Two stories of grief entwine throughout this emotionally-charged story of finding the courage to once again have faith in people and hope in the future.  Ruby Moon Hayes has recently lost her father from a tragic and senseless shooting. Ruby’s mother, in a desperate attempt to cope with their loss, has been moving Ruby around the country searching for their “forever home.”  Ruby has had enough and this most recent move to a small town in Vermont has only worsened Ruby and her mother’s relationship. Against her mother’s expectation to stay away from the old woman down the street, Ruby and her dog Bob are drawn to The Bird Lady, the townspeople’s cruel name for this strange woman who lives in the shed on her property.  Slowly and tentatively, Ruby and Abigail form a sweet and powerful bond that pulls Ruby out of her tightly wound isolation while Ruby offers Abigail a chance to finally share the terrible loss she harbors which prevents her from stepping foot back in her home. While Ruby is an angry and withdrawn teenager, her friendships with Abigail and her ever-forbearing classmate Ahmed, a recent Syrian refugee, keep her from fully shutting down and she proves to be an immensely compelling survivor.  Told through Ruby’s perceptive and intelligent perspective, this is a story that will stay with readers long after they finish. Pair with I love you, Michael Collins and Hidden Figures.  Highly recommended for all middle school collections.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook School, Westbrook