Overview

A girl learns to stand up for herself and embrace the true meaning of home against the backdrop of the Montana wilderness in this heartfelt novel in verse by acclaimed author Joy McCullough. A kestrel is the smallest bird of prey in North America. Kestrel doesn’t feel much like the fierce bird for which she is named. Not after being rushed away from her grandfather’s strict church community to the wilds of Montana. Her mother has gotten a job at a conservation institute, where she’ll work with a special breed of dog to help make interactions between humans and bears safer. At first, Kes is terrified of the dogs and angry at her mother for ripping her from the only world she’s known. But with some distance from her grandfather, she starts to understand how badly his bark hurt. In this new terrain, can Kestrel discover a safe place to spread her wings and soar?

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9781665972659

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Reviews

""A layered story about found family, the desire to be understood and valued, and how nature can help us find the courage to soar.""--Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor-winning author of Red, White, and Whole ""In this tender verse novel, Joy McCullough explores complications of love and loyalty, reminding us that--with great courage and true friends--we have the power to redefine ourselves, our homes, and the kinds of families we want to create.""--Megan E. Freeman, bestselling author of Alone

""The sparse verse effectively conveys Kestrel’s anxiety and gradual realization . . . An accessible and appealing exploration of coercion, autonomy, and finding one’s voice.” -- <I>Kirkus Reviews</I> ""A layered story about found family, the desire to be understood and valued, and how nature can help us find the courage to soar."" -- Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor-winning author of <I>Red, White, and Whole</I> ""In this tender verse novel, Joy McCullough explores complications of love and loyalty, reminding us that—with great courage and true friends—we have the power to redefine ourselves, our homes, and the kinds of families we want to create."" -- Megan E. Freeman, bestselling author of <i>Alone</i>

Author Information

Joy McCullough writes books and plays from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is the author of the middle grade novels Across the Pond, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Not Starring Zadie Louise, Code Red, Kestrel Takes Flight, and Basil & Dahlia, as well as the middle grade series Team Awkward, and the picture books Harriet’s Ruffled Feathers, Champ and Major: First Dogs, and The Story of a Book. Her debut novel Blood Water Paint was longlisted for the National Book Award and was a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist. Visit her at JoyMcCullough.com.

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