Publishers Weekly
02/13/2023
An 11-year-old leans into her passion for birding while navigating life changes in this heartfelt novel from Lord (Ivy Lost and Found). Mia looks forward to her first solo stay with her beloved grandmother in Stone Harbor, Maine, especially because it means she won’t have to watch her mother prepare their Ohio house for sale before they move into a new place with Mom’s boyfriend. But just as she’s ready to settle into a month of extra attention and Grandma’s familiar, relaxed rhythms—including regular walks to town for ice cream and looking out for eagles and seals—Mia’s surprised to meet Miss Agatha, a mysterious stray cat in Grandma’s yard, and new neighbor Cayman, a boy her age who knows his way around Grandma’s kitchen and the local eagle nest. When Mia and Cayman spot a huge white raptor battling the eagles, Mia’s mission to identify it ahead of Cayman sets off a frenzy that attracts an unwelcome overrun of strangers who disrupt the town she loves and endanger what turns out to be a rare white gyrfalcon. With a steady pace and a comforting tone, Lord skillfully weaves a message about respecting wildlife with themes of facing change into a tale of finding courage. Protagonists read as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Home Away from Home:
“A coming-of-age tale told with tenderness and compassion.” — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Because of the Rabbit:
2020 ALSC Notable Children's Book
* "A young girl learns about honesty, integrity, and friendship... The beauty in Lord's tale of finding home in a new community is the way Emma's grandfather reaches her with his stories of magic even after he is gone, teaching her important lessons about following through on one's promises... Delightful." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Emma learns the rewards of patience and understanding the perspectives of others. [An] insightful story—lucidly written from the heart." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Lord uses clear, straightforward sentences to relate experiences in ways that speak directly to children. A heartfelt chapter book with broad appeal." — Booklist, starred review
June 2023 - AudioFile
Narrator Brenna Larsen evokes the joy and love of a girl who is visiting her grandmother. Mia is breaking her family's tradition by going to Maine on her own this summer. She's escaping the anxiety she feels at the prospect of her mom selling their house and looking for a new one with her boyfriend. The enthusiasm Larsen puts into her youthful voice is quickly tempered by frustration when Mia becomes jealous of a boy her age whom her grandmother is helping. Things get out of control when they discover a rare hawk in the area and Mia turns to an online birding site. Larsen creates a distinct cast of supporting characters as Mia learns lessons about compassion, responsibility, and the unreliability of social media. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-01-25
A summer visit to Maine provides adventure and challenges for 11-year-old Mia.
Mia worries about the many changes in her life and sees worst-case scenarios at every juncture. She must share her divorced parents with their new partners, but this summer Mia will be alone with her beloved grandmother. But there are new presences in Grandma’s life—mysterious stray cat Miss Agatha and new neighbor Cayman, a boy Mia’s age. Grandma encourages Cayman to show bird lover Mia an eagle nest. While watching the eagles, Mia and Cayman spot a large white bird swooping in, attacking the eagles, and Mia manages to take photos of it on her phone. Wanting to identify it before Cayman does, she posts to a birders’ site. The members recognize it as a white gyrfalcon. When Mia naïvely tells them her location, it sets in motion a series of nearly disastrous events, as the town is inundated with people determined to spot the rare bird. Cayman is dealing with his own worries about his mom, and his relationship with Mia is strained to the breaking point. Mia tells her own story, sharing her hurts, fears, misconceptions, and realizations and beautifully describing the nature around her. She learns to reach out for help in order to help make things right for the birds she has come to love, for Cayman and his mom, and even for Miss Agatha, discovering her own courage along the way.
A coming-of-age tale told with tenderness and compassion. (Fiction. 8-12)
