Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational
Weblink
celiacperez.com

STRANGE BIRDS

Celia C. Pérez

A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers

From the award-winning author of The First Rule of Punk comes the story of four kids who form an alternative Scout troop that shakes up their sleepy Florida town.

When three very different girls find a mysterious invitation to a lavish mansion, the promise of adventure and mischief is too intriguing to pass up. Ofelia Castillo (a budding journalist), Aster Douglas (a bookish foodie), and Cat Garcia (a rule-abiding birdwatcher) meet the kid behind the invite, Lane DiSanti, and it isn't love at first sight. But they soon bond over a shared mission to get the Floras, their local Scouts, to ditch an outdated tradition. In their quest for justice, independence, and an unforgettable summer, the girls form their own troop and find something they didn't know they needed: sisterhood.

Celia C. Pérez is the author of The First Rule of Punk, a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book. Celia is a longtime maker of zines inspired by her love of punk music and writing. Originally from Miami, Florida, Celia lives in Chicago with her family where she works as a community college librarian.

Available products
Book Published 2019-09-03 by Kokila
Book Published 2019-09-03 by Kokila

Comments

Kids will love this powerful and thought-provoking coming-of-age tale that promotes friendship and activism. Read more...

STRANGE BIRDS is perfect summer reading for kids, especially if they are transitioning to a new school. These four unlikely friends come together over the summer and unite in support of a cause three of them previously did not know existed. Perez writes four distinct characters who are coming from four very different backgrounds even though they all live in the same town. As the four girls grow and change through the summer, they learn that it is ok that they are all "strange birds" if they have each other. They might all start off as separate birds, but by the end of the summer, they have become a true Ostentation.

This story is a wonderful look at the complex and fragile nature of friendships. Pérez skillfully examines themes of change, allowing each girl to shine, and their unique character arcs are creatively explored.

Perfect for preteens becoming aware that friendships can be compli- cated, and that the world is more so.

Strange Birds is an inspiring story about the power of truth, and of true friends.

The Washington Post (circ. 254,379 / 43.8 million UVPM) ran an interview with STRANGE BIRDS: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers author Celia C. Pérez. Read more...

...a beautiful tale of the value of friendship against unconquerable odds.

[Pérez] gathers up all the messy, wild, confusing pieces of early adolescence and offers them back to the reader as a lovely mosaic made with sparkly bits of independence, tradition, principles and friendship.

Engaging, well-plotted... Important, nuanced discussions about privilege, institutional racism, and rectifying historical wrongs arise.

Thought-provoking, timely, and laugh-out-loud funny - Strange Birds explores friendship, community, and the role each of us plays in creating a better world.