A heartfelt, deeply moving, and unforgettable middle grade debut about an irresistible girl, Chirp, and her family.

For fans of Jennifer Holm (Penny from Heaven, Turtle in Paradise), a heartfelt and unforgettable middle-grade novel about an irresistible girl and her family, tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship. In 1972 home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi "Chirp" Orenstein, her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp's mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes.

Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery.

Esther Ehrlich's lyrical writing is honest, humorous, and deeply affecting. Chirp and Joey will steal your heart. Long after you finish Nest, the spirit of Chirp and her loving family will stay with you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Trained as an oral historian, ESTHER EHRLICH worked for six years at the Regional Oral History Office at the University of California, Berkeley before founding Story Lines, which creates written and video life histories for individuals, families, and organizations. She received a writing fellowship from the Vermont Studio Center, and her fiction has been published in journals including The Sun.