Home Away From Home

By Cynthia Lord

Mia's summer alone leads to a rivalry over a mysterious bird, sparking unexpected changes.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 851 ratings

224 pages· 37,679 words· Est. 5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Mia's summer at Grandma's in Maine is supposed to be a refuge from her parents' divorce. But when she meets Cayman, a know-it-all neighbor, their rivalry over identifying a rare white bird sets off a chain of events. As Mia tries to prove herself, she makes a choice that could alter the town, the bird's fate, and her own life. Can she undo the consequences of her actions? This story explores the meaning of home amidst change, blending nature's beauty with personal growth.

From the publisher

From Newbery Honor Winner Cynthia Lord, a brilliant story about how to find home when everything around us is changing.Mia and her mom visit Grandma in Maine every summer, but this year Mia is going alone. Her mom will stay behind to get their house ready to sell. It’ll be a new start, she says, after the divorce.Mia doesn’t want a new start. She’d rather everything just stayed the same! At least things will be the same at Grandma’s, though. Mia will walk to town for ice cream, and wait by the water, watching for birds, just like always.Then Mia meets Grandma’s know-it-all new neighbor, who’s just her age. Cayman acts like he belongs at Grandma’s house. He acts like he’s the expert on everything. And when he and Mia spot an unusual white bird of prey, he acts like it’s his job to find out what it is.Unless, that is, Mia finds out first. And, in her effort to prove herself to him, she makes a decision that will change things for the town, for the bird, for Cayman, and even for herself. Can Mia stop what she’s put into motion?Acclaimed author Cynthia Lord, with her trademark sensitivity, weaves her love of nature with a profound reflection on what it means to be at home in a changing world.

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