Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark McGinnis

How I Heard About It:   This was another title I picked up as an ARC at #NCTE18 in Houston, Texas.  I was not familiar with the author and had no previous information about the story.  Sometimes those turn out to be the best and most rewarding reads.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  

1.  *December is an eleven year old foster girl that has been shuffled from foster home to foster home.  

2.  *The only thing she has left from her mother is a book about birds.  She also has scares on her back which December believes is where her "wings" will grow and she will be able to fly to reunite with her mother.  

3.  *At her last foster home, she climbed a tree and tried to take flight.  This action lead her to being placed in another new foster home.  

4.  *December is placed with Eleanor, a new foster mother.  This woman shares some similarities with December.  They both have a love for birds/animals, nature, and the "rescue" of creatures.  

5.  *While December tries to figure out her life, both past and present, she struggles with establishing relationships both at home and school.  


What I Thought Of It:  A beautiful, touching, and heartfelt story.  December was a young girl struggling to make sense of her past family and moving forward to find a new one.  I loved the connection she had to animals, especially birds.  The animal represented so much to this young girl.  Eleanor, her foster mother, was a guardian angel/bird, that December so desperately needed.  The cast of characters at school rounded out the story while adding greatly to December's journey.  I found the plot to be thoughtful, gentle, and personal.  All and all, this was a middle-grade story I enjoyed greatly.  


Who Should Read It:   Because of the subject matter, pacing, and writing I would recommend this novel for readers in grades five and above.  I could see it being used in middle-school as a book of study.  If you know of readers who are interested in birds, animals, and nature, then this is the novel for them.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars!

No comments:

Post a Comment