Birdy - by N West Moss (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

After the death of their mother, Birdy and Mouse are forced to start over in this beautifully written debut about discovering where you belong. For readers 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.

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 McSweeney's, The Saturday Evening Post, The Stockholm Review, Salon, The New York Times, Brevity, River Teeth, and Ars Medica, amongst many others. Pieces from her story collection, The Subway Stops at Bryant Park (Leapfrog Press), have recently been optioned for film. Birdy is her first book for young readers. She lives in New Jersey and teaches at Montclair State University.