SOAR
Eddie learned everything there is to know about birding from his dad, including the legend of the Golden Eagle, which Dad claimed he saw once down near Miss Dorothy’s pond. According to his dad, the Golden Eagle had wings wider than a creek and talons the size of bulldozer claws. But when Eddie was in sixth grade, Dad “flew away” for good, leaving Eddie on his own to await the return of the elusive raptor.
Now Eddie is starting seventh grade and trying to impress Gabriella, the new girl in town. The annual seventh grade Science Symposium (which Dad famously won) is looming, and Eddie is determined to claim the blue ribbon for himself. With Mr. Dover, the science teacher who was Dad’s birding rival, seemingly against him, and with Mouton, the class bully, making his life miserable on all fronts, Eddie is determined to overcome everything and live up to Dad’s memory. Can Eddie soar and make his dream take flight?
“Introspective and insightful yet believably uncertain and unknowing, Eddie makes a resonant protagonist, and indications of his family’s low socioeconomic status, further strained after his father’s passing, add subtle tension to this quiet novel, as does his volatile relationship with Mouton. This would satisfy budding naturalists but also suit readers wrestling with grief or the confusing feeling of doubting a beloved adult.”
–Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Wymer weaves together action, internal monologue, and enough birding facts and bird call mnemonics to satisfy most readers and delight any budding ornithologist. The emotional and neatly packaged ending as well as the book’s unique focus will keep many young readers fully invested in Eddie’s story.”
-Booklist
“This is an enjoyable read that avoids predictability and provides a satisfying conclusion; perfect for middle school students looking for realism.”
-School Library Journal
TRACY EDWARD WYMER 