Birdy - by N West Moss (Hardcover)

About the Book

After losing her mother to cancer and moving in with unfamiliar relatives for the summer, cautious Birdy struggles to adjust while her younger brother, Mouse, quickly grows attached to their new home, until Birdy's fears lead her to make a mistake that could threaten their future.

Book Synopsis

After the death of their mother, Birdy and Mouse are forced to start over in this debut novel about discovering where you belong­­--for fans of Forever This Summer and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise.

Eleven-year-old Birdy and her younger brother, Mouse, have always looked out for each other. They make the perfect team: Birdy is realistic and practical, while Mouse is affable and trusting. After their mother dies of cancer, Birdy and Mouse are forced to move out of the city to the country with relatives they've never met. Aunt Mitzie and Uncle Shadow's house is full of organized chaos, and it takes Birdy time to adjust to having adults around. But the kitchen is always stocked, and both kids are allowed to play outside as often as they want. There's only one problem: it's all temporary. Their social worker has promised to find them a permanent home by the next school year, whether they want to leave or not. As the summer unfolds, Mouse starts to feel attached to their new life. But Birdy knows better--adults have never been reliable. When Birdy's fears get the best of her, she makes a big mistake that could jeopardize their future.

Heartfelt and emotionally resonant, this literary coming-of-age novel explores the unbreakable bond between siblings--and how family can be found in the most unexpected places.

Review Quotes

"Birdy is spectacular. I was hooked from page one and fell in love with the entire cast of quirky and unforgettable characters, including the animals. Readers will applaud Birdy as she feels her way through the aftermath of her mother's death."--Ann M. Martin, author of the Newbery Honor Book A Corner of the Universe and The Baby-Sitters Club series

"A moving intergenerational story about the power of love, loss, and chosen family. It shines with hope and resilience and second chances."--Elly Swartz, acclaimed author of Same Page, Hidden Truths, and Dear Student

"Some writers have a special gift to connect readers with their characters and their story from page one. N. West Moss is one of those writers. With the introduction of each lovable character, we find ourselves hoping, Here, here!"--Kimberly Willis Holt, author of the National Book Award Winner When Zachary Beaver Came to Town and The Hurricane Girls

Praise for Birdy
* "First-time novelist Moss' nuanced portrayal of mourning, paired with richly drawn characters, creates a deeply affecting read....This resonant story celebrates the healing power of connection and the hope found in chosen family."--Booklist, starred review

* "Moss's debut for young readers stands out from the crowded shelf of novels about orphaned children by remaining refreshingly soothing and calm.... (She) has delivered a story about a tough situation that allows readers to fall in love with the story and characters ... A required purchase for elementary school and middle grade libraries."--School Library Journal, starred review

"Moss does an excellent job of bringing the readers into the protagonist's thoughts ... an emotionally complex portrait of a tween at a turning point in her life, offering readers a cathartic and engrossing narrative experience."--The Horn Book

"A grieving tween plans for the worst in this emotionally raw upper middle grade debut...Sensitive language addresses the myriad challenges the protagonist faces, making her efforts to traverse processes of bereavement and change both understandable and heartbreaking."--Publishers Weekly

"Moss presents a gorgeously imperfect narrator who, after years of being a caretaker, must learn to be a kid and a member of a family with loving adults. The messiness of grief is handled with delicacy and compassion, especially in Birdy's feelings of relief when she no longer has to deal with her mother's illness, despite loving and missing her terribly."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

N. West Moss is the author of the memoir Flesh and Blood: Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life (Algonquin, October 2021). Her essays and short stories have appeared in The New York Times, McSweeney's, and The Saturday Evening Post, among many other publications. Birdy is her first book for young readers. She lives in New Jersey and teaches at Montclair State University.