Of a Feather by Dayna Lorentz

How I Heard About It:
*This middle-grade novel was sent to me via the publisher.  I was drawn to the cover and the title.  I recently read the story over the MLK weekend.  

What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Rufus is a young great horned owl who becomes separated from his mother owl and on his own.  

*Reenie is a young girl who is also on her own after a series of tough setbacks with her mother.  

*After an incident with her "grandparents", Reenie ends up in another new home with an "aunt" she didn't know she had.  

*While she isn't thrilled about her new surroundings, she is soon introduced to the world of "falconry".  

*She and her aunt work together to help both the owl and a hawk, while learning to trust each other and move forward.  

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*While talking with a reading friend, we discussed how there aren't many stories told from the point of view of an animal.  This "tail" does the trick.

*I enjoyed the writing style and the alternating points of views between the young girl and owl.

*While there were a lot of details about falconry, I was more drawn to the story of Reenie, her new aunt, and the friends she met at school.

*The relationships Reenie formed at her new school were real, heart-warming, and at times funny.  

*Overall, an enjoyable story about a young person finding her true self through the world of animals.

Who Should Read It:
*I think this would be a good story to either put in the hands of individuals or use as a class read aloud.  The story would be best suited for readers in grades four through middle-school.  If you know of an animal lover, especially those that fly, will probably "gravitate" toward the story.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars