Written by Lynne Kelly
Nina is going on a trip with her family when they leave her at a gas station and drive off. They are of course upset and drive right back to get her. It kinda fits in with how she is feeling about herself and her life lately. While waiting for her parents to come back she see’ a bird and it sings to her. While driving off with her parents, she realizes, “A bird sang my name.” That is absolutely amazing! She is going to her Aunt Audrey’s summer camp to help out during the summer. Everyone in the family says that Audrey is “different.” She gave up a great paying job to run a summer camp for kids. Nina starts to love the camp and her aunt’s life. She then discovers a bird that has hasn’t been seen in that state in a really long time. She accidently records it when she is looking for a ghost. Should she tell people? Will that be dangerous to the bird? She finally tells and is told to protect the bird because she is nesting, and no one should disturb her nest. She finally finds out that it is a whooping crane, and that the mom bird is Dolly Parton. Everyone though Dolly was killed by someone shooting birds for fun. She was injured but not killed. Dolly then met Willy (Willie Nelson) and they are the parents of the new baby. After summer camp she comes home with a new attitude about herself, her aunt’s life and a bunch of new friends.
Reviewed by Christie Haslam, Librarian, Gearld Wright Elementary
Review shared in April 2024
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
The Secret Language of Birds
Written by Lynne Kelly
Delacorte Press
232 pages
Release Date: April 9, 2024
ISBN: 9781524770273
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
