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The Secret Language of Birds
From the award-winning author of Song for a Whale comes a poignant and heartwarming tale about a girl who discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes of her summer camp...and the secret plan she hatches to help them.
Nina is used to feeling like the odd one out, both at school and in her large family. But while trying to fit in at summer camp, she discovers something even more two majestic birds have built a nest in the marsh behind an abandoned infirmary. They appear to be whooping cranes, but that’s impossible—Nina is an amateur bird-watcher, and all her resources tell her that those rare birds haven’t nested in Texas for over a hundred years.
When Nina reports the sighting to wildlife officials, more questions arise. Experts track all the endangered birds, but they can’t identify the female bird that Nina found. Who is she, and where did she come from?
With the help of some fellow campers, Nina sets out to discover who the mystery bird really is. As she gets closer to the truth, will she find a flock of her own?
This instant classic from award-winning author Lynne Kelly captures the coming-of-age moment of learning to spread your wings in a way you'll never forget.
Nina is used to feeling like the odd one out, both at school and in her large family. But while trying to fit in at summer camp, she discovers something even more two majestic birds have built a nest in the marsh behind an abandoned infirmary. They appear to be whooping cranes, but that’s impossible—Nina is an amateur bird-watcher, and all her resources tell her that those rare birds haven’t nested in Texas for over a hundred years.
When Nina reports the sighting to wildlife officials, more questions arise. Experts track all the endangered birds, but they can’t identify the female bird that Nina found. Who is she, and where did she come from?
With the help of some fellow campers, Nina sets out to discover who the mystery bird really is. As she gets closer to the truth, will she find a flock of her own?
This instant classic from award-winning author Lynne Kelly captures the coming-of-age moment of learning to spread your wings in a way you'll never forget.
240 pages, Library Binding
First published April 9, 2024
About the author
Lynne Kelly
4 books354 followersLynne Kelly's career as a sign language interpreter has taken her everywhere from classrooms to hospitals to Alaskan cruises. Today, she lives near Houston, Texas with her adorable dogs, Abigail and Eloise. Her 2019 novel SONG FOR A WHALE, about a deaf girl named Iris who forms an unlikely bond with the “loneliest whale in the world,” has been described as “finely crafted,” “important,” and “uplifting” by reviewers from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. SONG FOR A WHALE received the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award and was named one of the best books of the year by New York Public Library.
Her next novel, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF BIRDS, will be released in April 2024.
Her next novel, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF BIRDS, will be released in April 2024.
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April 11, 2024Our first-person POV is Nina, thirteen, a tough year even when a person doesn't feel like the odd one in the middle of a boisterous family and at a boisterous school.
Nina tends to obsess about odd things, or what others consider odd. Her mother, in a desperate attempt to corral all that bursting emotion, manages Nina's life, and sends her to the summer camp run by her aunt, though promising she can return at once if she doesn't like it.
When Nina discovers a Cause in a nest of rare whooping cranes, and some actual friends, the story just soars. I just loved this tale--the heart, the observations, the care about animals. I wish this book had been around when I was an oddball Nina's age.
A must for those middle-school readers in a desperate search for someone like themselves.
Nina tends to obsess about odd things, or what others consider odd. Her mother, in a desperate attempt to corral all that bursting emotion, manages Nina's life, and sends her to the summer camp run by her aunt, though promising she can return at once if she doesn't like it.
When Nina discovers a Cause in a nest of rare whooping cranes, and some actual friends, the story just soars. I just loved this tale--the heart, the observations, the care about animals. I wish this book had been around when I was an oddball Nina's age.
A must for those middle-school readers in a desperate search for someone like themselves.
March 20, 2024
I loved this book!
Nina doesn’t feel like she really fits in anywhere. Not at school, nor with her large family, with whom she sometimes gets literally overlooked. Nina’s great passion is birdwatching, and her enthusiasm for it sometimes gets her in trouble with people who don’t understand when she gets excited. When Nina is offered a chance to spend the summer at her Aunt Audrey’s camp for girls, she jumps at it. Birdwatching to her heart’s content! Her experiences lead her to some wonderful surprises, and also to discoveries about herself and her place in the world…
A must-read for anyone who has ever felt like a “cuckoo chick in the wrong nest”, and wondered if they will ever really fit in, anywhere.
*Loved the shout-out to Buc-ee’s , a haven that any true Texan is familiar with!*
Nina doesn’t feel like she really fits in anywhere. Not at school, nor with her large family, with whom she sometimes gets literally overlooked. Nina’s great passion is birdwatching, and her enthusiasm for it sometimes gets her in trouble with people who don’t understand when she gets excited. When Nina is offered a chance to spend the summer at her Aunt Audrey’s camp for girls, she jumps at it. Birdwatching to her heart’s content! Her experiences lead her to some wonderful surprises, and also to discoveries about herself and her place in the world…
A must-read for anyone who has ever felt like a “cuckoo chick in the wrong nest”, and wondered if they will ever really fit in, anywhere.
*Loved the shout-out to Buc-ee’s , a haven that any true Texan is familiar with!*
January 24, 2024
This is the story of a family which begins with a somewhat unfortunate event, but overall this is a story of their daughter Nina and her Aunt, and the Camp which her Aunt owns. It is the summer that she decides to go to spend her summer at the camp. A summer that changes everything for her, and changes her, as well.
Nina is a bit of a loner, although she has tried to make friends at school, she seems to feel as though she doesn’t really fit in anywhere. She loves nature, especially birds. Her first few days and nights, she begins to get to know some of the girls at camp, but she still doesn’t feel comfortable with them - yet. A few of the older girls make fun of her for her knowledge of birds and label her with a new nickname - Wikipedia. After a while, a few of the girls she’s been getting to know convince her to go with them, a tradition that has been passed down, to go to ‘Josephine’s infirmary’ on the first full moon.
Once there, they check around the building, getting ready to add their names to the wall, when Nina’s flashlight landed on something tall and white outside, and Nina reacts by dropping the flashlight, which has all the girls gasping in reaction. When Nina picks up her flashlight pointing it in the same direction, whatever it was, it was still standing there, and a sharp screech pierced the night.
This is aimed at Middle School readers, but is an enjoyable read for all ages, and while I am not giving any clues as to what follows, the twist it takes is a sweet one, and it begins to give Nina an idea to follow, and so she does, and in many ways, it changes the way she views others, as well as herself.
Pub Date: 09 April 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press
March 12, 2024
It's no secret that after a more intense reading experience I tend to gravitate toward something to clean my literary palate. Award-winning author Lynne Kelly's "The Secret Language of Birds" has been just such an experience, a beautifully told story that warms the heart and captivates the mind with equal vigor.
The story centers around Nina, an oddball of sorts in both her large family and at school. Attempting to sort some things out, she decides to spend part of her Summer at her aunt Audrey's summer camp to the shock and slight dismay of her loving but somewhat detached parents.
Initially intending this to be merely a brief deviation from her Summer routine, Nina finds herself drawn toward a unique group of girls where it would seem she's just a little bit less odd. One night, they follow the camp tradition of heading out to investigate an allegedly haunted infirmary and thus begins a remarkably tender story once she discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes behind the old, abandoned infirmary. Already an amateur birdwatcher herself, Nina suspects they're whooping cranes, though that seems impossible since whooping cranes haven't been seen in these parts for years.
Our story turns into a myriad of wonderful little branches to this literary tree. "The Secret Language of Birds" is part mystery, part coming-of-age, part story about friendship and finding one's place and one's identity.
The characters here are vividly brought to life by Kelly, some before we even truly meet them. One can practically see this precious little camp with doting Audrey, curious campers, protective camp counselors, a haunted infirmary, Miss Odetta, and those wonderful and mysterious birds.
As a reader with disabilities, I even found myself completely enchanted by how intelligently and respectfully Kelly weaves a deaf character into the occasion and deals with the issue of inclusion.
There's so much beauty here that even as the closing pages were winding down I found myself wanting to read it all over again.
"The Secret Language of Birds" is one for the collection, a delightful middle-grade novel with believable characters and a story destined to become a classic. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and can't wait to read it all over again.
The story centers around Nina, an oddball of sorts in both her large family and at school. Attempting to sort some things out, she decides to spend part of her Summer at her aunt Audrey's summer camp to the shock and slight dismay of her loving but somewhat detached parents.
Initially intending this to be merely a brief deviation from her Summer routine, Nina finds herself drawn toward a unique group of girls where it would seem she's just a little bit less odd. One night, they follow the camp tradition of heading out to investigate an allegedly haunted infirmary and thus begins a remarkably tender story once she discovers a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs in the marshes behind the old, abandoned infirmary. Already an amateur birdwatcher herself, Nina suspects they're whooping cranes, though that seems impossible since whooping cranes haven't been seen in these parts for years.
Our story turns into a myriad of wonderful little branches to this literary tree. "The Secret Language of Birds" is part mystery, part coming-of-age, part story about friendship and finding one's place and one's identity.
The characters here are vividly brought to life by Kelly, some before we even truly meet them. One can practically see this precious little camp with doting Audrey, curious campers, protective camp counselors, a haunted infirmary, Miss Odetta, and those wonderful and mysterious birds.
As a reader with disabilities, I even found myself completely enchanted by how intelligently and respectfully Kelly weaves a deaf character into the occasion and deals with the issue of inclusion.
There's so much beauty here that even as the closing pages were winding down I found myself wanting to read it all over again.
"The Secret Language of Birds" is one for the collection, a delightful middle-grade novel with believable characters and a story destined to become a classic. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and can't wait to read it all over again.
April 4, 2024
I read this second book by Lynne Kelly several years after reading Song for a Whale, and I was pleasantly surprised that she chose to have this protagonist drawn to animals, as well.
Nina, the middle child of five, a bit of an odd duck in her family and at school, accidentally gets left behind at a Buc-ees on a family trip. That incident sparked an interest in birds, and she takes to watching them at home, adding a bird app to her phone to help her identify birds by their songs. Her parents support her interest, ordering a trail cam for the yard so she can see what they do when she’s not around.
As her parents start to plan her summer for her, Nina is encouraged by her older sister to spend time somewhere where she’d fit in more, like at her Aunt Audrey’s summer camp. Nina thinks being outside in nature would be something she’d enjoy and her aunt is thrilled to have her visit.
At camp, Nina slowly makes friends with a group of girls who refer to themselves as the Oddballs, and their welcoming her into their group makes her (and them) feel a little less unusual.
On the night of the first full moon, there's a tradition at camp where the older students get everyone to visit the abandoned and haunted old infirmary. A girl named Josephine died many years before and they claim she haunts it. Outside the cabin, Nina drops her flashlight; she and her friends see something white off in the distance and hear a loud shriek. Ghosts, of course!
Nina wonders about what she saw, leading her back to the cabin in the daylight, where she realizes that whooping cranes are nesting nearby. But cranes don’t live in Texas any longer. With the help of the Oddballs and some equipment, the girls monitor the whooping cranes and their nest daily.
Their observations lead them to dig deeper, reconnecting her with an old "friend" and introducing her to scientists who monitor whooping cranes around the country.
I liked that Nina came into her own with a group of girls who enjoyed each other’s company and that these friends were equally committed to helping her monitor the cranes’ activities. I especially liked that Nina reconnected with Iris, from A Song for a Whale. That connection should make your students want to read that book, too. Different perspectives on their relationship! It would be fun to have a discussion with students after they'd read both books.
This is a sweet coming-of-age story about a kid who feels like she doesn’t fit in. I would recommend it to middle-grade teachers and librarians.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the author for letting me read an early copy. The book comes out next week.
Nina, the middle child of five, a bit of an odd duck in her family and at school, accidentally gets left behind at a Buc-ees on a family trip. That incident sparked an interest in birds, and she takes to watching them at home, adding a bird app to her phone to help her identify birds by their songs. Her parents support her interest, ordering a trail cam for the yard so she can see what they do when she’s not around.
As her parents start to plan her summer for her, Nina is encouraged by her older sister to spend time somewhere where she’d fit in more, like at her Aunt Audrey’s summer camp. Nina thinks being outside in nature would be something she’d enjoy and her aunt is thrilled to have her visit.
At camp, Nina slowly makes friends with a group of girls who refer to themselves as the Oddballs, and their welcoming her into their group makes her (and them) feel a little less unusual.
On the night of the first full moon, there's a tradition at camp where the older students get everyone to visit the abandoned and haunted old infirmary. A girl named Josephine died many years before and they claim she haunts it. Outside the cabin, Nina drops her flashlight; she and her friends see something white off in the distance and hear a loud shriek. Ghosts, of course!
Nina wonders about what she saw, leading her back to the cabin in the daylight, where she realizes that whooping cranes are nesting nearby. But cranes don’t live in Texas any longer. With the help of the Oddballs and some equipment, the girls monitor the whooping cranes and their nest daily.
Their observations lead them to dig deeper, reconnecting her with an old "friend" and introducing her to scientists who monitor whooping cranes around the country.
I liked that Nina came into her own with a group of girls who enjoyed each other’s company and that these friends were equally committed to helping her monitor the cranes’ activities. I especially liked that Nina reconnected with Iris, from A Song for a Whale. That connection should make your students want to read that book, too. Different perspectives on their relationship! It would be fun to have a discussion with students after they'd read both books.
This is a sweet coming-of-age story about a kid who feels like she doesn’t fit in. I would recommend it to middle-grade teachers and librarians.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the author for letting me read an early copy. The book comes out next week.
April 17, 2024
I loved Lynne Kelly’s debut “Song for a Whale” and loved her new book as well. Having Iris cameo in this one was so fun!
Kelly’s writing is easy, flowing, and full of empathy. From the first chapter, my heart was with Nina and I related to her struggles of feeling unseen. As a middle child and kind of socially awkward, I understood her desire to belong but also the ability to be by yourself. Her ‘Oddball’ gang accepted each other’s quirks and they were wonderful friends.
The summer camp setting was really fun and I loved every moment of the camp experiences. I actually would’ve loved a bit more of the girls’ interactions during camp and more than just their experiences with the cranes. The one scene of the girls talking about animal and human nipples and boobs felt a bit weird for a Middle Grade, but I guess girls do talk about that too haha. I also appreciated Aunty Audrey and her choosing a life outside of the expected norm but that matched her personality and values.
I’m not really a bird person, but this story made me appreciate the diversity and nuances of birds! Now I know a lot about whooping cranes! Overall, a sweet story about a girl finding her people and highlighting some birds!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic advance reader copy! All opinions are my own.
Kelly’s writing is easy, flowing, and full of empathy. From the first chapter, my heart was with Nina and I related to her struggles of feeling unseen. As a middle child and kind of socially awkward, I understood her desire to belong but also the ability to be by yourself. Her ‘Oddball’ gang accepted each other’s quirks and they were wonderful friends.
The summer camp setting was really fun and I loved every moment of the camp experiences. I actually would’ve loved a bit more of the girls’ interactions during camp and more than just their experiences with the cranes. The one scene of the girls talking about animal and human nipples and boobs felt a bit weird for a Middle Grade, but I guess girls do talk about that too haha. I also appreciated Aunty Audrey and her choosing a life outside of the expected norm but that matched her personality and values.
I’m not really a bird person, but this story made me appreciate the diversity and nuances of birds! Now I know a lot about whooping cranes! Overall, a sweet story about a girl finding her people and highlighting some birds!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic advance reader copy! All opinions are my own.
April 6, 2024
I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in while on a plane trip. Nina's character is especially for anyone who has ever felt like the odd duck or the cuckoo chick in another's nest. She is the middle child in a loud and boisterous family, and her tendency to become impassioned about things (especially birds) sometimes gets her into trouble or gets her made fun of. When her older sister suggests that she attend summer camp with her aunt (who is often talked about by her parents with frowns), she takes time to consider and decides she wants to go.
Without getting into the details of the story (you should just read it), she goes to the camp and is immediately welcomed by her aunt Audrey, and later by three girls who call themselves the Oddballs. While she initially struggles with homesickness, when she discovers a rare bird, she is motivated to stay and help them. Throughout the process, she discovers her talents and strengths, and a place where she belongs.
I loved everything about this book. Nina makes mistakes, but she also learns from them. She discovers kinship with other people, and she learns that she doesn't have to be like her family for them to love her and vice versa. While this story is about an "oddball" who finds her place, I also loved how the author included a deaf character with thoughtfulness and compassion. One of the conversations Nina has with this character moved me to tears and made me think the author has experience with the hard-of-hearing community. As an aside, I looked her up after reading the book and learned she has been a special education teacher and now works as a sign language interpreter.
This was a coming-of-age story that was geared to middle school students, but I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to readers of all ages.
I received an advance review copy from Netgalley and the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Without getting into the details of the story (you should just read it), she goes to the camp and is immediately welcomed by her aunt Audrey, and later by three girls who call themselves the Oddballs. While she initially struggles with homesickness, when she discovers a rare bird, she is motivated to stay and help them. Throughout the process, she discovers her talents and strengths, and a place where she belongs.
I loved everything about this book. Nina makes mistakes, but she also learns from them. She discovers kinship with other people, and she learns that she doesn't have to be like her family for them to love her and vice versa. While this story is about an "oddball" who finds her place, I also loved how the author included a deaf character with thoughtfulness and compassion. One of the conversations Nina has with this character moved me to tears and made me think the author has experience with the hard-of-hearing community. As an aside, I looked her up after reading the book and learned she has been a special education teacher and now works as a sign language interpreter.
This was a coming-of-age story that was geared to middle school students, but I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to readers of all ages.
I received an advance review copy from Netgalley and the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 19, 2024
Nina has a passion for birding. She is the middle child of a large family and often feels ignored and alone. She has trouble making friends at school, stumbling over words and intentions. But birding makes her feel special and in control. When she attends a summer camp run by her Aunt Audrey, she makes an amazing discovery: a pair of whooping cranes have nested in the marsh. Whooping cranes are extremely endangered and haven't nested in Texas for a hundred years. Along with her new camp friends, Nina tracks and researches whooping cranes, eagerly waiting to see the new hatchling.
The characters are a bit flat and Nina's friendship with Iris feels obsessive. But the story is entertaining and informative. Fans of A Song for a Whale will enjoy the connection to Iris's story. Readers who enjoy nature and animal stories will enjoy this one.
The characters are a bit flat and Nina's friendship with Iris feels obsessive. But the story is entertaining and informative. Fans of A Song for a Whale will enjoy the connection to Iris's story. Readers who enjoy nature and animal stories will enjoy this one.
February 29, 2024
I read this book out loud to my eleven-year-old daugher, and we were both wholly invested after the first page. Any book that starts with a Buc-ee's scene is a good one in my opinion. I introduced my daughter to Buc-ees (and Texas) last spring, and she loved being able to relate to the setting. Really, the book just kept getting better and better from there.
Nina is a middle child of a busy, big family. She feels forgotten (with good reason, because she did get left at Buc-ees), and senses a need for a change in her life. When her older sister explains to her the idea of zugunruhe, which is the German word for the way birds feel the need to migrate. Nina decides to give in to her own sense of zugunruhe (such a fun word and concept) and asks if she can spend the summer with her Aunt Audrey at a sleep-away camp in Bee Holler, Texas. At first she intends to stay only a few weeks, but soon she finds a reason to stay: the discovery of two endangered whooping cranes in a nearby marsh.
This book is an incredible coming-of-age story, with heart and excitement. The friendships and characters will make you want to settle in and stay at camp in Bee Holler along with Nina. Although I hadn't read the first of Lynne Kelly's books, Song For a Whale, my daughter had (and she highly recommended it, I just hadn't gotten around to reading it). Her love for Song For A Whale was what led me to this request book and I'm so grateful to have had the experience of reading this one along with her. When the main character of that book, Iris, made an appearance in The Secret Language of Birds, my daughter pulled the book off the shelf and reread it. These are the kinds of books I wish for her--ones that teach her something, make her think, and inspire her to be a better friend and human.
100% highly recommend!
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Nina is a middle child of a busy, big family. She feels forgotten (with good reason, because she did get left at Buc-ees), and senses a need for a change in her life. When her older sister explains to her the idea of zugunruhe, which is the German word for the way birds feel the need to migrate. Nina decides to give in to her own sense of zugunruhe (such a fun word and concept) and asks if she can spend the summer with her Aunt Audrey at a sleep-away camp in Bee Holler, Texas. At first she intends to stay only a few weeks, but soon she finds a reason to stay: the discovery of two endangered whooping cranes in a nearby marsh.
This book is an incredible coming-of-age story, with heart and excitement. The friendships and characters will make you want to settle in and stay at camp in Bee Holler along with Nina. Although I hadn't read the first of Lynne Kelly's books, Song For a Whale, my daughter had (and she highly recommended it, I just hadn't gotten around to reading it). Her love for Song For A Whale was what led me to this request book and I'm so grateful to have had the experience of reading this one along with her. When the main character of that book, Iris, made an appearance in The Secret Language of Birds, my daughter pulled the book off the shelf and reread it. These are the kinds of books I wish for her--ones that teach her something, make her think, and inspire her to be a better friend and human.
100% highly recommend!
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.
April 16, 2024
Nina feels out of place in the world. She has a fascination with birds that no one seems to share, and she can't seem to make any friends. All of this changes when she helps out at her aunt's summer camp. There she and a small group of oddball girls discover a pair of endangered birds about to lay eggs- something they haven't done in the area for 100 years. Nina and her new friends make it their mission to keep the birds a secret and make sure the eggs hatch.
I was drawn to this book because, like Nina, I was obsessed with animals as 13-year-old. And, like Nina, I too would spout out random facts and be met with reactions similar to Nina's peers. Being 13 is not easy, navigating social norms- and whether or not you want to follow them- is not easy. This book does a good job exploring that. I was so happy when Nina found the Oddballs - a group where she can be herself.
I also liked that we see how Nina has grown from Song for a Whale - Lynne Kelly's other book. Nina comes off as insensitive in that book, and this book acknowledges that while also explaining her actions and thoughts. This book expands on Nina's friendship with Iris and gives it hope for a second chance.
The only criticism I have is the pacing and the (lack) consequences to the Oddballs choices. I wanted to get to know Nina's life a bit more and her relationships- both with campers, staff, and her family. And once the Oddballs secret is reviled, I would have liked a longer exploration of their relationship with Aunt Audrey. They deliberately kept information from her, and while their reasoning for why is understandable, I think there could have been a couple more scenes of the girls gaining her trust back.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! It is very clear that Lynne Kelly cares for animals and also the discovery of self and wants to spread that onto young viewers.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to this book because, like Nina, I was obsessed with animals as 13-year-old. And, like Nina, I too would spout out random facts and be met with reactions similar to Nina's peers. Being 13 is not easy, navigating social norms- and whether or not you want to follow them- is not easy. This book does a good job exploring that. I was so happy when Nina found the Oddballs - a group where she can be herself.
I also liked that we see how Nina has grown from Song for a Whale - Lynne Kelly's other book. Nina comes off as insensitive in that book, and this book acknowledges that while also explaining her actions and thoughts. This book expands on Nina's friendship with Iris and gives it hope for a second chance.
The only criticism I have is the pacing and the (lack) consequences to the Oddballs choices. I wanted to get to know Nina's life a bit more and her relationships- both with campers, staff, and her family. And once the Oddballs secret is reviled, I would have liked a longer exploration of their relationship with Aunt Audrey. They deliberately kept information from her, and while their reasoning for why is understandable, I think there could have been a couple more scenes of the girls gaining her trust back.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! It is very clear that Lynne Kelly cares for animals and also the discovery of self and wants to spread that onto young viewers.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2024
When Nina was learning about fossils, in summer camp, she learned that there were some things that never fossilized. There are some things we don't know about, because nothing remains. This touched her so much, and made her so sad, that the family came up with a saying about being sad “Fossil sad”.
Years later, when her parents want her to go away for the summer, they send her to her eclectic aunt, who owns a summer camp. Her mother says she can come home early, if she must, but she finds “the oddballs” a group of girls who don’t fit in anywhere either.
And it is while she is out exploring one of the abandoned buildings at the camp, with her oddball group, that she discovers a pair of whooping cranes.
WhenI read the description of this book, I couldn’t figure out what the big deal was. Why was everyone giving it five star reviews? But that is because I didn’t realize it was not just that she found the cranes, but that she felt a bonding with them, as well as with Josephine, the girl who was in the now abandoned building, and carved a whooping crane she observed 100 years ago, into the wooden wall.
I loved this book because Nina starts off odd-ball, and remains that way. There is no changing her. The growth is in learning about how to work well with others, as they keep a journal about the cranes. And her Aunt, who is also a bit of an odd ball as well, doesn’t have to change to be who she grew up to be either.
We don't all have to fit in boxes to grow. And neither does Nina. This was a really good book, and I had trouble putting it down.
This book came out in April, but I got it as an ARC, so thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Years later, when her parents want her to go away for the summer, they send her to her eclectic aunt, who owns a summer camp. Her mother says she can come home early, if she must, but she finds “the oddballs” a group of girls who don’t fit in anywhere either.
And it is while she is out exploring one of the abandoned buildings at the camp, with her oddball group, that she discovers a pair of whooping cranes.
WhenI read the description of this book, I couldn’t figure out what the big deal was. Why was everyone giving it five star reviews? But that is because I didn’t realize it was not just that she found the cranes, but that she felt a bonding with them, as well as with Josephine, the girl who was in the now abandoned building, and carved a whooping crane she observed 100 years ago, into the wooden wall.
I loved this book because Nina starts off odd-ball, and remains that way. There is no changing her. The growth is in learning about how to work well with others, as they keep a journal about the cranes. And her Aunt, who is also a bit of an odd ball as well, doesn’t have to change to be who she grew up to be either.
We don't all have to fit in boxes to grow. And neither does Nina. This was a really good book, and I had trouble putting it down.
This book came out in April, but I got it as an ARC, so thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
April 29, 2024
Hang onto your middle grade hearts. Lynne Kelly’s The Secret of Language of Birds will likely be at the top of your middle grade favorites list. This book is all the things we want a middle grade novel to be: interesting, exciting, relatable and full of characters that we can connect with and root for. Nina goes all in on her hobbies AND her emotions, something to be admired, but that can also get her into a bit of hot water. Her love of bird-watching fills her cup but sometimes makes her feel out of place. But when she heads to her Aunt Audrey’s summer camp, she starts to feel like she can finally belong…with people AND with birds. What started out as a nighttime camp ritual to visit a haunted infirmary ends up being the discovery of a lifetime. This book is for anyone with big emotions, an intense interest and who is trying his or her best to learn in all sorts of ways. I LOVED this book.
April 17, 2024
A young girl who struggles to fit in anywhere finds passion in bird watching and tries to help a pair of endangered birds she stumbles upon. Reminded me of HOOT and many of Hiaasen’s books in helping animals. Kelly has a great way with words and she knows how to keep the complexities of relationships and emotions at the forefront of her characters motivations. It’s lovely to read a book showing young girls interest in Nature and Sciences.
We get a glimpse at her previous book’s character, Iris, but not in a way which is reliant on having read SONG FOR A WHALE (though if you have - you will enjoy the involvement and added pieces of the story Nina shares)
I adore Kelly’s writing. This was the first book I was actively looking forward to this year and I tore through it. Highly recommend for all ages.
We get a glimpse at her previous book’s character, Iris, but not in a way which is reliant on having read SONG FOR A WHALE (though if you have - you will enjoy the involvement and added pieces of the story Nina shares)
I adore Kelly’s writing. This was the first book I was actively looking forward to this year and I tore through it. Highly recommend for all ages.
May 13, 2024
I love reading YA lit, and this book was a sweet surprise! There are two things I have learned to love since moving to Texas: Buc-ees (iykyk) and birding. This book made me feel like a true Texan because I understood and appreciated all the references about the state and its birds. I also would have loved to read this with MS girls when I was teaching ... Nina's migration from an anxious loner to a steadfast friend is like reading a masterclass in how to make friends and get out of your own head. Loved it!!
Shelved as '2024-nomination-eligible'
March 31, 2024Another lead from @TheNextGenLibrarian https://www.goodreads.com/read_status...
January 24, 2024
“Here’s something else about cuckoo eggs: sometimes the parents notice a new egg that doesn’t look like the others, and they throw it out of the nest. Maybe that cuckoo egg kind of looks like their own, but it’s obvious it doesn’t belong there.” (ARC 53)
Nina is not very good at making friends. She is convinced that a neighbor (who just happens to be Iris from SONG FOR A WHALE) moved to a new school because of her awkward attempts to become friends at school, being overly-pushing when trying to communicate in sign language. She also doesn’t feel a fit in her family of six. In fact, stopping at Buc-ee’s on the way home from a family trip, when she stepped outside to follow a mockingbird who appeared to be singing her name, her parents and siblings drove away without Nina in the car. It took one of the toddler twins to notice her absence.
After that day Nina develops a strong interest in birds, adding a bird app on her phone, ordering a trail cam for the yard, and looking for and identifying birds and their songs. Then her older sister suggests that, instead of letting her mother choose her summer activities as usual, Nina attend their Aunt Audrey’s summer camp. “There must be something else out there for you, somewhere else you’re supposed to be.” (ARC 17)
Nina goes to the camp to help her aunt and the staff and take part in the activities, and there she meets three girls—the only new 13-14-year-old campers. “’We’re sort of the leftover cabin,’ said Emma.…’Seems like everyone else already know each other, right?’” (ARC 41-42) They have named their cabin the Oddballs and are more than happy to include Nina in their activities and also in their cabin whenever she chooses to stay there, making her feel “a little less like a mismatched cuckoo egg.” (ARC 69)
Each summer the oldest campers perform the annual nighttime tradition of visiting the haunted infirmary cabin where, 100 years earlier, a camper named Josephine was quarantined with TB and died, her only the companions the marsh birds and animals she watched through the window and drew on the walls. When the girls see her “ghost,” they all run, but Nina realizes it is a large white bird, possibly a whooping crane, but whooping cranes don’t live in their area. Throughout the camping season, Georgie, Emma, Ant, and Nina visit the old infirmary daily, filming the bird and its companion and observing their nest, which may contain an egg, on behalf of Odetta of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. One bird is tagged with a leg band and is a surprise discovery, but the female bird is a complete mystery. “This was bigger than seeing a whooping crane. I’d found two whooping cranes, and they had a nest.” (ARC 99)
Nina and her new friends, with the remote technological help of Iris, finally identify the mystery bird proving her sister’s theory that “Part of our brain is that same as a bird’s, right? [Zugunruhe is] in there somewhere, telling us we need to leave, that there’s somewhere else we’re supposed to be.” (ARC 16) This is where and when Nina was meant to be.
Nina is not very good at making friends. She is convinced that a neighbor (who just happens to be Iris from SONG FOR A WHALE) moved to a new school because of her awkward attempts to become friends at school, being overly-pushing when trying to communicate in sign language. She also doesn’t feel a fit in her family of six. In fact, stopping at Buc-ee’s on the way home from a family trip, when she stepped outside to follow a mockingbird who appeared to be singing her name, her parents and siblings drove away without Nina in the car. It took one of the toddler twins to notice her absence.
After that day Nina develops a strong interest in birds, adding a bird app on her phone, ordering a trail cam for the yard, and looking for and identifying birds and their songs. Then her older sister suggests that, instead of letting her mother choose her summer activities as usual, Nina attend their Aunt Audrey’s summer camp. “There must be something else out there for you, somewhere else you’re supposed to be.” (ARC 17)
Nina goes to the camp to help her aunt and the staff and take part in the activities, and there she meets three girls—the only new 13-14-year-old campers. “’We’re sort of the leftover cabin,’ said Emma.…’Seems like everyone else already know each other, right?’” (ARC 41-42) They have named their cabin the Oddballs and are more than happy to include Nina in their activities and also in their cabin whenever she chooses to stay there, making her feel “a little less like a mismatched cuckoo egg.” (ARC 69)
Each summer the oldest campers perform the annual nighttime tradition of visiting the haunted infirmary cabin where, 100 years earlier, a camper named Josephine was quarantined with TB and died, her only the companions the marsh birds and animals she watched through the window and drew on the walls. When the girls see her “ghost,” they all run, but Nina realizes it is a large white bird, possibly a whooping crane, but whooping cranes don’t live in their area. Throughout the camping season, Georgie, Emma, Ant, and Nina visit the old infirmary daily, filming the bird and its companion and observing their nest, which may contain an egg, on behalf of Odetta of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. One bird is tagged with a leg band and is a surprise discovery, but the female bird is a complete mystery. “This was bigger than seeing a whooping crane. I’d found two whooping cranes, and they had a nest.” (ARC 99)
Nina and her new friends, with the remote technological help of Iris, finally identify the mystery bird proving her sister’s theory that “Part of our brain is that same as a bird’s, right? [Zugunruhe is] in there somewhere, telling us we need to leave, that there’s somewhere else we’re supposed to be.” (ARC 16) This is where and when Nina was meant to be.
April 2, 2024
Lynne Kelly's The Secret Language of Birds is an ideal summer read, with friendship, mystery, summer camp, friendships new and old, and maybe even a ghost.
Nina often feels like she doesn't fit. Not at school, where she struggles to make friends. Not at home, where she feels largely forgettable in her large family. Not at any of the day camps her mom has pushed on her over the years. This year, instead of trying another hobby-based day camp where she doesn't feel good enough, Nina decides to go to her aunt's sleepaway camp. She can continue her amateur birding there, and maybe even make some friends. A rare bird sighting sends her and her potential new friends on a new course.
Kelly captures the difficulty of making friends in middle school, especially when one feels like they're too much. Nina is such a well developed character. Her moments of awkwardness and insecurity are relatable, as is the difficulty of sharing your special interest without overwhelming others. Nina's new friends, self-dubbed the Oddball Cabin due to their odd number, create a great friend group.
The whooping crane mystery will appeal to all the animal-loving readers, and may make more than a few start learning more about birds and birding in general.
As a parent, I really appreciate seeing kids do dangerous things safely. The representation of kids exploring their environment independently is wonderful, especially as the reader learns the counselors and Nina's aunt have created a safe space for them to do so. Kids need to take risks, and they need safe places to try new skills. Aunt Audrey's camp is the perfect setting for this reason and many more.
Nina's character arc includes a beautiful redemption as she learns to make amends and practices listening to others as she repairs and builds an older friendship.
The Secret Language of Birds is sure to delight young readers and adults alike with its likable characters, gorgeous setting, and engaging plot.
Thank you to the author, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for a digital ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
The Secret Language of Birds will be available April 9, 2024.
Nina often feels like she doesn't fit. Not at school, where she struggles to make friends. Not at home, where she feels largely forgettable in her large family. Not at any of the day camps her mom has pushed on her over the years. This year, instead of trying another hobby-based day camp where she doesn't feel good enough, Nina decides to go to her aunt's sleepaway camp. She can continue her amateur birding there, and maybe even make some friends. A rare bird sighting sends her and her potential new friends on a new course.
Kelly captures the difficulty of making friends in middle school, especially when one feels like they're too much. Nina is such a well developed character. Her moments of awkwardness and insecurity are relatable, as is the difficulty of sharing your special interest without overwhelming others. Nina's new friends, self-dubbed the Oddball Cabin due to their odd number, create a great friend group.
The whooping crane mystery will appeal to all the animal-loving readers, and may make more than a few start learning more about birds and birding in general.
As a parent, I really appreciate seeing kids do dangerous things safely. The representation of kids exploring their environment independently is wonderful, especially as the reader learns the counselors and Nina's aunt have created a safe space for them to do so. Kids need to take risks, and they need safe places to try new skills. Aunt Audrey's camp is the perfect setting for this reason and many more.
Nina's character arc includes a beautiful redemption as she learns to make amends and practices listening to others as she repairs and builds an older friendship.
The Secret Language of Birds is sure to delight young readers and adults alike with its likable characters, gorgeous setting, and engaging plot.
Thank you to the author, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for a digital ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
The Secret Language of Birds will be available April 9, 2024.
January 20, 2024
A beautiful cover that goes perfectly with a beautiful novel.
Nina always feels like she is forgotten (sometimes literary) or ignored in her big family. The parents are busy juggling the younger twins, an older daughter who is getting ready to go to college soon and has an interest in boys, and a son who sounds like a fun troublemaker. Still, her mom is a helicopter mom.
In this family, Nina is very muted and barely dares to talk about her passion for birds with others. She is attracted to nature and birds and finds them easier to relate to and understand than people. It's a realistic story, she just has a large empathy with birds.
She takes the opportunity to help Aunt Audrey in her camp welcoming campers during the summer. This will bring a lot of growth to Nina as a person but also give her confidence.
Nina discovered birds that haven't been seen in a while around that area and she wants to help protect them and keep their nest safe. She doesn't do this alone, first, she finds new friends who are as odd as her (in their opinion). Nina understands that to make friendships is not just the others who are mistakes towards us and is willing to improve herself as well.
They laugh together, they positively challenge each other, and are brave. Nina is loyal to them and nature. They reach out to a proper service that will include them in protecting the birds, and their circle extends to other new friends. A community connected to the love of birding and protecting nature.
It's very educational when it comes to birds, birds facts, terms such as Zugunruhe and its meaning, and journaling versus using an app for classifying in location. But the author also shows the relevance of technology that can be useful in keeping track of the birds for the birds' safety and collecting data.
We learn about Florence Merriam who wrote the first birding guide.
I recommend this book to all educators and librarians. A great book to have around.
Thank you, publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.
Nina always feels like she is forgotten (sometimes literary) or ignored in her big family. The parents are busy juggling the younger twins, an older daughter who is getting ready to go to college soon and has an interest in boys, and a son who sounds like a fun troublemaker. Still, her mom is a helicopter mom.
In this family, Nina is very muted and barely dares to talk about her passion for birds with others. She is attracted to nature and birds and finds them easier to relate to and understand than people. It's a realistic story, she just has a large empathy with birds.
She takes the opportunity to help Aunt Audrey in her camp welcoming campers during the summer. This will bring a lot of growth to Nina as a person but also give her confidence.
Nina discovered birds that haven't been seen in a while around that area and she wants to help protect them and keep their nest safe. She doesn't do this alone, first, she finds new friends who are as odd as her (in their opinion). Nina understands that to make friendships is not just the others who are mistakes towards us and is willing to improve herself as well.
They laugh together, they positively challenge each other, and are brave. Nina is loyal to them and nature. They reach out to a proper service that will include them in protecting the birds, and their circle extends to other new friends. A community connected to the love of birding and protecting nature.
It's very educational when it comes to birds, birds facts, terms such as Zugunruhe and its meaning, and journaling versus using an app for classifying in location. But the author also shows the relevance of technology that can be useful in keeping track of the birds for the birds' safety and collecting data.
We learn about Florence Merriam who wrote the first birding guide.
I recommend this book to all educators and librarians. A great book to have around.
Thank you, publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc.
April 2, 2024
Nina has always felt like the odd duck out. Making friends at school feels uncomfortable, and she can’t even make friends with the girl across the street. Nina questions her value in the world when her large family accidentally leaves her at a gas station.
The incident does spark her interest in birds, though, and her older sister, Sage, encourages Nina to try something new for the summer. When Nina’s parents agree to let her spend time at her Aunt Audrey’s summer camp, Nina can’t believe her good luck. Maybe.
Camp will involve campers and maybe the same problems she has during the school year. By the end of the first day, Nina wants to go home. But the girls in the Oddballs cabin invite her to join their group, and Nina decides to wait a few more days.
When Nina joins a midnight visit to the haunted infirmary, the rest of the girls run away when they see a ghost in the marsh. But Nina sees something even more startling—an endangered crane far from its usual home. Getting ditched by all the girls hurts, but finding an endangered bird might change her life. And then, to her surprise, the Oddballs come back to rescue her. Even better, they join in her quest to learn more about the crane—or is it cranes?
As Nina and the Oddballs work together to identify the large, ghostly-looking birds from the marsh, Nina learns the value of friendships and acceptance.
What I Loved About This Book
From the awkward heroine to the tidbits of history, I loved everything about Lynne Kelly’s new release, The Secret Language of Birds. Kelly weaves together ornithology, biology, citizen science, befriending a Deaf person, adventure, ghost stories, and a bit of summer camp charm into a comfy nest of a story.
Parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians will want to purchase (and read) this tale of adventure for the animal lovers in their lives. Look no further if you’re looking for storybooks about conservation, endangered species, and learning to embrace differences.
The incident does spark her interest in birds, though, and her older sister, Sage, encourages Nina to try something new for the summer. When Nina’s parents agree to let her spend time at her Aunt Audrey’s summer camp, Nina can’t believe her good luck. Maybe.
Camp will involve campers and maybe the same problems she has during the school year. By the end of the first day, Nina wants to go home. But the girls in the Oddballs cabin invite her to join their group, and Nina decides to wait a few more days.
When Nina joins a midnight visit to the haunted infirmary, the rest of the girls run away when they see a ghost in the marsh. But Nina sees something even more startling—an endangered crane far from its usual home. Getting ditched by all the girls hurts, but finding an endangered bird might change her life. And then, to her surprise, the Oddballs come back to rescue her. Even better, they join in her quest to learn more about the crane—or is it cranes?
As Nina and the Oddballs work together to identify the large, ghostly-looking birds from the marsh, Nina learns the value of friendships and acceptance.
What I Loved About This Book
From the awkward heroine to the tidbits of history, I loved everything about Lynne Kelly’s new release, The Secret Language of Birds. Kelly weaves together ornithology, biology, citizen science, befriending a Deaf person, adventure, ghost stories, and a bit of summer camp charm into a comfy nest of a story.
Parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians will want to purchase (and read) this tale of adventure for the animal lovers in their lives. Look no further if you’re looking for storybooks about conservation, endangered species, and learning to embrace differences.
April 27, 2024
Nina doesn't fit in at school, where she has no friends, or in her large family. She's obsessed with birds and spends a lot of time on her apps, identifying birds and their calls. She was also obsessed with befriending a deaf girl at her school, but her over-enthusiasm and failure to pay attention to other peoples' signals drove the other girl away. Now it's summer in Texas, and Nina is going to spend the summer at her aunt's camp. She's not sure she'll want to stay, especially since she can't use her devices except in her aunt's house (I think); how will she identify birds? But she does make some friends in the self-identified "Oddballs" cabin, and it's thanks to their traditional midnight excursion to the abandoned infirmary by the marsh that Nina first sees the whooping cranes. They are majorly endangered and haven't been seen in that part of Texas for maybe 100 years. With the help of her new friends and the trail cam she brought, Nina is able to keep track of the cranes for the wildlife official they contacted in Louisiana. The only problem is...her aunt doesn't know Nina is regularly going to the out-of-bounds infirmary to observe and record the cranes. Nina knows how important it is to record the cranes, though, and she doesn't want to get the other girls in trouble, so she waits. And grows to love camp and her new friends.
This was sweet and earnest and filled with bird facts--but not too much for the casual reader. If anything, it will make them want to learn more about whooping cranes. I do wish there'd been a little more description of camp, because I don't have a good mental picture of what Texas countryside with marshland looks like, and of course maybe a bit more about the camp because I love camp. But the book was really about Nina recording the cranes and finding friends and learning how to be a good friend. Nothing terrible happens, which I always appreciate! Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
This was sweet and earnest and filled with bird facts--but not too much for the casual reader. If anything, it will make them want to learn more about whooping cranes. I do wish there'd been a little more description of camp, because I don't have a good mental picture of what Texas countryside with marshland looks like, and of course maybe a bit more about the camp because I love camp. But the book was really about Nina recording the cranes and finding friends and learning how to be a good friend. Nothing terrible happens, which I always appreciate! Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.
April 2, 2024
It’s official, Lynne Kelly is now an autobuy author for my school library. Her 2019 novel, 'Song for a Whale', is one of my favorites, and I was so excited to read her new book. I figured I’d really enjoy it but that it wouldn’t live up to her earlier book. After all, Whale is about a Deaf girl, sealife, multi-generational connections, and a trip to Alaska - some of my favorite things! There’s no way a book about a girl at camp who loves birds would be able to connect with my heart in the same way.
WRONG!
First of all, I audibly squealed when I realized that the new book is in the same world as my previous fave! One of my favorite tropes in MG lit is having a situation written from different POVs and opening the reader’s eyes to how varied our own perspectives can be, and that’s exactly what you see here. Nina was an annoying, cringey girl in the first book, but in 'Birds' we get to explore her experience and perspectives in a deep and meaningful way. I ended up adoring her and admiring so much of her character growth! This book can absolutely be read as a stand-alone, but Nina’s journey of self-awareness and empathy took on such a deeper meaning as a result of reading both books.
If someone asked me why I love Middle Grade books so much, this is a book I would hand over instead of trying to explain how powerful this genre is. This story explores family dynamics, new friendships, damaged relationships, mystery, nature, science, wonder, and technology, while telling an entertaining and emotional story. I loved this book so much, and I will be raving about it for a while!
WRONG!
First of all, I audibly squealed when I realized that the new book is in the same world as my previous fave! One of my favorite tropes in MG lit is having a situation written from different POVs and opening the reader’s eyes to how varied our own perspectives can be, and that’s exactly what you see here. Nina was an annoying, cringey girl in the first book, but in 'Birds' we get to explore her experience and perspectives in a deep and meaningful way. I ended up adoring her and admiring so much of her character growth! This book can absolutely be read as a stand-alone, but Nina’s journey of self-awareness and empathy took on such a deeper meaning as a result of reading both books.
If someone asked me why I love Middle Grade books so much, this is a book I would hand over instead of trying to explain how powerful this genre is. This story explores family dynamics, new friendships, damaged relationships, mystery, nature, science, wonder, and technology, while telling an entertaining and emotional story. I loved this book so much, and I will be raving about it for a while!
April 9, 2024
4.5 stars
Nina is a thirteen-year-old bird enthusiast, middle child, who is just looking for a place to fit in and feel like she belongs. All her efforts at making friends seem to blow up in her face because she gets so excited sometimes her brain can't stop her mouth. Near the end of 7th grade her sister suggests that she try something new over the summer. That's how Nina ends up at Camp Bee Holler for a month with her Aunt Audrey. There's she sticks out for not being a paying camper, but not being staff either. Luckily, she meets three other girls her age who are also first year campers, even though the camp takes kids as young as ten. Nina's excited to think that she might finally have found some friends, at least until an after-dark adventure leads her to discover a ghost, that might actually be a whooping crane nesting in Texas, where they haven't been seen for over one hundred years. Is it possible? Will her new friends think she's too weird if they find out about her obsession with birds? How can she tell Aunt Audrey about the birds safe when technically she only knows about them because of participating in an activity that was technically against camp rules? How can she keep them safe without Aunt Audrey's help?
This novel is part coming-of-age, part friendship, part adventure, and part mystery geared toward the middle grade reader and it was a quick, enjoyable, entertaining read. I recommend it for fans of birds and fans of middle grade lit. 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Nina is a thirteen-year-old bird enthusiast, middle child, who is just looking for a place to fit in and feel like she belongs. All her efforts at making friends seem to blow up in her face because she gets so excited sometimes her brain can't stop her mouth. Near the end of 7th grade her sister suggests that she try something new over the summer. That's how Nina ends up at Camp Bee Holler for a month with her Aunt Audrey. There's she sticks out for not being a paying camper, but not being staff either. Luckily, she meets three other girls her age who are also first year campers, even though the camp takes kids as young as ten. Nina's excited to think that she might finally have found some friends, at least until an after-dark adventure leads her to discover a ghost, that might actually be a whooping crane nesting in Texas, where they haven't been seen for over one hundred years. Is it possible? Will her new friends think she's too weird if they find out about her obsession with birds? How can she tell Aunt Audrey about the birds safe when technically she only knows about them because of participating in an activity that was technically against camp rules? How can she keep them safe without Aunt Audrey's help?
This novel is part coming-of-age, part friendship, part adventure, and part mystery geared toward the middle grade reader and it was a quick, enjoyable, entertaining read. I recommend it for fans of birds and fans of middle grade lit. 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2024
Another winner from Lynne Kelly! 13-year-old bird enthusiast Nina finds a remarkable discovery while attending her Aunt Audrey's summer camp: a pair of endangered whooping cranes nesting in a marsh by an abandoned (and supposedly haunted) infirmary on the property. The mystery deepens, as Nina must confirm the type of birds she think she's found, and where they might have come from, all while working behind her aunt's back to return to the infirmary and switch out the memory cards on the trail cam she sets up there. Thank goodness for the Oddballs, new friends she makes who become her eco-partners-in-crime. Other partnerships form with Iris, a deaf girl who transferred out of Nina's school and whom Nina would like to befriend, and Odetta and her team from Louisiana Fish and Wildlife, who are keen to find some missing whooping cranes in their tracking program; Odetta in particular is haunted by the presumed loss of four cranes years ago . . . could a past crime be connected to this new discovery? Kelly strikes the perfect balance of digital sleuthing and old-fashioned stakeouts and surveillance, aided by the trail cam and the the structure of the abandoned building that makes the perfect bird blind, keeping the humans out of view from the endangered cranes. The portrayal of community science as often exciting and just as often tedious (waiting, mistakes, unclear results, trying again) feels spot on, and the successes the girls experience make it all worthwhile even as questions remain. This story is a powerful reminder of how much there is to discover in nature if we're patient and paying attention.
January 31, 2024
Nina feels either invisible or so out of place that she wishes she was invisible. Her hobby of studying all things “bird” really sets her apart from others in her family and at school and she wonders if she’ll ever find a niche where she feels both comfortable and seen by those who understand and like her. Summer camp plans have always handled by her mom, but this year, with encouragement from her older sister, Nina asked to spend the summer with her Aunt Audrey, an outdoor enthusiast and camp owner/director, who is also seen as a bit different. Camp provides Nina with not only plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature but when she discovers a pair of nesting endangered whooping cranes who aren’t supposed to be in Texas, she discovers a sense of purpose and a group of girls who just might be that niche she’s been searching for. Readers from Texas will love all the references to places like Buc-ee’s and the best ice cream on the planet, Bluebell! Everyone will connect with Nina’s insecurities and hope for good friends. Great nature knowledge sprinkled liberally throughout a great story and fans of camera and phone tech will appreciate the inclusion of many tools used to identify individual cranes. Kelly’s descriptions of the marsh area and the nesting cranes are detailed and give ample material for ELA teachers. Excellent choice for grades 4-6. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Physical descriptions are limited as are any cultural references so race of characters is left to the imagination of the reader.
Thanks for the print arc, NetGalley.
Thanks for the print arc, NetGalley.
May 1, 2024
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.
Our main character is thirteen year old Nina, a quirky girl who often feels like an awkward outsider amongst her family and at school. She is into birding and doesn't always know how to interact with other kids despite her best efforts. Nina goes to spend the summer at her aunt's camp and discovers two whooping cranes have built a next in the marsh near an old, unused part of the camp. Nina is stunned because everything she's read tells her that whooping cranes haven't lived or nested in that part of Texas in over 100 years.
Nina tells her new friends, a trio of girls who've nicknamed themselves the Oddballs, and the four girls report the finding to wildlife officials, but not to anyone else at camp. Throughout the rest of the book, the group of girls monitors the cranes and their nest, reporting their findings as they go. The female crane is a mystery, even to wildlife officials, because she has no tracker or tags to indicate who she is. Everything comes to a head as the girls wait for the egg to hatch and Aunt Audrey finds out what they've been hiding.
This is a quick, easy read that kids will enjoy. The Oddballs are the perfect group of friends for Nina because they don't mind calling her out when she's being too much.
Initially, I thought the parts about Iris were out of place in the story, but they made more sense once Iris had a bigger role in the story.
Our main character is thirteen year old Nina, a quirky girl who often feels like an awkward outsider amongst her family and at school. She is into birding and doesn't always know how to interact with other kids despite her best efforts. Nina goes to spend the summer at her aunt's camp and discovers two whooping cranes have built a next in the marsh near an old, unused part of the camp. Nina is stunned because everything she's read tells her that whooping cranes haven't lived or nested in that part of Texas in over 100 years.
Nina tells her new friends, a trio of girls who've nicknamed themselves the Oddballs, and the four girls report the finding to wildlife officials, but not to anyone else at camp. Throughout the rest of the book, the group of girls monitors the cranes and their nest, reporting their findings as they go. The female crane is a mystery, even to wildlife officials, because she has no tracker or tags to indicate who she is. Everything comes to a head as the girls wait for the egg to hatch and Aunt Audrey finds out what they've been hiding.
This is a quick, easy read that kids will enjoy. The Oddballs are the perfect group of friends for Nina because they don't mind calling her out when she's being too much.
Initially, I thought the parts about Iris were out of place in the story, but they made more sense once Iris had a bigger role in the story.
March 31, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC!
By the author of Song For a Whale, here we follow Nina, a young and awkward teen who is the odd one out everywhere she goes and loves nature and birdwatching. One summer, encouraged by her older sister, she decides on a whim to attend the camp run by her "strange" aunt Audrey out in Bee Holler, Texas. While working to settle in with a ragtag group of new misfit friends, Nina makes an incredible discovery; a pair of whooping cranes, nesting in an abandoned part of the camp. Where did these birds come from, and does anyone know these rare animals are here? She spends the majority of her summer sneaking off to track the birds, attempting to discover the identity of the unknown and seemingly untracked half of the pair, while also trying to fit in and find a place for herself.
I loved getting this story for the character who played a side role in Song For a Whale. Having Iris cross over here made for some interesting character growth for Nina as well. While I think some aspects of this book would be a little "mature" for my fourth grade students (there is mention of a bra and boobs, so leaning a little more middle grade), I think this would be a really nice read for middle schoolers. The characters demonstrate testing boundaries (not in unsafe ways), finding their own paths, and staying true to themselves. Great message overall and great story!
By the author of Song For a Whale, here we follow Nina, a young and awkward teen who is the odd one out everywhere she goes and loves nature and birdwatching. One summer, encouraged by her older sister, she decides on a whim to attend the camp run by her "strange" aunt Audrey out in Bee Holler, Texas. While working to settle in with a ragtag group of new misfit friends, Nina makes an incredible discovery; a pair of whooping cranes, nesting in an abandoned part of the camp. Where did these birds come from, and does anyone know these rare animals are here? She spends the majority of her summer sneaking off to track the birds, attempting to discover the identity of the unknown and seemingly untracked half of the pair, while also trying to fit in and find a place for herself.
I loved getting this story for the character who played a side role in Song For a Whale. Having Iris cross over here made for some interesting character growth for Nina as well. While I think some aspects of this book would be a little "mature" for my fourth grade students (there is mention of a bra and boobs, so leaning a little more middle grade), I think this would be a really nice read for middle schoolers. The characters demonstrate testing boundaries (not in unsafe ways), finding their own paths, and staying true to themselves. Great message overall and great story!
March 21, 2024
The Secret Language of Birds is a fantastic coming-of-age story about a 13 year old girl named Nina. Nina's story begins when she accidentally gets left behind by her large family at a Buc-Ee's of all places! All turns out okay but this event kicks off Nina's obsession with birds!
Nina doesn't quite fit in with her family--she's an "odd duck" like her Aunt Audrey who runs a nature sleep away camp. Zugunruhe is a German word that tells birds it's time to migrate. And Nina does just that when she leaves home to spend the summer at camp with Aunt Audrey.
Nina is a character I think kids will relate to. She's smart and loves birds but struggles with fitting in and making friends. At camp, Nina meets other "oddball" kids like her--yes that's what they call themselves! Nina has an experience she'll never forget! She discovers a pair of nesting whooping cranes which turns out to be a very big deal as whooping cranes are an endangered species and haven't been spotted in Nina's native Texas in a long time. This is a story about friendship and family and taking chances. My 10 year old is loving this story too!
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Nina doesn't quite fit in with her family--she's an "odd duck" like her Aunt Audrey who runs a nature sleep away camp. Zugunruhe is a German word that tells birds it's time to migrate. And Nina does just that when she leaves home to spend the summer at camp with Aunt Audrey.
Nina is a character I think kids will relate to. She's smart and loves birds but struggles with fitting in and making friends. At camp, Nina meets other "oddball" kids like her--yes that's what they call themselves! Nina has an experience she'll never forget! She discovers a pair of nesting whooping cranes which turns out to be a very big deal as whooping cranes are an endangered species and haven't been spotted in Nina's native Texas in a long time. This is a story about friendship and family and taking chances. My 10 year old is loving this story too!
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 2, 2024
I read The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly because I loved a previous book by Lynne, Song For a Whale. If you haven’t read Song for a Whale, run!, don’t walk to get yourself a copy before you read The Secret Language of Birds. It doesn’t say in the blurb, but the main character in Song for a Whale is also in The Secret Language of Birds. It is a bit of a cameo part, but it does describe some of what happens in the Whale book, and it would have been a spoiler for me. All that to say both books are amazing and well worth reading.
The Secret Language of Birds takes place at a Texas summer camp for kids. Nina, the main character, is 12 and has always had a hard time making friends. She finds her people at the camp, and also is able to feed her passion for learning about birds. Namely, some rare birds for Texas, that seem to be whooping cranes. But that’s impossible - or is it? Lynne Kelly has written Nina’s character development throughout the book exceptionally well. As a retired teacher, I keep thinking how great this book would be for discussing character development with learners. Especially since they would love the story, and learn some science about birds along the way! Definitely a 5-star read, for everyone!
The Secret Language of Birds takes place at a Texas summer camp for kids. Nina, the main character, is 12 and has always had a hard time making friends. She finds her people at the camp, and also is able to feed her passion for learning about birds. Namely, some rare birds for Texas, that seem to be whooping cranes. But that’s impossible - or is it? Lynne Kelly has written Nina’s character development throughout the book exceptionally well. As a retired teacher, I keep thinking how great this book would be for discussing character development with learners. Especially since they would love the story, and learn some science about birds along the way! Definitely a 5-star read, for everyone!
April 2, 2024
I didn't read Song for A Whale before I dove into the gem. Now, I have added Song For a Whale to my must-read list. I loved this book on so many levels. I believe my students will connect with Nina. First, Nina is a Texas girl who doesn't stand out in her family or school. She gets lost in the mix a lot. She is the middle child in the middle of a busy family. They don't understand her love for birds. Being an awkward middle schooler who makes social mistakes is relatable for my students. Another connection point for me is that she is a Texas girl. There are places mentioned that are familiar to Texans. One of the cities mentioned is actually near my hometown. I even emailed the author to see if the facts presented about that town were works of fiction or actual facts. I love the mystery and the suspense. My heart raced when she and the Oddballs were sneaking around, even with good motives in mind. It teaches that good actions and motives should be paired together. I also thought her growing relationship with her aunt was another great story. I love that she reconnected with Iris and pulled her into this story. She uses Iris' talents and skills wonderfully. I hope there will be a follow-up book to this story.
April 6, 2024
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This was such a cute, sweet book. I read Song for a Whale and liked it, but I don’t remember liking it as much as I liked this one. I am always drawn to middle grade books where kids who just don’t seem to really fit in and work to find their place and their people. The setting of the book being at a summer camp where Nina gets to experience new things and get to know her aunt (and a little of her aunt’s story) was perfect for her, the amateur bird watcher. I was worried i would find the bird focus annoying because she is very into birds while i am not, but it was just the right amount. I also found myself being sucked into her adventure and sharing in her excitement over the birds she sees. There’s some good life lessons and very relatable things in here for young people. Also enjoyed the crossover character from her Whale book, as I am sure other kids will enjoy as well. I recommend this one as a stand-alone and as a companion book for Song for a Whale. I already talked to several students about this one coming out, and they’re excited as our elementary did Song for a Whale as a school-wide one book read several years ago. I’m going to have the library order it.
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