The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade

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 peculiar: 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 captures the coming-of-age moment of learning to spread your wings in a way you'll never forget.

Select format:
Hardcover
$17.99

ALA/Booklist

From the lively characters to the secret at the heart of the plot, this book takes readers on an unusual and rewarding adventure.

Kirkus

A slow but cozy and relatable read for nature lovers and those unraveling the mystery of friendship.

Review quotes

"From the lively characters to the secret at the heart of the plot, this book takes readers on an unusual and rewarding adventure." —Booklist

"A slow but cozy and relatable read for nature lovers and those unraveling the mystery of friendship." —Kirkus Reviews
Lynne Kelly
Lynne Kelly is the award-winning author of Song for Whale which won the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award and was named one of the best books of the year by New York Public Library. She lives near Houston, Texas with her dogs, Abigail and Eloise.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781524770273
Lexile Measure
720
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Delacorte Press
Publication date
April 09, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Families
Family life
Camps
Endangered species
Whooping crane
Rare birds
Bird watching
Whooping cranes

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