of the world. But the real gem I gleamed from birding with Charlie is that life is hard, but there is always hope.
Profile Image for Kirsti Call.
Author 6 books64 followers
February 16, 2017
What a beautifully written debut! Charlie, is a highly sensitive 12 year old on the autism spectrum who adores birds. His quest to find birds calms the anxiety he has about his Dad's brain injury. As Charlie hopes for his father to heal, he takes a literal and figurative journey to understand other people and relationships. The lyrical words and heart in this story will compel you to turn each page. LOVED this book!
Profile Image for Cindy.
Author 5 books348 followers
March 14, 2017
THE SOMEDAY BIRDS is enchantingly wise and lovely; it was impossible not to fall head-over-heels for Charlie, his family, and the incredible cast of characters they meet along their journey. Pla takes a story filled with difficult challenges and writes it with such sensitivity and heart that I wanted to hug the world by the time I was done. A fantastic, life-affirming debut.
Profile Image for Virginia.
1,489 reviews4 followers
February 28, 2017
A wonderful book, actual journey, metaphysical journey, war, peace, fear, hope, acceptance and growth. Starts a bit slow but stick with it until the journey up the mountain to the possible cult and you will be hooked.
Profile Image for Tracy.
88 reviews
March 23, 2017
This is a charming book. Written in the voice of the main character, who is probably on the autism spectrum, it gives us a birds-eye view (no pun intended!) of how a person with autism walks through life's difficulties.
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