The Milk of Birds

Written by Sylvia Whitman

Two girls, worlds apart, connect through letters, transforming their lives and bridging continents.

4.0 Goodreads · 568 ratings

384 pages· 81,572 words· Est. 7.5 hour read· 780L

$12.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

In a refugee camp in Darfur, Nawra finds hope by sharing her story through letters. Across the world, K.C., a reluctant student from Virginia, receives these letters and discovers a new perspective. As Nawra's words inspire K.C. to look beyond her own struggles, an unexpected friendship blossoms. Together, they navigate the challenges of their worlds, forging a bond that transcends distance and adversity. Will their connection spark change in their lives and beyond?

From the publisher

This timely, heartrending novel tells the moving story of a friendship between two girls: one an American teen, one a victim of the crisis in Darfur. Know that there are many words behind the few on this paper… Fifteen-year-old Nawra lives in Darfur, Sudan, in a camp for refugees displaced by the Janjaweed’s trail of murder and destruction. Nawra cannot read or write, but when a nonprofit organization called Save the Girls pairs her with an American donor, Nawra dictates her thank-you letters. Putting her experiences into words begins to free her from her devastating past–and to brighten the path to her future. K.C. is an American teenager from Richmond, Virginia, who hates reading and writing–or anything that smacks of school. But as Nawra pours grief and joy into her letters, she inspires K.C. to see beyond her own struggles. And as K.C. opens her heart in her responses to Nawra, she becomes both a dedicated friend and a passionate activist for Darfur. In this poetic tale of unlikely sisterhood, debut author Sylvia Whitman captures the friendship between two girls who teach each other compassion and share a remarkable bond that bridges two continents.

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