Rare Birds by Jeff Miller

What worked:

The major focus of the story is how families deal with serious health issues. Graham’s mother has traveled across the country seeking medical treatments for her ailing heart and now they’ve landed in Florida, in the town where she once lived and where doctors want to perform a transplant. Graham meets a girl at the hospital named Lou who seems to have a father dealing with a possible heart transplant of his own. Both characters share their stress, anxiety, and other mixed emotions of concern surrounding the uncertainty of their futures. For example, Graham passes a severe car accident on the road and feels guilty for wondering if one of the victims might provide the heart his mother needs.

Lou and Graham have lived isolated lives due to their families’ medical issues but they discover a kinship and bond they both need. Graham has a name for their “club” based on the dire status of their lives but Lou has a more positive outlook. She is more adventurous and wants to live life in the moment rather than wait to try things in the future. She’s gung-ho about trying to locate an endangered Snail Kite in the swamp even though boaters can easily get lost and there are tales of an enormous alligator lurking in the dark waters. Graham’s mom was an avid birdwatcher when she was younger and the Snail Kite is the one bird she never found. Together, Graham and Lou are determined to take a picture of one but are they prepared for the challenges they’ll face?

While his mom is in the hospital, Graham stays with one of her childhood friends named Dom. She figures it’s a good situation since Dom’s son is the same age as Graham. However, neither parent is aware of the emotional baggage Nick is carrying and they don’t see the animosity he covertly displays toward Graham. Readers will wonder what’s really going on in Nick’s head as his behavior fluctuates throughout the story. Is he annoyed that he needs to share his space? Is it genuine anger toward a boy whose presence has upset the dynamics of his home life? Nick brings a couple of other characters into the story later on that escalate the conflict to a whole new level.

What didn’t work as well:

Graham and Lou don’t make steady progress searching for the Snail Kite so that part of the plot moves rather slowly. However, it gives the characters time to talk about health issues and time to become close friends. Dom gives them warnings about boating in the swamp so readers will know those dangers are sure to arise, thus creating more tension.

The Final Verdict:

This story evokes many emotions due to life-threatening problems in the hospital and in nature. The author reveals an important secret concerning Lou as the plot nears its climax to help the book come to a dramatic conclusion.