Lord, Cynthia. Home Away From Home. Scholastic, 2023. 978-1-338-72611-4. $17.99. 212 p. Grades 4-7.
Mia is thrilled to be spending the summer with her grandma in Stone Harbor, Maine. Usually, Mia and her mother spend the summer there, but this year, she is going alone. Her mom is staying behind to find a new house with her new boyfriend, and Mia does not want any part of it. At least at her grandma’s, things will be just as they always were. She will get to spend time with grandma and all of the birds she loves to spot around Stone Harbor. But when Mia arrives, she meets Cayman, a boy her age who lives down the street and has been spending a lot of time with her grandmother. She doesn’t like having to share grandma with anyone, but she tries to give Cayman a chance. She invites him to see the eaglets in their nest, so Cayman and Mia trek through the wooded trail to visit them. When they arrive, they notice a strange white bird flying nearby. It doesn’t seem to be native to the area. Mia snaps a picture. When they get back to her grandma’s house, Cayman decides he is going to the library to find out what kind of bird they saw. But Mia feels a connection to the bird who seems a little displaced like she feels right now. She wants to find out about the bird before Cayman. Ignoring her mom’s rules about posting personal information online, she posts the bird picture on a birding website along with her location. Suddenly, there is a flurry of people traveling to Stone Harbor to see the bird. The secret is out, the bird is possibly in danger, and it’s all Mia’s fault.
THOUGHTS: Mia’s struggle with change is combined with an important message about respecting wildlife. Lord’s novel is heart-warming, comforting read with relatable characters. This is a must-buy for upper elementary and middle grade librarians.
Realistic Fiction