Extraordinary Birds

by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

For fans of The Thing About Jellyfish, Counting by 7s, and Fish in a Tree, a heartbreaking and hopeful story about a unique young girl on a journey to find home."An amazing debut -- filled with heart, lyrical prose, and a heroine who soars!" - Jewell Parker Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost BoysDecember believes she is a bird. The scar on her back is where her wings will sprout, and one day soon, she will soar away. It will not matter that she has no permanent home. Her destiny is in the sky. But then she's placed with foster mom Eleanor, a kind woman who volunteers at an animal rescue and has secrets of her own. December begins to see that her story could end a different way – but could she ever be happy down on the ground? In her arresting debut, Sandy Stark-McGinnis offers an inspiring story about family, friendship, and finding where you belong.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Childrens, Family, Fostering

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2019

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like my heart was torn apart and then put back together again but like...not quite???

There is still work to do, Sandy Stark-McGinnis. This story of a lonely girl who wants to be a bird in the midst of a traumatic childhood needed more of a happy ending. As in, the happy ending was there, but I needed MORE of it. Give me 50 pages of this girl being happy with her adoptive mom and her soup and her bird that she freed and defeating bullies alongside her trans best friend.

We all earned it.

Bottom line: Sweet and sad! 3.5 stars

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tbr review

you may not know this about me but i'm a big bird fan. so hopefully that directly translates to me liking this book.

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reading all books with LGBTQ+ rep for pride this month!

book 1: the gravity of us
book 2: the great american whatever
book 3: wild beauty
book 4: the affair of the mysterious letter
book 5: how we fight for our lives
book 6: blue lily, lily blue
book 7: the times i knew i was gay
book 8: conventionally yours
book 9: the hollow inside
book 10: nimona
book 11: dark and deepest red
book 12: the house in the cerulean sea
book 13: the raven king
book 14: violet ghosts
book 15: as far as you'll take me
book 16: bad feminist
book 17: a song for a new day
book 18: one last stop
book 19: to break a covenant
book 20: honey girl
book 21: check, please!
book 22: the subtweet
book 23: if we were villains
book 24: everything leads to you
book 25: you have a match
book 26: ziggy, stardust, and me
book 27: all the invisible things
book 28: heartstopper
book 29: boyfriend material
book 30: extraordinary birds

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing December trusts is her story. One day the scar on her back will open up and she’ll sprout wings. She’s a bird waiting for the moment she’ll transform, and then she’ll be able to fly into her future. But when she’s kicked out of yet another foster home and placed with Eleanor, a taxidermist and animal sanctuary volunteer, December begins to rethink everything she believes about her past and what her future could look like.

Some authors are able to tap into a voice so powerfully truthful it’s breathtaking. That’s the case with Sandy Stark-McGinnis, writing from the perspective of December. She’s a girl obviously used to taking care of herself, and she doesn’t crave contact from those outside her circle of one— others aren’t like her anyway. Stark-Mcginnis manages to weave December’s independent mindset with subtle vulnerability as she explores her new life. In every sense, she feels authentic.

Part of what makes her so believable is the grounded world she inhabits. December believes in the fantastical, but she’s surrounded by a group of people she perceives to be ordinary … or at least separate from her. But Eleanor is a calm, understanding, grounding presence who also lets December soar. And then there’s Cheryllynn, a trans girl, who unconditionally befriends December on her first day of school. Even with the difficulty of navigating a new home or dealing with the school mean girls, Stark-McGinnis provides December a comfortable nest with these two.

The text is lyrical and simple, reflecting December’s sometimes blunt or evasive style. Yet it’s also peppered with copious bird facts— after all, bird talk is where December is most comfortable. When she’s considering potoos or flamingos, she unfolds herself, opening up about one of her few known interests. It’s incredibly effective.

Complex and ultimately satisfying, Extraordinary Birds has all the makings of an instant classic.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someday December will spread her wings and take flight, feeling the aching scar between her shoulder blades where her wings will bloom as she escapes her human life. Vaguely remembering her biological mother, December is reminded of her abandonment by a kindergarten photograph of her mother inscribed with in flight is where you'll find me and a reference guide to birds. December endures the ache of being displaced within the foster system until she can learn to fly, searching on her journey to find an old and gnarled tree where she will launch her maiden flight.

My heart ached for young December. Abandoned by her biological mother with a photograph and reference guide, December finds solace in her feathered friends, believing one day she will transform into a bird. Placed in a foster home with Eleanor Thomas, she's just biding her time until she transforms. Eleanor is a wildlife rescuer, taxidermist and shares December's love of birds and although finding common ground, December knows the only person she can rely upon is herself.

On her journey, December has never experienced a sense of belonging, manifesting as a compulsion that she will transform and escape. December is a gentle young lady, compassionate and emphatic especially towards her feathered friends. She's intelligent and wonderfully knowledgeable about birds. December is representative of children displaced by the loss of a parent and placed within the system, weary and detached. Eleanor patiently allows December to interact with her environment, introducing her to responsibility by caring for an injured Red Tailed Hawk as December coerces Henrietta to rehabilitate and take to the skies once more.

Cheryllynn is a wonderful inclusion, charismatic and inclusive as she befriends December. As a young transgirl, Cheryllynn endures abusive behaviour which may distress readers. Her resilience and confidence is inspirational, I'm exactly who I'm supposed to be. She is instrumental in anchoring December as their tentative friendship blossomed.

Extraordinary Birds is achingly beautiful, wonderfully diverse and a remarkable debut novel.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

December believes she's a girl transforming into a bird because this narrative is easier to cope with their her history of neglect by her mother and of moving through the foster system.

When December gets placed with Eleanor, she's not hopeful that this will be her forever home. Because December believes she is really a bird waiting to get her wings, she knows all about birds. This commonality with Eleanor allows them to connect and December begins to feel hope in her future of finding a home.

I love the patience Eleanor exhibits and the crushing feelings December feels as a tween. I had tears ready to spill over in several sections of the book. A lovely story about writing yourself into a new story.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many emotions in this book - getting to know December was an honor.
Full of universal themes such as hope and determination, this is a debut that will make you remember this author's name!

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

December is a struggling 11 year old girl growing up in the foster care system, with no real understanding of family or having a home. Because of all the trauma she’s experienced, her way of coping is believing in an imaginary world where she is a bird waiting for her wings.
December’s story is a heartbreaking one and feels almost too real. My heart went out to her and it made me think of how hard it must be to trust anyone after you’ve lived her childhood of bouncing from one home to the next.
I really enjoyed this story. I just wasn’t as invested in December’s character as I would have hoped. At first it was hard to understand the bird connection with December, but after it got going I couldn’t put it down. I would definitely recommend this quick read for middle graders.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the e-arc.

This heartfelt story follows 11 yo December as she navigates life while being bounced from foster home to foster home. To help herself through the abandonment of her mother, she starts a journal in which she imagines herself as a bird. Well, she more than believes it, she thinks she IS a bird. Her imagination covers up the scars of her past, but ironically, keeps her planted where she is because she doesn't trust easily and plans to fly away before any meaningful relationships could begin. Then, she meets Eleanor, who is a bird enthusiast like December, and also works at an animal rehabilitation center. Learning to trust Eleanor doesn't come easy for December, and her past keeps attempting to push its way through. But will she let it or keep pretending?

This book...was fascinating. The author mixed in bird facts. It amazed me how well she fit them into the narrative and didn't bore me at all. In fact, I learned a lot. December's unreliable POV was well done. The scar on her back that she pretends is where her wings will pop through, and the real reason for them kept me on the edge of my seat and also broke my heart for her.

Something I have yet to see in a middle-grade novel is a character like Cheryllyn, who is a boy in the middle of a gender change to a girl. Cheryllyn is targeted for this at school, but none of it makes a difference to December, who befriends her. Although this is not a major plot point, it still affects the story if you look at the deeper meaning.

This book was beautifully written. I was amazed how such a small book could hold such a cast of empathetic and amazing characters.
This book was too short for how wonderful it was. That is my only complaint. I will be ordering a copy ASAP when it releases in April. This is one for the bookshelf.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of longing and hope, EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS tells the story of 11yo December, who believes she is a bird. She feels the absence of her mother keenly, believing her left-behind bird book and the message “In flight is where you’ll find me” are the keys to finding her place in the world. December moves from one foster home to another, waiting for the day her wings will sprout. When she’s placed with taxidermist/wildlife rescuer Eleanor, December’s vision of the future wavers for the first time. Is there a way to let go of the past so she can find a place she really belongs? Beautifully written!

[Kristin Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sharing a copy for review to Collabookation.
December has been shuffled through foster homes as long as she can remember. Her only memories of her mother are sporadic and unintelligible. Growing up, December has found an interest in birds and flying that sustains her through her tribulations.
As I read, my mind kept going into teacher mode: I wanted to pull snippets to teach unreliable narrator. At times, the bird discussion and analogies got to be overwhelming to me~ and then I realized this was a tool to help the reader understand what one must do when in self-preservation mode. *I consider myself a savvy reader, but every time a book has me interpreting and examining how it's written, while keeping me interested in the storyline, I'm impressed.** Unreliable narrator isn't something I see often in middle grade literature, and I appreciate it whenever I find it done well.
Another wonderful aspect of Extraordinary Birds is the supporting character Cheryllyn who befriends December almost immediately. Together, December and Cheryllyn shuffle their courage back and forth. Cheryllyn is being ostracized because of her recent gender change, and December is targeted for her friendship with Cheryllyn. However, throughout the book the main plot line is December's growth.
I'd love to see this book used in book groups, because some of the more sophisticated elements could be wonderful teaching tools. However, even without adult support, students will enjoy seeing December's journey from self-preservation to allowing herself to accept love and support from others.
Recommended for grades 5 and up.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever retreated into fantasy when it felt easier to face than reality?

That's exactly the coping mechanism at the heart of Sandy Stark-McGinnis's unique and moving debut novel, EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS. Eleven-year-old December knows, deep down, that she's truly a bird—and as soon as her wings sprout, she'll be able to fly away from foster care and the painful events that landed her there. The last thing she expects is that the very system she wants so badly to escape might just be the key to finding her forever home.

A lot of books comp to Ali Benjamin's THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH, but this is one of the first books that really reminded me of that one, in the way that the protagonist becomes fixated on an unlikely idea in order to explain memories that feel too painful to look at. December is a fierce, vulnerable character I could not help but root for, and the story is told richly and satisfyingly. Although it deals with some pretty major topics—severe child abuse and abandonment—It does so sensitively, so that the narrative never feels overwhelming or depressing. I loved Eleanor, how gentle she was, how she made a home for December without ever pushing her too far or too fast. Community and found family tend to be big themes in my books, and so reading EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS felt like encountering a kindred spirit.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

December is the eleven-year-old narrator of EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS, though I’m not sure who the audience for the story is supposed to be.

MG readers won’t buy into a story about a girl who thinks she’s a bird. Though December sees a therapist, her character isn’t written to be a child with a psychotic disorder. As an adult, the not-so-subtle metaphors about foster care and birds were obvious, but I don’t know many kids in that age range who’d be interested in the story. MG could use more stories about foster kids. EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS is not that book.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal, maar springt er niet uit voor mij. Je weet dat zo'n verhaal 'goed' gaat komen en dat is zeker mooi beschreven. Zelf vond ik December in het begin een klein beetje irritant, haar fantasie kon in mijn ogen iets beter uitgewerkt worden. Goed mogelijk dat dat ook aan mij ligt.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary Birds is a beautifully-written story about a young girl looking for a home. But after having been though numerous foster homes, she's reluctant to trust anyone. She also seems to have convinced herself that she's a bird almost ready to take flight. Thus the multiple attempts to fly by jumping out of trees. December's newest foster placement, Eleanor, seems to be a better fit than her previous placements, but December's reluctant to trust her. Despite their mutual love of birds, Eleanor's willingness to trust her, and her efforts to get December involved in releasing a formerly injured bird of prey, December thinks Eleanor might be out to get her. She's not really ready to make friends at school either, especially with the group of girls she calls the vultures hanging around ready to strike. The question is can December come to grips with her past and find a way to trust again? or is it too late?

I enjoyed the book for the most part especially December's interactions with Eleanor and Cheryllynn, a fellow student from school. I'll admit though I had a hard time with December's insistence on being a bird, and expecting wings to sprout from a nasty scar on her back. It quickly became clear that this was a coping mechanism but I still found it odd. The rest of the bird stuff was okay. December's passion for birds was quite interesting in fact. She shares a lot of interesting facts about birds with those around her. At times, heart-wrenching, but ultimately hopeful, Extraordinary Birds reminded me that all too many children are still searching for a place to call home.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade novel tells the story of an eleven year old girl who has spent the last several years in and out of foster homes. When we meet December, she’s jumping out of a tree. Readers learn that December, in order to cope with her traumatic past, believes that she is really a bird. She believes that one day her wings, which are hidden underneath a gruesome scar on her back, will unfold and she’ll be able to fly away from everything.

December is placed with Eleanor, who runs a wildlife rescue center. Her affinity for wild animals and her easygoing nature allow her to build a relationship with December. There’s a lot of pain for December to work through in order to be able to trust someone like Eleanor.

At school she becomes friends with Cheryllynn, a transgender who has her own history with an abusive parent. Cheryllynn is the target of bullies at school, especially a mean girl called Jenny, but she helps December get back her private bird book that Jenny took from her.

This book has a lot to say to middle grade kids about kindness, the effects of trauma on a person’s mental health, and learning how to face the world as the person that you are rather than pretending to be someone or something that you aren’t. For young readers that are facing their own battles as foster kids or transgender kids, the worries about bullies and the struggles with anxiety and depression are very real. It may be empowering to read books with characters that are also fighting for the right to be themselves in their homes, schools, and communities.

[Tiffany Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible middle grade novel. To say I am blown away is an understatement and this was an arc copy...I wish I had a finished version of this one so I could reread it and see the subtle changes that were made between this and the final version.

December is a little girl who has spent several years in the foster system and tossed around from home to home, looking for a family that ultimately, she meshes with and sadly, she does not. And, this brave, intelligent, and highly imaginative child (and not just a bit reckless and a lot sad) believes that deep down, she is a bird. One day, she will sprout wings from the horrific scars on her back and fly away.

And then, she ends up living with foster mom Eleanor and her thoughts and feelings begin to shift. Eleanor rehabilitates injured wildlife and that includes a lot of birds. And, she gets December to help her rehab an injured hawk and help teach her how to fly and rejoin the wild. Eleanor is also a taxidermist.

What I adore about this book are all the amazing metaphors....December and Eleanor as well as December and her friend, Cheryllynn (who happens to be transgender and I appreciate this subject is tackled in the book as well) all seem to help heal each other from the inside-out.

And while December has never been afraid of the consequences of falling out of the trees she has been climbing in her attempts to force her wings to appear...by jumping out of them, and ultimately, falling. She does, after spending time with Eleanor and Cheryllynn, realize the value of family and real friendship and start to place value on herself as a human and begins to want to experience what she's been missing out on the past several years of being such a loner and refusing to let anybody in. She finally wants to allow others in.

I highly recommend this book. It's a lot like The Metamorphosis but with far less depression and an uplifting, happy ending. Who doesn't want that?

[Yani Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia original sobre una niña de once años que cree que es mitad pájaro. A lo largo del libro iremos conociendo a December, su forma de pensar y porqué creé que es en parte un ave destinada a volar. También conoceremos su pasado, que ella nos narra a través de un cuento, el cuento de su vida. Nos cruzaremos con dos personas muy peculiares, una taxidermista y una niña que sufre bullying. Si bien a medida que avanza la trama se nos hace predecible algunas cosas, aún así mantiene al lector interesado. A todo esto se le suma los datos curiosos sobre distintas aves y sobre la vida de Amelia Earhart a quién December admira por obvias razones.
Sin embargo, hubo distintos sucesos se me hicieron inverosímiles, razón por la cual solo le di 3 estrellas, uno de ellos es el hecho de que una niña de 11 años viviera solo a semillas y algún helado o bocadillo ocasional. Otra cuestión fue el hecho de sus recurrentes y peligrosas caídas, creo que algo así hubiera terminado con una reclusión en un hospital psiquiátrico y no simplemente en un llamado de atención.
En definitiva, un libro entretenido y original.

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

My main literary loves are crime and horror, but I do try and read outside of those genres as often as I can. 'Extraordinary Birds' was just such a read. It's a charming, moving, coming of age tale, about a damaged young girl, December, who believes she is a bird.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I found it to be a gripping, deeply engaging read. It's a book for children, but doesn't soft-pedal or condescend and I think adults would find just as much to like in it as kids. December is a wonderful protagonist, and her avian obsessions are fascinating and really help the book come alive.
It's a tale that covers the things you'd expect it to: bullying, the difficulty of parent-child relationships, our common need for love; but it does them all well. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to and finished it with a lump in my throat.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part of the book for me was that December's best friend Cheryllyn who always had December's back, and always stood by her no matter what, was a trans kid. Really love seeing lots of LGBTQIA representation in stories, especially when they are as cool and wonderful as Cheryllyn.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old December has landed in her umpteenth foster home with bird lover and taxidermist Eleanor, certainly not a person to trust. Eleanor might see that December is really a bird, lure her and eventually stuff her. Meeting December in a tree, ready to jump to see if her wings will emerge from the scar on her back so she could fly away took me into a child's hopes hard to imagine. For such a young person to have experienced the trauma she had is heartbreaking. Sandy Stark-McGinnis shows the powerful truth of December's strong methods of survival. The one thing from her mother is a bird guide inscribed with "In flight is where you'll find me." Stark-McGinnis shows how hard is December's journey to release her dream, to realize that trusting Eleanor might bring a 'home' instead of another 'house'. Though December's thoughts rarely waver; she WILL fly away someday! Slowly, a few cracks appear as December begins a new kind of journey. The scenes at her new school show also the heartbreak of bullying but a strong trans girl who becomes December's ally shows December that she can be one, too. There are many moments where I held my breath wishing that the truth shown was never so harsh for a child. I am reminded of these words: "Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle you know nothing about." For teachers and those who work with children and for children who might recognize themselves in this story and find new ways to be, this is the book.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: 3-6

Imagine you are a foster kid that goes from house to house because no one takes the time to understand you? Now imagine that the reason no one understands you is because you are actually a bird in human form just waiting for your wings and feathers to emerge? This is eleven-year-old December. Her mom left her when she was very young and she has been in and out of foster homes ever since. She is obsessed with birds so much that she has the book The complete Guide to Birds: Volume One memorized. She also has a book that her mother left her called Bird Girl: An Extraordinary Tale. December truly believes that when she is able to sprout her wing and fly she will be able to meet up with her mother, so December practices all the time, by jumping out of trees. Also, she has this huge scar down her back which is where her wings will sprout. This crazy behavior is usually what gets her kicked out of foster homes. December doesn't have any friends because she is not in one place long enough to make any, and why make friends when you will soon turn into a bird and fly away? After she is kicked out of her latest foster home she is placed with a lady named Eleanor. Eleanor and December seem to click right away. They both love birds and wildlife and they both have a love of the outdoors. Plus, Eleanor doesn't force December to eat food, since December only wants to eat sunflower seeds. She doesn't want anything weighting her down when she is ready to soar. Eleanor is a kind and compassionate lady who lets December explore and be herself. She also seems to be very tolerant of her weird quirks. December thinks she has finally found a home to stay at until her wings develop, but then she finds out that Eleanor is also a taxidermist and finds her shed full of stuffed birds. Is this a trap? Did Eleanor actually just take her in so that she can stuff her and put her on the wall? What will December do? Should she stay and take the risk or should she run away? If she stays will she find out the truth about Eleanor? Will she ever make a true friend? Read this "extraordinary" book to find out these answers to these questions and so much more!

I have to be honest and say that when I first started reading this book it did not grab me. If I had put it down after the first few chapters I probably would never have thought anything else about it. I think it was the fact that December kept going on and on about becoming a bird and I just couldn't grasp that. But holy cow, it didn't take long for this book to grab my heart and emotions and twist them all round. I know now why Sandy wrote it the way that she did in the beginning because it makes you understand how mind-blowing it is in the end. December is an emotionally-scarred girl who holds on to the fact that if she can become a bird she will meet up with her mother again. When that world starts to crash down around her the love that Eleanor shows her is incredible. Also, the way that December is bullied in school but how she takes up for another kid who is being bullied is even more phenomenal. This books gets so many stars because it is an emotional roller coaster of love, loss, friendship, and realizing that who (or what) you thought you were meant to be is not what you thought. Do not miss this incredible book coming out April 2019!!

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[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

December thinks she is a bird. She knows one day her wings will sprout from the scar on her back and she will fly away. Until then she has to practice by eating seeds and jumping from trees. Her new foster mom Eleanor is different from the others. She doesn't make December eat other food and she lets her help with the birds at the bird sanctuary. December's mom left when she was little, but left December a book on birds and the story of December becoming a bird. As December settles in with Eleanor and makes friends at school, she has to face some truths about herself and her past.

I am not sure what I think about this book to be honest. It was an interesting look at a girl in foster care and how she finds her place. But it is also a book about a girl with some serious delusions that are not properly dealt with at all in the story. I appreciate Eleanor's patience and willingness to take December in. I loved Cheryllynn and the friendship that develops between her and December. I just wish more had been done to deal with December's mental state.

[Samu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked the idea of this story better than the actual story. It's like there wasn't enough to the story of December to justify the things she did and thought, but almost.

I do love the birds, though. Never can be too many birds in any book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely, moving, quiet book. I enjoyed December as a character and I think kids will like her as well. She is tough, she is fragile, and she is sure that she is going to become a bird again. She has a scar on her back where she knows her wings will reemerge as soon as she can make herself ready for flight. With this in mind, she eats little, practices her jumps from trees, and learns everything she can about birds. As she travels from foster home to foster home, she doesn't need much, because nests are meant to be temporary. And December knows that soon she'll be able to fly, because her mom left her a note in her bird book, "In the sky is where you'll find me." With this, and her biography (Bird Girl), December travels from home to home (always just a house to her though) waiting for her wings to appear.

Highly recommend. This is a great look at magical realism (because for 90% of the book, the reader does somewhat wonder if December is actually a bird), realistic fiction, and foster kids. The side story line of December's only friend at school being transgender is very well dealt with and is such a "non-issue" to December it is incredibly refreshing. Appropriate for grades 4-7.

[Pam Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me think more than any other book I have read in a long time. I continually wondered how I feel about kids reading about a girl who tries to solve her problems by thinking she is a bird and continually trying to fly out of trees. That is the reason I did not give this book 5 stars; it just felt odd to me that there was not more of a concern for a girl who continually hurt herself jumping out of trees. On the flip side, I liked the way bullying was handled (even though hard to read at times), how foster living was "honest", and the character of Eleanor. I wish we had more Eleanor's to protect and care for foster kids today! I also thought the bird information was fascinating and December's journaling about birds could be a motivator for others to think of journaling about a subject they love. All in all, a very different book that deserves good discussion to accompany the reading of it!

[Melinda Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. The main character is very troubled, and copes in an unusual and heartbreaking way, but [SEMI SPOILER ALERT] it's also a story of love slowly healing wounds. Very beautiful.

The writing is very good. The characterization is very good. The pacing is just right for me.

…and I liked all the bird facts.

I would have liked a little more about Cheryllynn and a little more about what happens to December and Eleanor after the end of the book.

More accurate rating: 4.5…but unusual and well crafted enough to earn the rare 5 from me if I have to choose between 4 and 5.

I will read more by Sandy Stark-McGinnis.

[Erica T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great middle-grade read about a girl in foster care and her journey of healing. I read it at the same time as my 11 year old do we could discuss it. While we’ve already had discussions about sex and being gay we have not talked about being trans, and this book has a trans character. I wondered what questions she might have, but I actually don’t think she understood that part so we didn’t discuss it. I have no problem discussing this topic, but I’m not sure she, personally, is ready for such a discussion. Anyway it’s a great book but be aware of this topic if you read it to children or recommend it to them.

[Imagene Wonders · Rating 5 out of 5]

December believes she is a bird. One day, she will grow wings out of the scar in her back and fly. It doesn't matter that she is an orphan and keeps switching from foster home to foster home, because her home is in the sky. Her closest secret is her book, "bird girl- an extraordinary tale". But one day, she meets foster mom and bird lover Eleanor, and sits in her garden every day watching the birds. But, on top of the stress of being an orphan, she has to go to school.

I like this book because I like birds, and everything about them. I also like stories that are fiction, but not quite fantasy. That is this book. I would say that this book is age 8+, because there is a part near the end that is a little bit scary.

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT A GREAT BOOK!! The concept is an idea of higher perspective, and can be a little odd when you think deeply about it. However, the creativity I found in the novel and the realization of the characters was what made me love this book so much. I recommend for all people hopeful enough for their wings to fly 🕊️

[Veronica Radice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quante volte abbiamo sognato una vita diversa? E quante, invece, ne abbiamo vissuta un'altra, differente ancora? Questa é la storia contenuta in questo fantastico libro, la storia di una bambina, che vuole ricominciare a vivere, e che imparerà a farlo, ma non come pensava lei.

[irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una història molt tendre, potser fins i tot, massa dolça. A partir d’ara soc més fan dels ocells.
L’edició de Blackie Books l’he trobat molt acurada (coberta, separació capítols i gruix del paper).
Per cert, si parlem de la història, m’agradaria ser una mica com l’Eleanor a la vida!