Rare Birds

Jeff Millers heartbreaking, coming-of-age middle-grade novelinspired by his personal experience living through his own parents heart transplantinvites readers into the world of a twelve-year-old birdwatcher looking for a place to call home and a way to save his mother, even if it means venturing deep into Florida swampland. 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 whats wrong with his mom. Waiting to find out what city theyre moving to next. Waiting to see if they will finally get their miraclea heart transplant to save his moms life. When Graham gets stuck in Florida for the summer, he meets a girl named Lou at the hospital, and 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 elsehimself. Jeff Miller crafts a heartfelt story about what it means to live in this unforgettable middle-grade novel. Rare Birds is a rare find that will resonate with fans of the Carl Hiassens Hoot and Melissa Savages Lemon. For readers looking for novels with literary appeal and classic themes of family, friendship, and the meaning of life, Rare Birds is a perfect pick. Hardcover with dust jacket; 288 pages; 5.5 x 8.3 in.