As a nature enthusiastic I always love a good animal story and this title did not disappoint!! It was a heartwarming story about the little-known sport of falconry. I particularly loved the alternating perspectives between Reenie and Rufus. This title will be easy to handsell to animal loving children and I look forward to reading more from this author!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I love birds and have helped an injured bird or two in my life, so I felt drawn to this story. Reenie has given up on adults because they always disappoint her. She is sent to live with her aunt, who is a falconer and when Reenie finds an injured owl helps her take care of it. Lovely story, great characters, excellent plot, loved this.

This is a middle grade book. This book is told by Rennie and Rufus. Rennie is girl that her Mother has mental health issues, so Rennie went to live with her Aunt. Her Aunt has a bird rehabilitation. Rufus is Great Horned Owl who came to live in Rennie's Aunts bird rehabilitation. All the characters is great and fun to follow. They are very developed. I really enjoyed reading/seeing Rufus point of view. This was a super fun and great book to read. The storyline and learning about the bird rehabilitation. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group) or author (Dayna Lorentz) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Of a Feather by Dayna Lorentz

9780358283539

339 Pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Books
Release Date: February 9, 2021

Fiction (Children’s), Friendships, Orphans & Foster Homes, Owls

Rufus is a young Great Horned Owl. His sister has just fledged but he is not ready. He is orphaned when his mother is hit by a car. Reenie’s mother is a mental institution, and she was living with her grandmother and stepfather until things got violent. She is taken to a great aunt that she never met, Beatrice. She rescues and rehabilitates birds and has a red hawk named Red.

Reenie makes friends in school but is very cautious. She still believes this situation is only temporary and does not want to get hurt. As time goes by, both Reenie and Rufus realize that trust between others is important. They must find the courage they need to fly.

This book is written in first person point of view from Rufus “Second” and Reenie. The story is well paced but the characters are not fully developed. It is a lovely story and one I can relate to having a similar childhood.

Reenie has just been removed from her grandmother's home because of her grandmother's abusive boyfriend. Her mom is have a mental health crisis and can't take care of her either so Reenie ends up with her great aunt, a woman she's never met, Beatrice. Beatrice is a falconer and catches a hawk each year to help it survive it's difficult first year and then releases it back into the wild. This year, they catch at great horned owl and Reenie bonds with it immediately. The story is also told in the owl's voice, which is a charming mix of anxiety and confidence. This is a wonderful story about second chances and trust. I think the kids are going to love this one.

A captivating tale of a girl named Reenie and an owl named Rufus. Both have been separated from their birth families and they form a strong bond that remains even though both have learned to fly on their own. Lorentz tells the story in alternating perspectives. Rufus has a distinctive voice that communicates his false confidence in some areas as well as his immaturity. Reenie fights to keep walls up around her, but foster mom (Aunt Beatrice) and new friends at school help her to open up to new experiences and even learn to advocate for herself. Shows readers a window into the foster care system as well as falconry and bird rehabilitation. Lorentz makes it a winning combination. Includes additional information about falconry, bird rehabilitation, and tips for keeping birds safe.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Both Reenie and Rufus don't feel like they belong. Reenie because her mom is in treatment and she is sent to live with a great aunt she's never met, and Rufus because he believes he's the worst Great Horned Owl that ever was. When their paths cross, they teach each other lessons they didn't even know they needed to learn.

The writing in this book is so endearing. The voices of each character are strong and unique and really give you a glimpse into their perspective. Each character has to come to terms with the situations that have come about as a result of their mothers and learn to trust.

The obvious lessons in this book are about falconry and wild bird rehabilitation, but the underlying messages are about family, friendship, and learning which walls you can let down.

TW: Foster Care, Domestic Violence, Depression/Mental Illness

Endearing and tender-hearted middle grade book. The characters are vivid and the storyline is compelling and sweet. You will root and hoot for Rufus and Reenie. Animal lovers will enjoy this book as well as avid readers. A must for your library!

Abandoned girl, sent to live with a distant aunt who is a falconer, finds and befriends an injured, young, great horned owl. Told in alternative voices, girl and owl, this slides lots of information about raptors smoothly into a tale of healing, friendship and learning to trust. Delightful and engaging.

This sweet, sad book is a perfect read for ages 9-12. I loved reading about Reenie, Red, Rufus, and Bea and the connection that they all form. I also liked reading about Jaxon and Jamie. I also really enjoyed getting Rufus' point of view and I thought it was a great addition! I really enjoyed this book.

Lovely tales, well told. I love the characters Maureen, Beatrice, Red, Rufus... It's a beautifully written tale of learning to trust another person to help you. I liked that Maureen's aunt took her in after her mom was hospitalized, and that she taught falconry to her that helped her raise Rufus. Rufus is a young owl whose mother was killed by a car and faces issues of his own. The writing is so conversational and descriptive, it's like being in the story. I am sure 4-8th graders (and even some of us adults!) will enjoy the story.

Reenie is sent to live with an aunt she doesn't know when her mother needs hospitalization. She's angry, scared, and can't trust people. But when she arrives at Aunt Bea's house, Reenie learns of Bea's love of falconry, Slowly, with the help of Bea, some new friends at her new school and a lovable owl named Rufus, Reenie is able to learn to trust friendships and adults in her new life. The story is split between the voices of Reenie and Rufus, who are both learning to trust and to find their places where they thrive in the world. Ultimately uplifting and sweetly told, this story is perfect for any middle grade reader who can empathize with adults not always coming through and having to deal with hard things. I loved the acknowledgement of trials in life without going down a rabbit hole of depression. Also loved Reenie's true voice and the well-researched elements of falconry. Great read!

OF A FEATHER is a charming story warmly recommended for middle grade readers. From page one, Lorentz captures our attention with the points of view of Rufus and Reenie and the tension keeps ratcheting up so that we can't help turning the pages or reading just one more chapter. Both the young girl and owl are relatable and we want them to make it past their problems. By the story's well-earned and nicely crafted conclusion, both Rufus and Reenie learn how to soar.