The Someday Birds

By Sally J. Pla, Julie McLaughlin (illustrator),

Book cover of The Someday Birds

Book description

The Someday Birds is a debut middle grade novel perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree, filled with humor, heart, and chicken nuggets. Charlie's perfectly ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan. When his father heads from…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Someday Birds as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book is a funny and heartbreaking road trip story about the strength of family.

Though a cross-country trip in an RV is a nightmare for the main character, Charlie, who thrives on consistency, I didn’t want my journey with this cast of characters to end. Charlie is a loveable kid with a strong voice, and the portrayal of his OCD came through as authentic. Charlie clings to his list of bird sightings as a sign of hope that everything will turn out okay, and the anticipation of seeing him check off his sightings kept me turning the pages!

From Lynne's list on books for bird-loving kids.

The Someday Birds was an absolute page-turner for me.

The author draws you immediately into the main character, Charlie’s, head and keeps you there in the most delightful way with writing that is beautifully lyrical and immersive. To some, on the outside, the plot may seem quiet, but it is explosive and loud to Charlie. That is what matters and makes this book such a clever and accurate representation of an autistic brain.

It’s also a wonderfully balanced portrayal, not shying away from the everyday struggles autistic people often battle through, but also the purity and joy they can experience…

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