Rare Birds

Graham Dodds and his mother have lived in many places, trying to get Mom’s heart fixed. She needs a transplant, and soon. They move to Florida and a clinic that will give Mom her best chance. Graham’s staying with an old friend of his parents, Dom, who has a son, Nick, the same age as Graham. That should be a good thing, but Nick and his two friends are bullies. Graham meets a girl at the hospital, Lou, whose dad is also waiting for a transplant. Graham and Lou find they have a lot in common, including a love of birds. They embark on a quest to find a rare Snail Kite, a bird that means a lot of Nick’s mom. But can they find it in time?

Jeff Miller has written a compelling story of growth, friendship, family, and loss, all fairly heavy topics, but Miller handles all this with a deft hand. His writing is excellent, the characters are well-rounded and complex, the first-person voice of Graham is perfect for his age, and the story will have young readers rooting for him all the way. Miller’s life experience is a great foundation for this moving book.