The Someday Birds
Winner of the 2018 Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award * Two starred reviews * A New York Public Library Best Kids Book of 2017 * A Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2017 * Wisconsin Library Association CBA Outstanding Books of the Year selection * 2018-19 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award list selection * 2018-19 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award nominee * Young Hoosier Book Award nominee *
The Someday Birds is the debut middle grade novel by Schneider Award-winning author Sally J. Pla, perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree, filled with humor, heart, and chicken nuggets.
Charlie's perfectly ordinary life has been unraveling ever since his war journalist father was injured in Afghanistan.
When his father heads from California to Virginia for medical treatment, Charlie reluctantly travels cross-country with his boy-crazy sister, unruly brothers, and a mysterious new family friend. He decides that if he can spot all the birds that he and his father were hoping to see someday along the way, then everything might just turn out okay.
Debut author Sally J. Pla has written a tale that is equal parts madcap road trip, coming-of-age story for an autistic boy who feels he doesn't understand the world, and an uplifting portrait of a family overcoming a crisis.
"Offering a mixture of suspense, mystery, tragedy, and humor, Pla's story captures both the literal and figurative meanings of journey." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Pla gives us a memorable hero in this lyrical and funny book." --Shelf Awareness (starred review)
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
Sally J. Pla is the author of three acclaimed novels--The Someday Birds; Stanley Will Probably Be Fine; and The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn--and a picture book, Benji, the Bad Day, and Me. She is an autism/neurodiversity advocate who has worked as a business journalist and in public education. She lives with her family in Southern California, not too far from the ocean. Visit her online at sallyjpla.com.
Julie McLaughlin is an award-winning illustrator of numerous children's books, including Pride Puppy!, Little Cloud and Why We Live Where We Live, winner of the 2015 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction. Her work with various editorial, advertising and publishing clients can be seen around the world. Julie grew up on the Prairies and now resides on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
"Sally J. Pla does a wonderful job of weaving humor and humanity into this tale of one boy's triumph." -- Cammie McGovern, author of JUST MY LUCK and SAY WHAT YOU WILL
"Sally J. Pla's heartwarming debut novel zings with humor, spot-on characters, and a poignant exploration of the effects of war." -- Edith Hope Fine, author of UNDER THE LEMON MOON
"A truly wonderful, unique story. This celebration of family, individuality, and nature will remind you to always be on the lookout for wonder." -- Wendy Mass, New York Times best-selling author of THE CANDYMAKERS
"Achingly real...Charlie's unique voice and his quest to understand the world around him will resonate with readers dealing with their own pain. Hopeful, authentic, and oddly endearing." -- Kirkus Reviews
★ "Offering a mixture of suspense, mystery, tragedy and humor, Pla's story captures both the literal and figurative meanings of journey." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A delight from beginning to end." -- Booklist
"Readers will genuinely be captivated and touched by Charlie's soft and sensitive demeanor and amused by his ponderous exploits across the country. A strong addition to most middle grade collections." -- School Library Journal
"This has all of the possible/impossible elements of successful middle-grade fiction...Readers who enjoyed Sloan's Counting by 7s (BCCB 9/13) will be the ideal audience for this. " -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The Someday Birds is a raw, funny road trip story that reminds us that even the most literal-minded people can occasionally be sucker-punched by a miracle." -- BookPage.com
"A triumphant debut with the resonance and depth of an instant classic. " -- Nerdy Book Club
★ "Pla gives us a memorable hero in this lyrical and funny book." -- Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"[A] colorful adventure with a lot of heart...Like a harbinger of spring flitting through a gray sky, The Someday Birds is a welcome arrival." -- Common Sense Media
