Rare Birds

by Jeff Miller

Twelve-year-old Graham Dodds is no stranger to hospital waiting rooms. Sometimes, he feels like his entire life is one big waiting room. Waiting for the next doctor to tell them what’s wrong with his mom. Waiting to find out what city they’re moving to next. Waiting to see if they will finally get their miracle—a heart transplant to save his mom’s life.

Now Graham is stuck in Florida for the summer, waiting once again. But when he meets a girl named Lou at the hospital, he finds a friend who needs a distraction as much as he does. She tells him about a contest to find the endangered Snail Kite, which resides in the local gator-filled swamps. Together they embark on an adventure, searching for the rare bird . . . and along the way, Graham might just find something else—himself.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Animals

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2023

About the author

Jeff Miller is a former newspaper delivery boy from Kent, Ohio, and a top scorer in coffee drinking. He currently lives in Chicago.

Reviews

[A Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham is 12 years old and is used to moving around. With his mom’s heart condition, they’re constantly in search of the best doctors and spend plenty of time in hospitals. This time, they’re heading to south Florida. Graham settles into his usual hospital routine until he encounters a girl his age who already knows where the best ice machine is and which janitors he should befriend. They quickly become friends and decide to enter a birding contest together. Can they find the endangered Snail Kite before the contest ends?

This was a really well written book. It deals with a heavy topic in a meaningful and interesting way. Weaving the bird watching plot into the story was an excellent choice, and I loved the way Graham’s mom thought about birds. Both plots were well paced and woven together in a way that complimented each other. The ending was well done and a lovely way to end this work.

The characters were excellently written. Graham was a relatable protagonist, with realistic feelings, thoughts, and actions. I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters as well as their interactions. The secondary characters were the perfect support for this story, having lives and struggles of their own that still complimented Graham’s story. And I loved Lou – she was the perfect sidekick!

I highly recommend this work to Young Adult readers and older readers alike. This was a heartwarming and interesting story that I couldn’t put down and offered important insights into the lives of others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square Kids for providing a review copy of this work. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything works perfectly when it comes to this amazing middle grade book. The author has taken real incidents as inspiration to write this book.

One of my most anticipated books of 2023 and I already know it doesn’t know how to disappoint! Heartfelt writing, well developed characters, meaningful moments, mature and understanding adult characters, friendship so pure and reliable, the title means a lot when you read the story and the unlikely favourite character will stay forever once you read the book till the end!

I would say the writing is so good. Moreover, the short chapters add so much fun while reading the book. Love the little careful details regarding the print and I know for sure the paperback will feel so good! It’s going to be so good.

It’s the story of a boy whose main part of his days would be visiting hospitals with his mother waiting for a heart transplant to save her life.

He meets a new friend. Also get ready to know a very unusual character. I am telling you it’s so good to know all these characters, what they do to make things better for each other and how they find ways to bring some adventure amidst their struggles.

Such a meaningful read. Just grab this book when it comes out!

Thank you, Union Square Kids /Sterling Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

[Amina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ 4 stars ✰

“You know how sometimes you meet people and it's like you hardly have to explain yourself to them? Like you’re two people that have always been in the same club, but you’re just meeting for the first time?”

A beautiful touching read about love, family, friendship, loss and life. Middle Grade books are something that give me such a sense of calm with the youthful characters and joining them on their journey of self-discovery in whatever form it may be, and Jeff Miller delivered that with Rare Birds.

I liked how original this storyline was. Graham is a young boy who has never had a permanent home, as he moves around with his mother, in the hopes of having that one chance of a treatment that can cure her heart condition. Their latest point leads them to Florida, his parents hometown and where his mother was very passionate about bird hunting. While he spends most of the hospital waiting room, he befriends Lou, a young girl who also visits the hospital more often than not. Together the two of them combine forces to win a hefty prize money to find a rare bird native to the Florida Everglades that has eluded his own mother since her childhood.

Ah, so many emotional feels with this very well-written story. It tackled some very heavy issues - from bullying, to loneliness, to parental loss and the gift of friendship once lost. It was so very well written with such colorful and original characters that I couldn't help but be invested in the story; the way in how all of them were connected never felt forced or out of place, and I really appreciated that. ✨✨

Graham's tone of narrative was very engaging and light-hearted with the undertones of a boy on the cusp of manhood that really resonated with me. He had such a pure heart that tried to always find the light in others from the darkness that has been his life. His friendship with Lou especially was such a beautiful and endearing one. It was conveyed so clearly through the writing that you could resonate with their frustrations, their hopes, and their close bond of just being together for each other, even in the limited time that they spent.

Overall, a very rewarding read. If you enjoy Middle Grade books that give an original idea packed with emotional feels and heartwarming ties then this one definitely delivered. 👍👍

[Shelby Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, it’s been awhile since a middle grade book has made me this emotional. Finished in one sitting.

Sorry, fellow booksellers, I’ll be forcing each of you to read this one 🥹

[noli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book with every ounce of my soul

[sylwia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed the book. I got attached to the characters and the ending was very emotional. The book is definitely worth reading, it portrays a variety of important qualities and problems. Overall, I recommend.

[Jordan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all happens for a reason.

A powerful, emotional, multilayered Middle Grade read, that forces readers to look at themselves and embrace life to the fullest. Coming out January 2023.

Thank you to Union Square Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Graham is a quirky yet likeable character who tells us his story as his mom seeks a life saving heart transplant. It’s just the two of them as his dad died when he was young and they’ve been moving from place to place in hopes of finding that heart. We pick up the story as they move to his mom’s hometown in Florida, where they move in with Dom, a high school friend of hers. Dom has a son who is angry at the world and none to pleased to be sharing his space with Graham. Just as Graham is starting to learn more about his mom and dads history in Florida and his mom’s unfinished bird journal, her heart takes a turn for the worst and she’s admitted to hospital. At the hospital, Graham meets a girl named Lou and through their shared experiences of tough times, they immediately bond. Lou discovers a bird finding contest that would help to finish Graham’s mom’s bird journal and the adventure begins. Graham, Lou and Nick end up changed forever as they hunt for a rare bird and are forced to face their own inner demons along the way.

Filled with twists and turns, I had a hard time putting this one down. I feel as though it impacted me and so I know this will impact my students as well and I think this will make for an excellent read aloud or novel study with students in Grades 5-8.

[Gmr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to warn you... like any good scout, explorer, or bird watcher, you need to be prepared; in this case, bring tissues. No questions! Just listen.This book was a rare bird indeed...

Graham is a boy looking for normalcy in a world that makes it hard to find. His mom has longterm health issues, so he's constantly in and out of the hospital, but they make things work. Lou is a girl looking for a chance to make her mark in a world that doesn't always appreciate the rare things in its midst. Her family's trials means she gets Graham's struggles like no other, which makes them even faster friends than most. Together, they'll set out to accomplish his mom's long held dream... but, in the end, cement something so much more, so much bigger than any rare bird sighting could ever possibly be.

Guys, this book has so much going for it. From Graham's trials with his mom to dealing with feelings of being a burden, issues of bullying, and simply trying to fit in wherever he landed, while helping his mom any way he could. Lou, where do I even start! As much as I loved Graham, she definitely holds a special place in my heart. Her spunky nature, her willingness to help a friend, her fast way of making friends, her "never give up" attitude... all combines, she was a force to be reckoned with and with SUCH a big heart!

All in all, this was a magnificent work showing the many facets of humankind, the resilience of our spirits, and just how far love, kindness, and determination can truly take us.


*copy received for review; opinions are my own

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect example of why everyone should read books.
There’s a beautiful adventure story, the seeking of the unknown, and some genuine feels through this one. This makes you come to terms with loss on various levels, mending relationships, and forging new paths.
This was beautiful and heart wrenching all at the same time.
Incredible.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book you will not want to put down!

[Liam Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, even though it might drag on a little bit, that showcases Graham Dodds and his mom living life with his mom’s fatal heart disease. Good book, even though there are better reads out there.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bird watching is an interesting hobby that I respect people for taking up. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly my sort of pastime, but the idea of going in search of rare birds in the wide expanse of nature is compelling to say the least. Birds are an interesting breed of animal, their ability to soar amongst the world, seeing everything below as distant observers while chirping away in the background with their own unique calls gives them some notable charm and appeal. What happens when you take that wonderful hobby of bird spotting and you mix it with a heartfelt story about valuing life in the wake of your own misfortunes? You get a rather uplifting story by the name of Rare Birds by Jeff Miller.

The story of Rare Birds follows young Graham Dodds and his critically-ill mother as they fly over to Sugarland, Florida in hopes of receiving a heart transplant. All Graham has ever known is the fear of losing his mother, as she’s suffered from a weak heart condition all of her life. With hope on the horizon though, Graham must learn to acclimatize to his new surroundings for his mom’s sake. As he settles into his new temporary accommodations, Graham forms an uneasy relationship with his mom’s friend’s son called Nick. As well as Nick, Graham also meets a young girl called Lou and they come to learn of a local competition which would offer $5000 to whoever can take a picture of a Snail Kite, a rare bird found within the region. Together, Graham and Lou team up to brave the Sugarland terrain to scout for the bird all the while Graham’s mum’s condition quickly deteriorates while she waits for her chance at a new heart.

The narrative of Rare Birds is an endearing one that focuses on valuing the beauty of life even in it’s lowest moments. Graham as a character is honest and vulnerable in the situation he finds himself in, but I feel his characterization is oddly one-note, which is a flaw I feel a lot of the wider cast all fall prey to sadly. It’s setup is unique and it makes bold strides to explore a emotionally charged story with Graham’s mother being a critical condition, but it’s a story slightly lacking in complexity. I get it’s a book geared more towards a younger audience, but I think making it’s core approach too simple means it loses an opportunity to leave a longer lasting impression. While is misses the mark slightly with not taking a bolder leap in storytelling and characization, I can’t fault what is here though. Its emotional core is strong enough to draw in your attention and keep you reading right to the very end.

I was a bit apprehensive about the writing style as I not typically a 1st person perspective fan when it comes to books, but I think this book manages it pretty decently for the most part. I think the only thing the 1st person storytelling does it emphasize the underwhelming characterization behind Graham. Graham is our window into this world and its story and he seems to take all the events in a constantly reflective manner which makes him feel slightly unrealistic as a character. As this is a book geared towards a younger audience, I also feel the pacing is too quick to move along and not give enough attention to fleshing out some respective sequences. This contributes to why the story feels underwhelming to a notable degree because it never tries to take its time.

The emotional core and intent behind Rare Birds are the main reason I don’t dismiss the story completely. It’s a novel idea and the concepts being focused on here are compelling enough to draw in my attention. I think my main gripe with the narrative is its lack of depth. Every idea at play in this story doesn’t feel like it’s potential has been tapped well enough. I think the story is too afraid to go too deep at the risk of alienating its younger audience, but I think it underestimates the intelligence of children to really understand a narrative if given the time to flesh it out.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waffled over whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars. My indecision was over my gut feeling on how likely kids are to pick this up and read it and my personal reaction to the story, the characters, the plausibility, and cohesion. I went with the later, and so, 4 stars. The story is unique, full of heart, and fully engaging to adults, but the dual plot is problematic for kids. Middle grade kids prefer plots that hone in on one conflict and fully flesh it out, rather than trying to bring multiple ideas into one story.

Here's the gist. Graham's mother has a severe heart condition that requires a transplant. This brings her back to her Florida Everglades hometown where oddly, her chances of getting one are higher. Graham and his mom move in with a guy who she's known since her childhood. The only problem for Graham is that he has a son with a chip on his shoulder.

Graham discovers that his mom had a thing for rare birds and there's one that always eluded her: the Snail Kite (a real bird, by the way, but not orange). Interestingly, there's a girl, Lou, hanging out at the hospital who also has an interest in birds. When they learn about a contest with a substantial financial reward for anyone who gets a photo of the Snail Kite, they become instant, inseparable friends, canoeing the mysterious byways of the Everglades.

For the most part I liked all the characters. When I say "like" I mean I found them all believable. There's two exceptions. One is the age of the characters. They are 12, but sound much older. The other is Nick, the kid with a chip on his shoulder. His personality does a 180 from bad to good and I never fall for that. It's just not reality. I very much like Graham and Lou's friendship. Given what they've been through with so much of their lives spent in hospitals, their attachment is natural. I also like the bullies. They're hardcore, sabotaging Graham's expeditions in the glades.

I love the Florida setting. Miller has done a very good job of setting the scene. I especially love the gator legend and canoe excursions into the glades. I like the kids being on their own, exploring, even though I'm not sure kids today would have such bravery.

What bothers me the most about this book is the dual plot. It's going to make kids tire easily. I've seen this again and again with kids. While the medical part is interesting, it just gives you one more thing to keep track of. The best part of the book centers around the bullies and the Everglades. I wish that had been developed more. The heart transplant plot would be more effective in its own story.

So. If you want an excellent example of a book kids love, which centers around a medical condition, try Braced.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
The major focus of the story is how families deal with serious health issues. Graham’s mother has traveled across the country seeking medical treatments for her ailing heart and now they’ve landed in Florida, in the town where she once lived and where doctors want to perform a transplant. Graham meets a girl at the hospital named Lou who seems to have a father dealing with a possible heart transplant of his own. Both characters share their stress, anxiety, and other mixed emotions of concern surrounding the uncertainty of their futures. For example, Graham passes a severe car accident on the road and feels guilty for wondering if one of the victims might provide the heart his mother needs.
Lou and Graham have lived isolated lives due to their families’ medical issues but they discover a kinship and bond they both need. Graham has a name for their “club” based on the dire status of their lives but Lou has a more positive outlook. She is more adventurous and wants to live life in the moment rather than wait to try things in the future. She’s gung-ho about trying to locate an endangered Snail Kite in the swamp even though boaters can easily get lost and there are tales of an enormous alligator lurking in the dark waters. Graham’s mom was an avid birdwatcher when she was younger and the Snail Kite is the one bird she never found. Together, Graham and Lou are determined to take a picture of one but are they prepared for the challenges they’ll face?
While his mom is in the hospital, Graham stays with one of her childhood friends named Dom. She figures it’s a good situation since Dom’s son is the same age as Graham. However, neither parent is aware of the emotional baggage Nick is carrying and they don’t see the animosity he covertly displays toward Graham. Readers will wonder what’s really going on in Nick’s head as his behavior fluctuates throughout the story. Is he annoyed that he needs to share his space? Is it genuine anger toward a boy whose presence has upset the dynamics of his home life? Nick brings a couple of other characters into the story later on that escalate the conflict to a whole new level.
What didn’t work as well:
Graham and Lou don’t make steady progress searching for the Snail Kite so that part of the plot moves rather slowly. However, it gives the characters time to talk about health issues and time to become close friends. Dom gives them warnings about boating in the swamp so readers will know those dangers are sure to arise, thus creating more tension.
The Final Verdict:
This story evokes many emotions due to life-threatening problems in the hospital and in nature. The author reveals an important secret concerning Lou as the plot nears its climax to help the book come to a dramatic conclusion.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rare Birds follows Graham Dodds, an 11-year-old boy whose father died when he was young and, for the last year, has been going from city to city as his mother is trying to find a replacement heart. She's in very poor condition, which has made it hard for Graham to live his life as he's kind of her caretaker and is often at the hospital with her.

They move to Florida and move in with a high-school friend of his mom's, who also has a kid Graham's age. At the hospital, Graham meets Lou, a girl whose father is needing a heart to. Graham and Lou hit it off. They decide to try and win a competition to find the Snail Kite, a rare bird that Graham's mother (an avid bird watcher) had always wanted to find.

The story reads slow, though that's okay in my opinion because the writing style and narrative voice are great. Reading it, I just knew I'd have loved it back when I was a kid. It does a great job of painting the stress of Graham's situation and you really do sympathize with him and feel the worry and love he has for his mother. I like how he's lost a lot of his childhood but isn't resentful, he just wants his mom to be okay.

The birdwatching plot is where the story loses me a bit. The story gets put on a 1-week timeline which is odd because at no point do the characters act like there is a time crunch. I also wish that the story had explored more of the actual techniques of searching for birds because a lot of it is just Graham and Lou going out into the swamp hoping they find it. They have a map that may or may not help them, but that's about it.

There are also these two bully characters that are really badly written. I don't want to spoil anything major, but they aren't just mean-spirited - they do some things that are truly terrible, but they have no development and there's no real reason why they'd go to such lengths to terrorize two kids that they barely even know (seriously - they don't even go to the same school). And there's no follow-up to what they did - they completely get away with it and are never seen again.

My biggest problem with the story comes with a confrontation near the end, though. (MINOR SPOILER) Graham gets called out for not living his life in a very 'my-pain-is-worse-than-your-pain' way. It reads so mean-spirited because Graham's life has been thrown for a curveball and the characters confronting him have no sympathy for what he's going for. I get the message the author was trying to convey, but it really was not delivered properly and it soured what was otherwise a decent story.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Graham arrives with his mom in Sugarland, Florida, the fourth city they have moved to in the past year. His mom is seeking a cure for her dilated cardiomyopathy – in short, she needs a heart transplant. Graham takes the new hospital in stride, as he has been to more waiting rooms than he can count. They are living with his mom’s childhood friend, Dom, and Dom’s son Nick, who is Graham’s age. Nick makes it clear that he’s not happy to have a roommate. Graham’s stress about his mother getting sicker, the move to a place where he knows no one else, and Nick’s hostility make him feel pretty alone. Then, at the hospital, of all places, Graham meets Lou, who says she’s there to support her sick father. They hit it off, and together the two kids work to find the elusive Snail Kite bird that his mother has always wanted to see. Will the friends find the bird before Nick and his mean friends do? What happens if his mom gets sicker before a new heart is found?

I liked this novel about a wise-cracking but observant kid whose life could soon be upended by his mother’s sickness. Although Graham’s mom appears in most chapters, she is kind of a secondary character, giving Graham and his exploits center stage. Still, the mother/son relationship is solid and satisfying. I wish the author had taken a bit more time to flesh out Nick and Lou, as they both end up being important characters. The Florida setting is nicely done – I could definitely empathize with Graham getting used to the heat. It was interesting to read about the hospital stay and the impact a sick parent has on a child. Readers with loved ones who are facing chronic hospitalizations will definitely identify with Graham. One of the main characters dies, which I didn’t expect, and confers authenticity to the story.

All characters present as white.

I found Nick’s transformation a bit sudden. More character development might have helped here.

[Beth for BPL Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, oh man, oh man. Graham belongs in that club of middle grade characters that you just want to wrap up in a hug and never let go.

Graham has moved around a lot with his mom, looking for a treatment for her heart condition. He has spent a lot of time in hospital rooms around the country, sometimes making friendships that don't last and always (willingly) putting his mom first. He is a great kid and knows that there are some serious things happening, but seems to have an optimistic outlook.

Graham's mom grew up in Florida, where she enjoyed looking for and cataloging birds she found in the swampy area near her home. She and Graham move in with one of her oldest friends and his son. Graham soon after meets a quirky girl named Lou, and together, they decide to enter a contest to discover the only rare bird his mother could never find, in the hope that achieving this dream for her will help her get better sooner.

I won't give away the twist, but as an adult reader, I saw it coming. But even as a person a little bit removed from age 12, I was completely able to appreciate the message of living life to the fullest while you can, because you never know what can happen, and life is short. Sometimes, much, much too short.

Be careful giving this book to overly sensitive kiddos. There are some sad parts, but overall a lovely and uplifting story about a kid who loves his mom, loves his friends, and who would do anything to make their dreams come true.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Adore the cover on this book!

I recently read Rare Birds by Jeff Miller and I have to say, it's easily one of my favorite reads this year! This middle grade book had all the feels, and the author did an amazing job tackling the heavy subject matter.

The story follows twelve-year-old Graham, who feels like his entire life is one big waiting room while his mother waits for a heart transplant. While waiting in Florida for the summer, he meets Lou at the hospital and together they embark on an adventure to find the endangered Snail Kite, which resides in the local gator-filled swamps.

The writing was amazing and very well-paced. The setting and bird watching plot were both excellently done. Rare Birds managed to be both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, making it impossible not to be invested in what happens next. I found myself rooting for Graham and Lou throughout the book as they searched for something that would give them hope during such a difficult time.

The characters were relatable, especially Graham and Lou. They complemented each other well throughout their journey as they searched for the rare bird. Overall, I can't recommend this book any higher – it's definitely worth reading if you're looking for a beautifully written middle-grade book that will make you feel all sorts of emotions!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a digital review copy of Rare Birds via Edelweiss Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review

Middle grade books dealing with heavy topics are my current favorite genre so naturally, when I first saw Rare Birds on Edelweiss I had to request it.

It took me a little while to read—not the book’s fault, I was just in a reading slump—but oh boy did I love this. I’ve read plenty of middle grade books featuring a protagonist dealing with a loved one’s illness, but this is the first time I’ve read one specifically about heart problems and that hit a little close to home. Graham’s pov was incredibly accurate too and I loved it.

And the birds!! I love birds, so I always love when bird watching plots get weaved in there.

My favorite part of any novel (but especially contemporaries) is the inter-personal character dynamics and I loved Graham and his relationships with his mother, Dom and Nick, and of course Lou :). (Lou is 100% the kind of supporting character that I adore, and I loved her.)

Oh, and that ending hurt me personally. I saw it coming, but man, it hurt and I loved it :,)

Perfect for fans of Beth Vrabel’s Caleb and Kit.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare Birds by Jeff Miller tells the story of eleven-year-old Graham, whose mom is on a waiting list at a Florida medical center for a heart transplant. Graham is staying with an old high school friend of his parents, Dom, and Dom’s son Nick, who does his best to make Graham’s life difficult.

Graham is a veteran of hospital waiting rooms, and it’s there he meets Lou, who has family medical issues of her own. The two become fast friends, and together they decide to enter a contest for young birders to find the rare snail kite that lives in the nearby swamp.

During their adventures, they learn a lot about boating, birding, and the nature of the swamp. They will test their courage and determination while they also discover the value of friendship and the importance of living life to its fullest.

Rare Birds is about hope and self-discovery, and being understood and loved for who you are. As Graham gets to know Nick and Lou, he finds that initial impressions of a person are not the whole story. He also faces his own fears about being on his own if something happens to his mom. It’s a thought-provoking tale, and I highly recommend it for readers aged 9 to 12.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional MG book about a boy, his sick mom and their journey.
🫀
Graham Dodds is no stranger to hospital waiting rooms. He and his mom have lived in many cities and seen many doctors on her journey to get a new heart. Now they’re headed to his mom’s hometown in Florida where she hopes to jump to the top of the heart transplant list. While they’re there, they stay with Graham’s mom’s friend from high school and his son, who wants nothing to do with sharing a room with Graham. Looking for an escape, Graham takes his mom’s rare birds book and a new friend, Lou, from the hospital and enters a contest to find the endangered Snail Kite to win some prize money. Together they have adventures and learn a lot about themselves.
🦅
This novel was very well-written and had a heavy topic, but was told meaningfully and with lots of heart. I could see using this as a read aloud in a 4th grade+ classroom. Lots of tears with this one.

CW: death, grief, death of a parent (discussed), bullying, vandalism, hospitalization

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful MG story about a young boy whose mother is in need of a heart transplant. Graham and his mom are settling down in Florida after trying hospitals in a few states, hoping this is where their luck will be. After making a new friend (and a new nemesis) Graham learns his mother used to be into birding. There is one bird left on the list of birds she tried to find when younger. Graham and his new friend Lou are determined to find the bird, while also winning a local birding contest. Will the be successful? Will Graham's mom get a heart before her time runs out? MG readers and beyond will not be able to put this book down as they read to find out what happens.

*Teachers and parents should be aware that this book does have some sad/sensitive topics. If you have a sensitive child please read the book alongside your student/child or read it first so you know if it's right for them.

I highly recommend this book and will be ordering a copy to read with my third grade son!

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Union Square Kids and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This middle-grade book is an unexpected gem. It deals with heavy topic matter, with the protagonist's mother suffering from a heart condition and on the transplant list. The two of them live an unsettled life, travelling from one clinic to another, spending lots of time in hospitals and not really able to make friends before having to move on. They end up in Florida, where the mother grew up, and the main themes of the story - friendship and the meaning of being alive - blossom beautifully out of the narrative. The topics of bullying, family dynamics and death are also touched on, without being overwhelming and with showing ways of dealing with them. Both the main and the secondary characters are well-developed and the POV of the protagonist (a 12-year-old boy) rings true. Highly recommend for both middle-grade kids and adults.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare birds is the story of a boy whose mom's heart is failing. At the hospital in Miami Florida where his mom hopes to get a new heart, he meets a girl who knows all about hospital waiting rooms. She and he plan to participate in a contest to photograph a snail kite, an endangered bird of prey in FL, that lives in fresh water swamps and marshes. Graham and Lou find out birding is a great way to take your mind off the hospital and they are supported in their quest by Graham's mom and her friend Dom with whom Graham is living and even a pair of lifelong birders. Dom's son Nick turns out to be so threatened by his divorced family's changes that he turns bully and hangs out with some really nasty kids. A tender story with one brilliant twist in the narrative, and also including a realistic and high stakes overnight swamp adventure. By the end, there was one plot twist that threatened to push me out of the story. Still a heart felt story by a young author to watch!

.

[LPMS Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful and poignant, Rare Birds, is a beautiful novel about finding friendship, family, and hope in the darkest of times.

As Graham Dodds moves from Buffalo to sunny Miami his mom is hopeful that this hospital will finally be the place she can get the new heart that she so desperately needs. But when Graham's mom takes a turn for the worst, he loses hope that a new heart will be found in time. As Graham flees into the solitude of Florida's swamps with his new friend, Lou, in the hopes of finding a rare Snail Kite for his mom - Graham slowly discovers that there's more to life than the bleak and barren walls of hospital waiting rooms.

Young fans of realistic-fiction with characters overcoming substantial medical and family woes will cheer for Graham and Lou in this compelling middle-grade novel that's not just about finding birds, but finding yourself too.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham is in a constant state of waiting. His mom is in need of a heart transplant and he has spent years moving from city to city to find the hospital that can best help her. Finally arriving in Florida, where his mom grew up, Graham makes a friend named Lou who is also a frequent hospital visitor. He also makes an enemy, Nick, the son of his mom's best friend whom they are staying with.
While digging through her old things, they discover a journal from his mom's youth about rare Florida birds. Graham can't help but think that finding the one that has eluded her all these years, the Snail Kite, might be the thing that magically changes his family's luck. He knows it's not going to be easy, but he doesn't realize just how hard it will be and just how much is at stake.

Lots of good information about birds, friendship, expectations, and the uncertainties in life. A quick read.

[Richard Stange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: This book is devastating. This is middle school level fiction, but it hits you hard. Really hard. I was actually mad at Jeff Miller for a little while about just how heartbreaking this book is.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I remember losing a classmate in kindergarten. Then, again, I lost another classmate to cancer in the seventh grade. We dedicated our school yearbook to him that year. Personally, I have had dealings with mortality at a very early age.

This novel brought that stuff back and absolutely destroyed me while I read this book. It’s well crafted and wonderfully written. The symbolism and foreshadowing with the bird is incredible. But this narrative hits different. For me, it conjured up memories of over thirty years ago.

[Laura Hoffman Brauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham has moved to Florida with his mom, hoping that she will be able to get the desperately needed heart transplant. During one of the many afternoons he spends waiting around in the hospital, he meets Lou, a girl who also spends a lot of the time at the hospital with her dad. He and Lou have a lot in common and when Lou tells Graham about a contest to find a rare bird, the very species his mother had looked for when she was young, they set out in search of the elusive Snail Kite.

This was a heart warming (and heart breaking) book about friendship, hope, and choosing to seek out the best in life. Miller is an excellent writer and this is a great read for middle grade readers who prefer contemporary fiction with a lot of emotional heft.

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a good read. Even though Graham’s mom is sick; he still tries to be upbeat and positive.
His mom thinks she spots an elusive bird and I like how he helps her try to find it since she never found it when she was a kid. He makes a new friend in the hospital and they both hunt for the elusive bird. Lou was one of my favorite characters. The book mentions various bird species also; so it’s great for kids to look up to see what the birds look like.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare Birds is middle grade fiction, but as a whole adult, I enjoyed it, too. It’s a story of friendship, resilience, and … rare birds. Graham and Lou and even Nick were a joy to spend time with in the Florida swamps as they spent their time looking for a rare bird to win a contest (and for Graham to fulfill his moms list of rare bird sightings). One thing I particularly liked about this book is that everything wasn’t perfect or sugarcoated, and the dialogue was realistic. I also liked the growth that Graham and Nick had over the course of the story.