Coo - by Kaela Noel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"An unforgettable story
of friendship, love, and finding your flock." --Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery
Medal-winning author of Hello, Universe

In this exceptional
debut, one young girl's determination to save the flock she calls family
creates a lasting impact on her community and in her heart. Gorgeous
and literary, this is an unforgettable animal story about friendship, family,
home, and belonging. For readers who love books by Kate DiCamillo
and Katherine Applegate.

Ten years ago, an
impossible thing happened: a flock of pigeons picked up a human baby who had
been abandoned in an empty lot and carried her, bundled in blankets, to their
roof. Coo has lived her entire life on the rooftop with the pigeons who saved
her. It's the only home she's ever known. But then a hungry hawk nearly kills
Burr, the pigeon she loves most, and leaves him gravely hurt.

Coo must make a perilous
trip to the ground for the first time to find Tully, a retired postal worker
who occasionally feeds Coo's flock, and who can heal injured birds. Tully mends
Burr's broken wing and coaxes Coo from her isolated life. Living with Tully,
Coo experiences warmth, safety, and human relationships for the first time. But
just as Coo is beginning to blossom, she learns the human world is infinitely
more complex?and cruel?than she could have imagined.

This remarkable debut novel
will captivate readers from the very first line. Coo examines
the bonds that make us family, the possibilities of love, and the importance of
being true to yourself. Fans of Katherine Applegate, Kate DiCamillo, and
Barbara O'Connor will devour this extraordinary story.

Features
black-and-white spot art throughout.

Review Quotes

"A heartwarming story of finding family . . . A unique approach to adjusting to a new culture and language . . . Coo is endearingly strange, and her perception of the human world is fresh and humorous." - Booklist

"Coo made my spirit soar. An unforgettable story of friendship, love, and finding your flock." - Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Medal-winning author of Hello, Universe

"The story conveys powerful messages about love and friendship, compassion and belonging. . . . Noel has written a debut replete with hope, humor, and heart." - Publishers Weekly

"Noel builds an immersive pigeon culture. . . [and] offers a movie-worthy climax . . . [A] story that will appeal to a wide range of readers." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

"[A] whimsical, wonderful debut . . . Readers will lose themselves in this high-flying story of friendship and home." - BookPage.com (starred review)