Publisher Description
“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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When a human baby is abandoned near their Queens, N.Y., dovecote, a flock of pigeons raises her as one of their own. Clothing her in plastic bags and feeding her from dumpsters, they name her Coo and teach her to speak pigeon, protect the birds, and fear humans. But when Coo's closest ally is injured, she must risk leaving the roof to find "healer" Tully, who feeds the pigeons and helps birds that are hurt. Though reluctant to trust the woman, Coo seeks her help again when dwindling winter food supply makes her a liability to the flock. Under Tully's care, Coo learns about the human world: its comforts, its language, and its dislike of pigeons. As Tully and Coo discover that someone seeks to hurt the birds, Coo must decide whether she belongs with Tully or the flock that raised her. The story conveys powerful messages about love and friendship, compassion and belonging. Sweetest of all is endearing Coo's steadfast affection and loyalty for those she loves pigeons and humans alike. With this troop of quirky pigeons whose rooftop world is both strange and familiar, Noel has written a debut replete with hope, humor, and heart. Ages 8 12.
