A Bird Will Soar

I learned about A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers because it won the Schneider Family Book Award (for children's books with a character with a disability). The book description reads, "Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far and not come home—a fact Axel wishes his mother understood. Deep down, Axel knows that his mother is like an osprey—the best of all bird mothers—but it’s hard to remember that when she worries and keeps secrets about important things. His dad is more like a wild turkey, coming and going as he pleases. His dad’s latest disappearance is the biggest mystery of all. Despite all this, Axel loves his life—especially the time he spends with his friends observing the eagles’ nest in the woods near his home. But when a tornado damages not only Axel’s home but the eagles’ nest, Axel’s life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly his dad is back to help repair the damage, and Axel has to manage his dad’s presence and his beloved birds’ absence. Plus, his mom seems to be keeping even more secrets. But Axel knows another important fact: an eagle’s instincts let it soar. Axel must trust his own instincts to help heal his family and the nest he loves."

This was a nice story. I really liked Axel and his relationship with the animal rescue doctor, his friend Daniel, and his neighbors. I also liked seeing how Axel managed having autism and all the abilities he had despite having that diagnosis. The book was a little slow for me, and it took me awhile to get through it--but I liked it enough that I wanted to finish it. The book taught some valuable lessons to adults about how kids want to have important things explained to them rather than being left in the dark.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was ok)