A Bird Will Soar

by Alison Green Myers

WINNER OF THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD

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 an eagle’s instincts let it soar. Axel must trust his own instincts to help heal his family and the nest he loves. 

(Cover image may vary.)

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Animals, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Birds

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Alison 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.

Reviews

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 the author did make a choice to injure the dog and make the kid feel responsible, which definitely feels overused even if the dog made it in the end.

[Annalisa Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Chris Tebbetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald]

Just could not get into this one.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Heather Stigall · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Berrie Torgan-randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alicia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

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]

[Amberlea Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kym Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[TinySalutations · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son said he never felt so proud of being autistic as he did while reading this book. This is the exact reason representation is important in books. My son (9) and I read this together. This was so good. Despite having some fairly heavy topics, it never actually felt that heavy or overwhelming.

My favorite part of this book is the theme that runs throughout about how to try to listen to what you need instead of forcing yourself to fit into what society needs. I do kind of wish that it could’ve been expanded just a little to emphasize how to stay safe while fulfilling that need (so you don’t hurt yourself or others). It just barely touches on it, but I think there was the space in this story for all of that.

I liked the birds being a central fixation in the story and the sort of medium by which the boy (main character) could understand other things in his life.

[Melissa Killian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that uses bird imagery and metaphor to show how preteen Axel sees the world. Axel's autism was portrayed realistically and I absolutely loved how he thought Caw! every time something annoyed or frustrated him. I loved that he liked to run with his arms out, like wings, and that taking care of animals, whether bird or dog, was most important to him. But he also cared about his friends, Daniel and Lark. He was most confused by his parents and their relationships, to each other and to him, but he also had some great found family in his neighbors, George, Emmett, and Aunt Nancy. When a bad storm comes through and literally rips Axel's world apart, he focuses on putting the pieces back together by rescuing an eaglet. His world is forever changed after that storm, but Axel is going to be okay. And he knows it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like reading middle grade books. I've loved --or appreciated -- most of those I've read this year and try to work out the kinds of readers to which I'd recommend each.

I liked this because of the protagonist Axel and how the author illustrates his responses, often inward, to what happens around him. He's freaked out by change and angered by uncertainty. He has very good friends -- a classmate, a school counselor, and Ray the dog. He has an extended loving family of Mom and the neighbors, but he also has the nagging mystery of the dad who stopped visiting LIKE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO.

Axel also has birds. Birds, especially raptors, are his thing. He has a membership to the area raptor rescue and educational center and lives surrounded by woods. Bald eagle eggs hatch and he monitors the situation, but a terrible storm wreaks serious havoc.

[Libby Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a special and important book- one that is unique and revolutionary in capturing the thought process of a boy who lives with the challenges of figuring out life on the autism spectrum as well as solving the many mysteries of a broken family.

Axel finds understanding and solace in his special interests surrounding birds and being in nature. He discovers the beauty of relationships that go beyond blood relation. His voice that craves and shares honesty is so needed today!

Truly a special read. Highly recommended as a family read aloud for 10 and up.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is magnificent.

Some libraries list this title as YA literature. There's nothing wrong with that except EVERYTHING. This book needs to be read by
- young people
- adult people
- old people
- teachers
- students
- writers
- readers
- non-readers (listen to an audiobook)
- politicians
- religious leaders
- all leaders

Reading this book will lead to a better understanding of those whose "ways" are different - ways of learning, ways of speaking, ways of acting, ways of living. And, after all, aren't we ALL...
different?

[Kristy Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tender story. Seeing the world through Axel’s eyes was a lovely gift. While he navigates finding independence and managing life’s “mysteries” his unusual, but deeply connected, family of characters were heart warming and authentic.

The story is well grounded in Axels love for the natural world. It really felt like an accurate perspective of a young person trying to gain agency. I appreciated how the (sometimes surprisingly) tough bits of this story gave life and true balance to the joyful moments of triumph as Axel matures.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, soaring story about family and truth-telling. Axel is autistic and, from the first page, we see the world through his eyes. This hopeful story helps Axel solve the mystery of why his dad stops visiting (and whether or not he's ready for his return). And it's a story of an eaglet injured in a storm and its recovery. I love the way Myers extends the meaning of family in the best way -- with George and Emmett and Aunt Nance and all the caring adults in Axel's world.

[I Trump · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and lyrical. I was enraptured by this thought-provoking book about an autistic boy named Axel, and the people and animals in his life. Third person present tense is an unusual narrative, but it totally works here. The author gets inside Axel's head so well, I felt I knew him and understood his life. We could all use some special thinking spaces and thinking time. I also loved the rural Pennsylvania setting.

[Angela Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming story about a sensitive young boy named Axel who feels life deeply and often struggles with its chaotic rhythms. The author does an incredible job of capturing the essence of his fears and dreams. Axel stumbles through his world's uncertainties yet perseveres to seek out the truth in his relationships and in himself. Lyrical, honest, insightful—this story has lots of heart and leaves the reader with an abundance of hope.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love birds and families, you will love this book.

So many layers of family stories intertwined with the story of a baby Bald Eagle rescue.

Alison's writing is poetic and poignant. The characters are well developed, unique and yet, universal.

[Madison Eller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far and not come home.

However, he wishes his mother would understand this because everybody needs to get out of the nest. Every student needs to grow up and leave the nest.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this novel! It 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!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voicey, special, loved the relationships.

[Steph Calvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you've got autistic kids in your life ❤️ I super related with the main character and his mom, and this was just such a great book.