HOME AWAY FROM HOME by Cynthia Lord

 

Mia lives in Ohio, but she's visiting her grandmother in Maine. She feels like she has been sort of shoved out of the way. Her mother and her mother's boyfriend are back in Ohio hunting for a new house. When Mia returns, they will have sold the old house and moved to the new place wherever that ends up being. Right now she is worried about forgetting the memories from the old house and hoping she doesn't have to change schools.

Staying with grandma has some perks though. She can go into town by herself and wander around the woods. Mia loves nature and especially birds. She'll get to keep an eye on the eagles nesting on the point and watch them hunting for food for their new babies. What she didn't expect to see was a large white bird bigger than any she has ever seen.

Mia also didn't expect to meet a new friend, but someone new has moved in near her grandma. She finds out his name is Cayman. He is also interested in the new bird. In Mia's excitement to identify it before Cayman figures it out, she accidentally posts about it on a birding site which unleashes a bunch of birdwatchers. As they start pouring it to view the mystery bird, Mia finds out Cayman has a secret about his mother that might threaten their new friendship.

Cynthia Lord, known for her book RULES, takes readers on an adventure involving rare birds, a stray cat, and the ups and downs of friendship and family life in her latest release HOME AWAY FROM HOME. Perfect for upper elementary and middle grade readers.