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A Bird Will Soar
A heartfelt and hopeful debut about a bird-loving autistic child whose family's special nest is in danger of falling apart.
Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far and not come home--a fact Axel wishes his mother understood. Deep down, Axel knows that his mother is like an osprey--the best of all bird mothers--but it's hard to remember that when she worries and keeps secrets about important things. His dad is more like a wild turkey, coming and going as he pleases. His dad's latest disappearance is the biggest mystery of all.
Despite all this, Axel loves his life--especially the time he spends with his friends observing the eagles' nest in the woods near his home. But when a tornado damages not only Axel's home but the eagles' nest, Axel's life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly his dad is back to help repair the damage, and Axel has to manage his dad's presence and his beloved birds' absence. Plus, his mom seems to be keeping even more secrets.
But Axel knows another important fact: an eagle's instincts let it soar. Axel must trust his own instincts to help heal his family and the nest he loves.
Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far and not come home--a fact Axel wishes his mother understood. Deep down, Axel knows that his mother is like an osprey--the best of all bird mothers--but it's hard to remember that when she worries and keeps secrets about important things. His dad is more like a wild turkey, coming and going as he pleases. His dad's latest disappearance is the biggest mystery of all.
Despite all this, Axel loves his life--especially the time he spends with his friends observing the eagles' nest in the woods near his home. But when a tornado damages not only Axel's home but the eagles' nest, Axel's life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly his dad is back to help repair the damage, and Axel has to manage his dad's presence and his beloved birds' absence. Plus, his mom seems to be keeping even more secrets.
But Axel knows another important fact: an eagle's instincts let it soar. Axel must trust his own instincts to help heal his family and the nest he loves.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
20 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Alison Green Myers
5 books32 followersAlison Green Myers is a passionate educator, novelist, and speaker. As the Program Director at the Highlights Foundation, Alison supports storytellers with fellowships and care throughout their careers. Alison is the author of the Schneider Family Award-winning A BIRD WILL SOAR and the Junior Library Guild noted THIS WAY TO HAPPY (Dutton/2025). A National Writing Project Fellow and teaching artist with Bethel Woods’ educational programs, Alison is always happy to spend time in the company of curious kids! Alison lives in the woods of Pennsylvania with two extraordinary humans and two dear dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 13, 2022
4.5
Why this won the Schneider Family Book Award is no mystery. This is truly a stellar depiction of a middle schooler with autism. (I say A middle schooler advisedly because one place this book excels is in not intimating there is only one type of autistic person or painting with broad brushes.) I love how the adults in this book do not see Axel as a problem to solve but as a full human being in his own right. This is very much a book about how neurodiverse children do not need to contort themselves for the comfort of those around them. The characters are all fully realized, and I loved the found family element of the community Axel and his mother have.
I was so nervous waiting for the Great MG Traumatic Incident that always occurs in these type of books I couldn't enjoy it fully. (Everyone else, rest easy. The dog survives. No one dies.) This will not be a problem for the intended audience but is purely the result of being a teacher who has read too many contemporary MG issue books in her life. The only reason it's not 5 stars is
Why this won the Schneider Family Book Award is no mystery. This is truly a stellar depiction of a middle schooler with autism. (I say A middle schooler advisedly because one place this book excels is in not intimating there is only one type of autistic person or painting with broad brushes.) I love how the adults in this book do not see Axel as a problem to solve but as a full human being in his own right. This is very much a book about how neurodiverse children do not need to contort themselves for the comfort of those around them. The characters are all fully realized, and I loved the found family element of the community Axel and his mother have.
I was so nervous waiting for the Great MG Traumatic Incident that always occurs in these type of books I couldn't enjoy it fully. (Everyone else, rest easy. The dog survives. No one dies.) This will not be a problem for the intended audience but is purely the result of being a teacher who has read too many contemporary MG issue books in her life. The only reason it's not 5 stars is
March 8, 2022
As an autistic person myself, I would say this passes muster. As far as I can find the author has not come out as autistic but heavily implies in the afterword that her son is autistic and in other writings that she is at least neurodivergent if not autistic herself. And if not, this is still not the bad rep that usually comes from autistic parents, who either make it all about themselves or infantalize/otherwise stereotype their own children and by extension all other autistic people. This is written from the perspective of the autistic child and is a very good representation, based on my own experience and what I have heard from other people, of an autistic child's inner thoughts. I think a lot of autistic kids would enjoy this and see themselves in it, and I did as well even as an adult. And non autistic people would learn a lot from this about the inner workings of autistic people, all while being entertained and touched by this story of love in many forms; found family, bio family, friendships, mentors, animal relationships and rescues. Also a very cool representation of a special interest that is not trains, math, or crime solving.
June 20, 2022
What a beautiful book! I love the way Alison Green Myers captures her main character's intelligence alongside his limitations--and his insights alongside the things he can't see, even if we readers can. As far as I can remember, the word "autism" isn't mentioned once, nor does it need to be. This is the story of a particular boy--not a story about disability--all of it told through some of the most effectively used third person present tense narration I've ever seen.
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December 24, 2023Just could not get into this one.
February 15, 2022
Axel LOVES birds. They’re his thing. He loves watching them in the woods with his neighbor’s dog, Ray, and he loves learning about them at the Delaware Valley Raptor Sanctuary with Dr. Martin, his hero. Eagles are his favorite bird and he spends a lot of time observing the eagle nest in the woods near his home. Axel lives with his mom, but is surrounded by a loving community that includes his mom (named appropriately, Byrd), his mom’s friends who own the land on which their cottage sits, and his friend Daniel who loves to play imaginative Pokemon games in the woods. When a storm destroys part of his home and the tree that holds the nest falls down, Axel immediately calls Dr. Martin to help save the eaglet who falls out of the nest. At the same time, his father comes to help repair the cottage that is damaged from the storm. But his father showing up creates confusion for Axel about why he left in the first place and why his mom won’t tell him the truth about his father’s mysterious illness. Relationships with other autistic people in his life (his best friend Daniel and his mentor, ornithologist Dr. Martin) help him make sense of the situation and understand a way forward.
Each chapter starts with a free verse poem, but poetical language is found throughout this gorgeous book. Readers will love seeing how Axel’s connection with his found family supports his growth and development. In addition, this is a beautifully complex look at how difficult it can be to maintain families and the struggle that is sometimes required to salvage relationships
Each chapter starts with a free verse poem, but poetical language is found throughout this gorgeous book. Readers will love seeing how Axel’s connection with his found family supports his growth and development. In addition, this is a beautifully complex look at how difficult it can be to maintain families and the struggle that is sometimes required to salvage relationships
June 12, 2023
Animal story + the meaning of hope with a little bit of Pokémon GO = this story.
Axel enjoys watching birds. With the help of his family, neighbors who are like extended family and Dr. Martin, can Axel save an injured one? Meanwhile Axel's absent for the last few years Dad, Frank, is back. He and his Mom, Byrd, are getting along. Will his parents reunite? Does Axel even want Frank back in his life, can he trust him? Why did Frank leave the first time, will he leave again?
Axel is autistic which will make this story one of interest who is looking for a story with an autistic protagonist. With its themes of hope, this could also make a good book club read (The author includes additional educator resources including a discussion questions are included at the end of the book.) A 2022 Schneider Family Book Award winner
Axel enjoys watching birds. With the help of his family, neighbors who are like extended family and Dr. Martin, can Axel save an injured one? Meanwhile Axel's absent for the last few years Dad, Frank, is back. He and his Mom, Byrd, are getting along. Will his parents reunite? Does Axel even want Frank back in his life, can he trust him? Why did Frank leave the first time, will he leave again?
Axel is autistic which will make this story one of interest who is looking for a story with an autistic protagonist. With its themes of hope, this could also make a good book club read (The author includes additional educator resources including a discussion questions are included at the end of the book.) A 2022 Schneider Family Book Award winner
July 14, 2022
There were parts of this book I liked and parts that I didn’t. I liked how the author modeled so much of this on her own family. I’ve read that her son is autistic, and she says at the end that her family’s love of birds mirrors this family’s love of birds. And I liked that it weaves Axel’s autism into the story naturally and shows the really empathetic and helpful school counselor, which again was modeled on a real school counselor. Axel’s best friend Daniel is supportive and accepting too.
This story centers around Axel and the mystery of why his dad is no longer around anymore, as well as the fate of some eagles and their babies in a nearby forest. I was really baffled and almost angry at how his mom Byrd handles the situation with Axel’s dad. She just doesn’t. Axel doesn’t even know that they are separated until he stumbles across a piece of paper stating that. He finds out later that they are actually divorced because of his dad’s alcoholism and his dad doesn’t see him anymore because Byrd asked him to stay away. But she never tells Axel any of this. The poor kids is just going through life with no idea where his dad is! And of course he blames himself for it. It just seemed so off and wrong and almost unrealistic that his mom would not find a way to explain any of this to him. She says it was to protect him, but is it really better for him to have no clue about why he doesn’t see his dad anymore??
When his dad does start to come around again, he ignores Axel which is very painful. Later his mom Byrd almost blames Axel for this (even though he had no idea of anything that had happened) and says Axel has to say what he needs. And it’s his fault if his dad ignores him because Axel didn’t say he wanted a relationship with his dad. Why is all this responsibility and blame being put on this kid? Shouldn’t the dad be asking if Axel wants a relationship? Shouldn’t the mom be asking Axel what he wants? It was like no one was thinking of what Axel needed. The whole thing made me really angry.
It was also really unclear to me how old Axel was. It shows him at school but never mentions his grade or even if it’s an elementary, middle, or high school. At one point he mentions a little sister who was stillborn and would have been ten years old a few years ago, so I guess he’s older than ten? His age is really unclear.
The author wants you to love the “found family” Axel has next door, but I just really didn’t connect to them. And I usually like found family stories.
Anyway, I guess this would be the right book for some people and it’s a good book for understanding autism, but on the whole it wasn’t the book for me.
This story centers around Axel and the mystery of why his dad is no longer around anymore, as well as the fate of some eagles and their babies in a nearby forest. I was really baffled and almost angry at how his mom Byrd handles the situation with Axel’s dad. She just doesn’t. Axel doesn’t even know that they are separated until he stumbles across a piece of paper stating that. He finds out later that they are actually divorced because of his dad’s alcoholism and his dad doesn’t see him anymore because Byrd asked him to stay away. But she never tells Axel any of this. The poor kids is just going through life with no idea where his dad is! And of course he blames himself for it. It just seemed so off and wrong and almost unrealistic that his mom would not find a way to explain any of this to him. She says it was to protect him, but is it really better for him to have no clue about why he doesn’t see his dad anymore??
When his dad does start to come around again, he ignores Axel which is very painful. Later his mom Byrd almost blames Axel for this (even though he had no idea of anything that had happened) and says Axel has to say what he needs. And it’s his fault if his dad ignores him because Axel didn’t say he wanted a relationship with his dad. Why is all this responsibility and blame being put on this kid? Shouldn’t the dad be asking if Axel wants a relationship? Shouldn’t the mom be asking Axel what he wants? It was like no one was thinking of what Axel needed. The whole thing made me really angry.
It was also really unclear to me how old Axel was. It shows him at school but never mentions his grade or even if it’s an elementary, middle, or high school. At one point he mentions a little sister who was stillborn and would have been ten years old a few years ago, so I guess he’s older than ten? His age is really unclear.
The author wants you to love the “found family” Axel has next door, but I just really didn’t connect to them. And I usually like found family stories.
Anyway, I guess this would be the right book for some people and it’s a good book for understanding autism, but on the whole it wasn’t the book for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2023
This middle grade novel is about a bird-loving boy named Axel, who, when a tornado damages his home and the eagles' nest he had been observing, must adjust to a lot of change. He his school is temporarily closed, he must to move out of his house while his (normally) absent father completes repairs, and one of the eaglets has been injured and separated from his family. Told from Axel's perspective, Alison Green Myers, goes deep into the main character's mind as he tries to make sense of his world as he meets the challenges he faces. This heartwarming story is about birds, family, friends, change, secrets, understanding, and love. I highly recommend this book!
July 12, 2022
Schneider Family Book Award winner! A bird-obsessed boy with autism finds a fallen eaglet after a storm. "Poetically portrays the oft-difficult, usually rewarding work of maintaining families of choice and of blood." [Kirkus Reviews]
March 31, 2025
It's okay to have things that make us uneasy...But we can't let those things, those scary, hard things, keep us from doing what we love." -Dr. Taylor Martin, Delaware Valley Raptor Sanctuary
Axel, an autistic bird-loving boy, does not like secrets or lies. He bumps heads with his mother because he loves a certain order of things. He becomes frustrated with his mother Byrd, because he thinks she does not understand or trust him and keeps a lot of secrets hidden from him. She does this because she feels she is protecting him, especially after his father, Frank moved out of their home.
Axel's best friend Daniel is his ride-or-die partner, and they both delight in playing make-believe Pokeman. They have been watching an eagle's nest from afar, waiting for the eaglet to grow up and fly away with its parents. But one day, a tornado ripped through their area, and the tree that the eagle's nest was in crashed to the ground.
The eaglet is injured when the tree falls to the ground, and Dr. Martin from the Delaware Valley Raptor Sanctuary nurses it back to health. This event was not only devastating, but left Axel to worry about the fate of the eaglelet named Braviary, a name given by Dr. Martin's daughter Lark.
We later learn that Axel's father moves back in after the storm. Axel loves to read, think, and learn. His passion for birds helped him to understand human nature. This is a good middle-school book.
Axel, an autistic bird-loving boy, does not like secrets or lies. He bumps heads with his mother because he loves a certain order of things. He becomes frustrated with his mother Byrd, because he thinks she does not understand or trust him and keeps a lot of secrets hidden from him. She does this because she feels she is protecting him, especially after his father, Frank moved out of their home.
Axel's best friend Daniel is his ride-or-die partner, and they both delight in playing make-believe Pokeman. They have been watching an eagle's nest from afar, waiting for the eaglet to grow up and fly away with its parents. But one day, a tornado ripped through their area, and the tree that the eagle's nest was in crashed to the ground.
The eaglet is injured when the tree falls to the ground, and Dr. Martin from the Delaware Valley Raptor Sanctuary nurses it back to health. This event was not only devastating, but left Axel to worry about the fate of the eaglelet named Braviary, a name given by Dr. Martin's daughter Lark.
We later learn that Axel's father moves back in after the storm. Axel loves to read, think, and learn. His passion for birds helped him to understand human nature. This is a good middle-school book.
March 4, 2025
This one definitely goes on the list of favorite middle grade books! A beautifully written and lovingly told story about family and growing up and finding one's wings in a complicated world. Everything works -- the structure, the point of view, the way the story unfolds, the depiction of setting that transports you to Axel's woods, and the relationships among the cast of characters. All written in a voice that wraps you up in a big, warm hug and doesn't let go.
Main character Axel and his fellow characters worked their way into my heart and stayed there long after I finished reading. I could not help falling in love with Axel as I saw the world through his lens and wondered right along with him as he and his dog Ray wandered the woods searching for answers to life's mysteries (big and small).
This story offers hope -- a wonderful escape from and antidote to the dark headlines that have been dominating the news. If you are looking for a summer read that will make your heart soar, look no further!
P.S. Just as good the second time around!
Main character Axel and his fellow characters worked their way into my heart and stayed there long after I finished reading. I could not help falling in love with Axel as I saw the world through his lens and wondered right along with him as he and his dog Ray wandered the woods searching for answers to life's mysteries (big and small).
This story offers hope -- a wonderful escape from and antidote to the dark headlines that have been dominating the news. If you are looking for a summer read that will make your heart soar, look no further!
P.S. Just as good the second time around!
January 17, 2022
This middle grade novel is full of suspense, heart break, recovery, self discovery, and most importantly love. Many of us know children like Axel. In his own way and in his own terms, he has so much to give to his family and the world. His love of birds comes easily while the love for his family is not given to them in the "traditional" way. All the characters in the book grew in marvelous and unexpected ways. My favorite part of the book - which is also perhaps the most tragic - is when Axel failed to properly handle the baby eagle. I think that Axel learned the most from this experience which is even know you tried and failed - at least he was willing to try. I also loved how his mom, Byrd grew by learning to give Axel his freedom to do things independently so that their relationship could soar. I would recommend this book to students who like "Rain Reigh" by Ann Martin.
January 28, 2022
What a lovely book. I could hear Alison's voice along with the poet, Mary Oliver's. Some parts were just so poetic and lovely. It's a story of loving birds, growing up, growing braver, lost families, and found families. I've worked with students who have autism, and this felt very true. Often, authors get school so wrong, and this felt just right. While I reading, I lived inside this book and in Axel's head. It made me appreciate birds and believe too.
March 23, 2022
Axel loves birds, Pokémon, and everything being exactly as it should. But when a tornado tears through the area around his house, it changes more than just the landscape.
Even though the main character is on the spectrum, that is NOT what this story is all about. This is a heartfelt story about family, the one you're born with and the one you choose. It's about what you're willing to do for those you love.
Even though the main character is on the spectrum, that is NOT what this story is all about. This is a heartfelt story about family, the one you're born with and the one you choose. It's about what you're willing to do for those you love.
March 31, 2022
What a wonderful book! Tender, sweet, sensitive, and real — I didn't want it to end! The incredible cast of characters felt like a warm hug; and I was fully drawn into their world. Highly recommend.
September 15, 2024
Axel has been watching an eagle's nest, he knows there are eaglets but he can't see them. He and his best friend Ray (a dog) walk to the nest after school everyday. On Saturdays, Axel and his best (human) friend play Pokemon in the woods (they don't need cards, just their imagination). But when a storm comes through, it wrecks the eagle's nest AND Axel's "nest".
I happened to see this at the library while Genevieve was looking for Fablehaven (Mull/Myers, very close) and given my recent obsession with birds and everything about birds, I added it to my already very large stack of check-outs. Given that I'm also a very random & mood-driven reader, it was the first one I picked up to read from the very large stack.
My cousin sent me a picture of an eagle nest she saw over the summer in Minnesota (Michigan?) and I thought of it the entire time I was reading. The one she saw ALSO had eaglets. Sometimes the right book just comes along and I've been lucky to have lots of "right books at the right time" lately. Makes me very nervous that a reading slump is coming soon.
I happened to see this at the library while Genevieve was looking for Fablehaven (Mull/Myers, very close) and given my recent obsession with birds and everything about birds, I added it to my already very large stack of check-outs. Given that I'm also a very random & mood-driven reader, it was the first one I picked up to read from the very large stack.
My cousin sent me a picture of an eagle nest she saw over the summer in Minnesota (Michigan?) and I thought of it the entire time I was reading. The one she saw ALSO had eaglets. Sometimes the right book just comes along and I've been lucky to have lots of "right books at the right time" lately. Makes me very nervous that a reading slump is coming soon.
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July 7, 2025Author: Alison Green Myers
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Print (local library)
Source: Family Book Award Winner of the 2022 Schneider Award
A tender, introspective, and emotionally rich story told from the perspective of a boy with autism who finds solace in nature and birds. The prose is thoughtful and authentic, offering a meaningful representation of neurodiversity. The book meets the criteria for realistic and inclusion fiction due to its empathetic and literary approach.
In the classroom, it can be used to address emotions, journal structure, visual metaphors, and figurative language. It also provides necessary lessons on acceptance, family, and social adjustments.
Tags: #Disability #Inclusion #SchneiderAward #RealisticFiction #MiddleEducation #Neurodiversity #Empathy
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Print (local library)
Source: Family Book Award Winner of the 2022 Schneider Award
A tender, introspective, and emotionally rich story told from the perspective of a boy with autism who finds solace in nature and birds. The prose is thoughtful and authentic, offering a meaningful representation of neurodiversity. The book meets the criteria for realistic and inclusion fiction due to its empathetic and literary approach.
In the classroom, it can be used to address emotions, journal structure, visual metaphors, and figurative language. It also provides necessary lessons on acceptance, family, and social adjustments.
Tags: #Disability #Inclusion #SchneiderAward #RealisticFiction #MiddleEducation #Neurodiversity #Empathy
May 24, 2025
Loved every minute of reading this beautifully written story about family and friendship and the powerful emotions that come with both. The figurative parallels of tornado damage, broken bones, fledgling eagles and wildlife rescues tie in perfectly with the very real experiences of broken families, damaged relationships, hope and healing. The characters are vividly revealed through their actions and dialogue. I was sorry when the book ended - I’m going to miss Axel, Aunt Nancy, Ray, and George - and the others. I’ll be looking out for more novels by Alison Green Myers.
April 21, 2025
Sweet book about an autistic boy who loves birds, especially eagles. Due to a storm, the eagle’s nest is ruined leaving an abandoned eaglet. Also, Axel’s “nest” is ruined. I love the parallels of Axel’s life and the eaglet. It was interesting finding out the book was inspired by the author’s life.
October 20, 2025
3.5
A beautiful story about a boy with autism and his love of birds. Relationships are written well and realistically. The story felt a bit jumpy and I was upset about
A beautiful story about a boy with autism and his love of birds. Relationships are written well and realistically. The story felt a bit jumpy and I was upset about
October 31, 2025
I absolutely loved this novel! its had so many of my favourite things: 1. told in 3rd person, 2. a child point of view and 3. birds! I loved the way everything came together and I enjoyed the pieces of poetry at the start of many chapters. This novel is an absolute treat!
August 28, 2024
Inside the mind of a boy (about 10 years old). I enjoyed the story, but would a child? A thoughtful child might, but this wouldn't capture the attention of a child who always chooses action stories.
Two strong attributes:
- lots of info about birds
- insight into the mind of a boy who views the world in his own unique way (which we all do to some extent)
Also ... change is a normal part of life.
Two strong attributes:
- lots of info about birds
- insight into the mind of a boy who views the world in his own unique way (which we all do to some extent)
Also ... change is a normal part of life.
February 12, 2024
A BIRD WILL SOAR by ALISON GREEN MYERS, (Schneider Family Book Award)—A REVIEW BY VERONICA JORGE
Dutton Children’s Books, 2021 ISBN 978-0-593-32567-4
Once in awhile you come across a book, that after reading it, makes you pause and think, even marvel because you’ve encountered life from an entirely new perspective.
Alison Green Myers’, debut novel, A Bird Will Soar, is such a book. And a recipient of the prestigious Schneider Family Book Award given by the American Library Association for excellence in the portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth.
Axel, an autistic boy, feels most at home in nature. It is his peaceful place to think and make sense of his parents, and the garden of people in his life that grow up around him and become family. Axel also discovers that he can learn about people by bird watching. His favorite is the eagle. When family calls, the eagle focuses on the nest and never abandons it. So, he wonders why his father left. The eagle also knows just how high it can fly. Something Axel wishes his mother would let him discover about himself: to trust him and give him room to navigate using his own intuition and instincts.
When a tornado hits, Axel’s predictable world is turned upside down. His home is damaged and uninhabitable, locking him out of the safe space of his own room. Fallen trees have made his beloved woods unsafe to visit. The eagle’s nest with its young that he has been observing has been blown out of the tree by the fierce winds. And his estranged father has returned home. All of Axel’s knowledge and hopes are put to the test.
Can he care about his father as much as he does about the eagle? “To feel something so strongly for another living thing.” (page 93). Will his gut instincts lead him to make the right choices and decisions? Will he finally learn just how high he can fly?
A Bird Will Soar is insightful and captivating. Alison Green Myers masterfully takes us into Axel’s mind revealing this unique character’s thoughts, feelings, and coping mechanisms. The book is also a beautiful exploration of the symbiotic and beneficial relationship between humans and nature.
If you read and were intrigued and entertained by the novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, you will be enthralled and elevated by, A Bird Will Soar.
Buy the book and start soaring!
Veronica Jorge
Dutton Children’s Books, 2021 ISBN 978-0-593-32567-4
Once in awhile you come across a book, that after reading it, makes you pause and think, even marvel because you’ve encountered life from an entirely new perspective.
Alison Green Myers’, debut novel, A Bird Will Soar, is such a book. And a recipient of the prestigious Schneider Family Book Award given by the American Library Association for excellence in the portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth.
Axel, an autistic boy, feels most at home in nature. It is his peaceful place to think and make sense of his parents, and the garden of people in his life that grow up around him and become family. Axel also discovers that he can learn about people by bird watching. His favorite is the eagle. When family calls, the eagle focuses on the nest and never abandons it. So, he wonders why his father left. The eagle also knows just how high it can fly. Something Axel wishes his mother would let him discover about himself: to trust him and give him room to navigate using his own intuition and instincts.
When a tornado hits, Axel’s predictable world is turned upside down. His home is damaged and uninhabitable, locking him out of the safe space of his own room. Fallen trees have made his beloved woods unsafe to visit. The eagle’s nest with its young that he has been observing has been blown out of the tree by the fierce winds. And his estranged father has returned home. All of Axel’s knowledge and hopes are put to the test.
Can he care about his father as much as he does about the eagle? “To feel something so strongly for another living thing.” (page 93). Will his gut instincts lead him to make the right choices and decisions? Will he finally learn just how high he can fly?
A Bird Will Soar is insightful and captivating. Alison Green Myers masterfully takes us into Axel’s mind revealing this unique character’s thoughts, feelings, and coping mechanisms. The book is also a beautiful exploration of the symbiotic and beneficial relationship between humans and nature.
If you read and were intrigued and entertained by the novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, you will be enthralled and elevated by, A Bird Will Soar.
Buy the book and start soaring!
Veronica Jorge
December 19, 2022
A Bird Will Soar is geared for middle school readers. My coworker who is into birds planned on reading this to our 2nd graders, but they didn't seemed interested and she gave up. The cover is so pretty and I've been eyeing it for a couple of months. I asked her if I could read it and now I have.
I was sadly disappointed as I couldn't get into it. I felt the story was slow paced and dare I say, not interesting. On the plus side, I loved all the bird facts and I learned so much.
This is the story of Axel. He has autism. We are not sure how old he is. He lives with his mom and their dog named Ray. His dad is no longer in the picture. Axel's mom's name is Bird. He calls her Bird instead of Mom. She likes to keep secrets from him. Their neighbours are Emmett, George and Aunt Nancy. They are like family. Axel has a few friends too, one is Daniel and they like to play Pokemon in the woods. Another friend is another adult and he is Dr Martin. He works at the Raptor Sanctuary and Dr Martin and Axel will send emails to one another.
One day a tornado happens and a tree falls down on their house. In that tree is an eagle's nest and it is also harmed. One baby eagle, an eaglet, is left in the nest. The parents never comes for it and it's up to the humans to let it soar back into nature. Also, all of a sudden Axel's father is back and he's repairing the house, the house that he once built. That's when the secrets his mother has been hiding comes out and Axel is upset his mother never told him, he's "not a baby".
Some bird facts:
"Bald eagles will perch for 98% of the day during cold weather to conserve energy for a hunt?"
"Eagles, like most raptors, are extremely attached to their nests. For some eagle pairs, that same nest might be used 20 or more to lay, hatch, and nurture their offspring."
"Wild male turkeys leave the moms behind to care for the young while they go on with their lives. Young turkeys will follow their moms anywhere, from field to field and even in front of oncoming cars."
"Pigeons - Fathers make their own milk, crop milk, inside their bodies after babies are born so they can care for their young."
I was sadly disappointed as I couldn't get into it. I felt the story was slow paced and dare I say, not interesting. On the plus side, I loved all the bird facts and I learned so much.
This is the story of Axel. He has autism. We are not sure how old he is. He lives with his mom and their dog named Ray. His dad is no longer in the picture. Axel's mom's name is Bird. He calls her Bird instead of Mom. She likes to keep secrets from him. Their neighbours are Emmett, George and Aunt Nancy. They are like family. Axel has a few friends too, one is Daniel and they like to play Pokemon in the woods. Another friend is another adult and he is Dr Martin. He works at the Raptor Sanctuary and Dr Martin and Axel will send emails to one another.
One day a tornado happens and a tree falls down on their house. In that tree is an eagle's nest and it is also harmed. One baby eagle, an eaglet, is left in the nest. The parents never comes for it and it's up to the humans to let it soar back into nature. Also, all of a sudden Axel's father is back and he's repairing the house, the house that he once built. That's when the secrets his mother has been hiding comes out and Axel is upset his mother never told him, he's "not a baby".
Some bird facts:
"Bald eagles will perch for 98% of the day during cold weather to conserve energy for a hunt?"
"Eagles, like most raptors, are extremely attached to their nests. For some eagle pairs, that same nest might be used 20 or more to lay, hatch, and nurture their offspring."
"Wild male turkeys leave the moms behind to care for the young while they go on with their lives. Young turkeys will follow their moms anywhere, from field to field and even in front of oncoming cars."
"Pigeons - Fathers make their own milk, crop milk, inside their bodies after babies are born so they can care for their young."
October 18, 2021
Axel Rastusak is positively obsessed with birds. He has a massive tome about them to which he refers frequently, and he loves wandering in the fields and woods looking for birds with Ray, his neighbors' dog. He and Daniel, a classmate, play Pokemon outdoors and have been keeping an eye on an eagle's nest with at least one baby. But a storm causes one small bird to be knocked to the ground, and Axel enlists the help of a local vet and ornithologist and his family and friends to rescue it. As the story unfolds, readers realize that Axel is on the autism spectrum and that his parents have chosen to keep secret the reasons for their split. Axel's mother, Byrd, contacts his father, Frank, for repair work on their house, which is when Axel begins to learn the truth. Their neighbors, George and Emmett and Aunt Nancy, all provide support to Axel, but they continue to nurse resentments and concern for Frank. Each chapter is introduced with a poem or observation about birds and life, and there are even snippets of poetry from Mary Oliver included. Readers will root for this family to heal while also hoping that the rescued eagle will heal and soar into the sky, maybe even rejoining its family. The author allows readers to peek into Axel's thoughts so that they share his confusion and insecurity at times as well as appreciating his earnestness. The idea that George, Emmett, and Aunt Nancy may not be related to the Rastusaks but are part of their found family permeates the narrative and shows that Axel has supportive individuals in his life. Dr. Taylor Martin must be the most patient DVM in the world, though, since she was always ready to respond to his emails and questions. This is a solid debut novel, but it seemed that all the pieces fell into places too neatly for my taste. I wasn't sure what purpose Lily, Dr. Martin's daughter, served. Still, there are many aspects of it that I liked.
February 27, 2022
2022 ALA Schneider Middle Grade Award winner.
Axel loves all birds, especially eagles and other raptors and wishes he too could soar free. His mother Byrd is like an osprey all seeing and fiercely overprotective. His missing dad, Frank, is more like a wild turkey going it’s own self serving male way, not visiting every other week as promised in the separation agreement Axel has found. Axel and Byrd live in a small cottage Frank built, gifted them by their older neighbors, former attorneys, poetry and dog loving George M. Flores and his partner Emmett who lives to cook, and George’s outspoken sister, Nancy. They make up an unlikely but highly supportive family. Axel has two best friends, George’s setter Ray and Daniel Berrios, who hides his anxieties well, has five sisters, always says what he means, can make Axel laugh, and comes every other Saturday to play and explore with Axel on the farm and in the woods and they can tell each other true things.
A tornado warning, drill at school, blaring sirens, and the tornado which fells a tree through the roof of Axel’s home and brings down the tree and eagles’ nest atop it with hatchlings in it precipitate huge and unwelcome changes in Alex’s life, but he faces up to the adults, demands that Dr. Taylor Martin at the Delaware Valley Raptor Sanctuary come rescue the eaglet, demands to be told truths, not have secrets, like why his dad isn’t there, hidden from him like a baby.
Well executed, believable exploration of autism, depression, alcoholism, found families, truth, love, loyalty. Filled with real birding trivia facts that fascinate Axel.
Axel loves all birds, especially eagles and other raptors and wishes he too could soar free. His mother Byrd is like an osprey all seeing and fiercely overprotective. His missing dad, Frank, is more like a wild turkey going it’s own self serving male way, not visiting every other week as promised in the separation agreement Axel has found. Axel and Byrd live in a small cottage Frank built, gifted them by their older neighbors, former attorneys, poetry and dog loving George M. Flores and his partner Emmett who lives to cook, and George’s outspoken sister, Nancy. They make up an unlikely but highly supportive family. Axel has two best friends, George’s setter Ray and Daniel Berrios, who hides his anxieties well, has five sisters, always says what he means, can make Axel laugh, and comes every other Saturday to play and explore with Axel on the farm and in the woods and they can tell each other true things.
A tornado warning, drill at school, blaring sirens, and the tornado which fells a tree through the roof of Axel’s home and brings down the tree and eagles’ nest atop it with hatchlings in it precipitate huge and unwelcome changes in Alex’s life, but he faces up to the adults, demands that Dr. Taylor Martin at the Delaware Valley Raptor Sanctuary come rescue the eaglet, demands to be told truths, not have secrets, like why his dad isn’t there, hidden from him like a baby.
Well executed, believable exploration of autism, depression, alcoholism, found families, truth, love, loyalty. Filled with real birding trivia facts that fascinate Axel.
January 9, 2023
I love, love, loved this book! I homeschool my children and we did a unit study on birds over the summer. I read great reviews on this book and loved the inclusivity of the main character being on the autism spectrum. My kids and I loved reading this aloud as part of our birds exploration. The story of Axel and his family, the eagles' nest, the storm, their neighbors...it beautifully wove the concepts of biological family and chosen family, acceptance, love, and curiosity. Axel is celebrated by his mother for who he is. He has a wonderful support system at his school. He collects odd friendships and interests and has permission to be exactly, well, Axel. I fully enjoyed this story and found it to be heartwarming. We looked forward to story time every day while we read this. Disclaimer for those who may find it helpful: there is a gay couple who live next door featured prominently in the book, as well as salutations for non-binary characters. Axel's parents are separated due to the father's battle with substance abuse. There are definitely older themes in the book, but it's well worth the read.
September 20, 2023
Not much happens in the book, and it's difficult to tell how much time has elapsed. The main character is a boy who appears to have an autism spectrum disorder, although it's never distinctly called as much. His behaviors can be frustrating, but ring true to anyone with ASD experience. The description of his thoughts and reasoning for his behaviors made me rethink my reactions in real life. That alone made the book worth reading.
I didn't care much for the other characters, who came off as shallow or cartoonish. The boy's parents are mostly absent, even when they're physically near; he gets more attention from the gay couple next door and the elderly aunt who lives with them. The father's absence is treated like a big mystery, when it actually is commonplace. Subplots are drawn out to the point of annoyance; the book could have been much shorter. It took me much longer to finish this book than I expected because I kept putting it down, I contemplated not finishing it. I think the book is better suited to readers 12 or 13 and older, who aren't looking for an action-packed read.
I didn't care much for the other characters, who came off as shallow or cartoonish. The boy's parents are mostly absent, even when they're physically near; he gets more attention from the gay couple next door and the elderly aunt who lives with them. The father's absence is treated like a big mystery, when it actually is commonplace. Subplots are drawn out to the point of annoyance; the book could have been much shorter. It took me much longer to finish this book than I expected because I kept putting it down, I contemplated not finishing it. I think the book is better suited to readers 12 or 13 and older, who aren't looking for an action-packed read.
February 23, 2022
A Bird Will Soar by Allison Green Myers read by Jamie K Brown, Schneider Family Book Award Winner 2022 - Middle Grades Axel loves birds. He loves watching them, visits a local bird sanctuary and even compares his favorite people to different types of birds. When a tornado comes through damaging his home and destroying an eagle’s nest he is distraught over what will happen to the eaglets. Being autistic means things happen in certain ways and now his routines are turned upside down. His dad is now coming around to fix the house and he is sure his parents are lying to him. He is scared to hold the eaglet in case he drops it etc. While Axel’s narration brings readers into the life of someone with autism, many non-autistic readers will be able to relate to his relationships and actions. Themes include forgiveness, family, and understanding. It makes a nice class or small group read due to its many talking points. Grades 4-7
May 19, 2024
Axel has autism, leading him to exhibit specific behaviors and routines. One of those is his fascination with birds. He checks on an eagle's nest that's in the woods behind his house every day. When a storm hits, a tree breaks the big windows in his house, forcing Axel and his mom, Byrd to move into their neighbors' house temporarily and causes the nest to fall to the ground. Axel's dad comes back to help repair the house, and Axel realizes a lot of secrets about his dad have been kept from him. I like how the Kirkus review put it, "His being autistic shapes who he is and is not a problem..." I'm still not sure if I liked the poems at the beginning of each chapter. Sometimes they worked, and sometimes they didn't add anything to the story. A sentimental story that would benefit from a read aloud environment with adult scaffolding to understand the story. For fans of Rain Reign and The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.
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