Birdy by N. West Moss (Christy Ottaviano Books, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Birdy and her younger brother Mouse have lived all their lives in Manhattan with their mother, whose cancer and mental health issues have meant a difficult childhood for both kids. When their mom passes away, the kids are sent to the country to live with an older couple who are distant relatives. Everyone is trying to find their way in this unexpected new situation when the kids’ long-lost Uncle Clay comes for an extended visit. Despite her fear of any kind of attachment, Birdy finds herself drawn to the new adults in her life. She’s surprised to enjoy day camp, meeting kids her age and getting to engage in fun activities that weren’t part of her city life. At the same time, she’s working through her grief and doesn’t always know what to do with her feelings of anger, fear, and sadness when she remembers her mom. Although the kids’ situation is only for six months, things start to feel permanent, and everyone waits anxiously when a social worker comes to visit and to make a recommendation for their placement. A happy ending gives Birdy and Mouse an unusual but loving found family.

The story is somewhat slow-paced and most of the action is internal, so I think it would take a certain kind of reader to connect with it. Having said that, this is probably my favorite middle-grade novel of the year, and I found myself slowing down reading it so that I could savor every bit of Birdy’s journey before getting to the extremely satisfying ending. I loved that Birdy was reading Cynthia Voigt’s Dicey books, a series I loved many years ago and that tell the story of a similar orphan girl.

Raven, Rising by Christine Hartman Derr (Heartdrum, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Raven and her aunt have moved to a new town after a freak accident that Raven feels responsible for claimed the lives of both of her parents. She longs for the connection to her Cherokee heritage that was a big part of her old community, and a clique of mean girls and a bullying assistant principal make her feel unwelcome in her new school. She misses the baking she once did with her mom, which almost felt magical, but she feels like her passion for cooking may have caused her parents’ accident. Raven finally befriends two other girls and starts to notice that they have some unique powers, similar to her baking. The three of them join forces to take action against the assistant principal and to try to deal with the ringleader of the mean girls in a constructive fashion. Their friendship makes a huge difference to Raven, and by the end of the book, she’s starting to feel like she and her aunt are becoming part of their community.

Magic realism gives this story a fun and occasionally spooky vibe, addressing many issues, including bullying (by kids and adults), grief, and respecting and celebrating others’ cultures. I closed both books hoping for sequels so that we can find out what happens next for Raven and for Birdy.