0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
Nyla Braun has always been called a nerd at her Philadelphia school. But that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her hobbies, especially when she has best friend Tasha by her side. When a birding tournament between Nyla’s class and a class from a suburban school is announced, Nyla sees her chance to get the respect she deserves. If they win, that is. The Burb Birders will be tough competition.
With the contest underway, Nyla soon catches the attention of the most popular girl in class, who also wants to win, setting off a chain of small disasters as Nyla tries to balance old friends and new and the pressure to be cool when you really just want to be yourself.
Told with warmth and gentle humor, debut author Jennifer Ann Richter’s Bird Nerd combines a deep love of nature and birding with the story of a young girl learning to discover her own confidence and values.
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
October 22, 2024 -
Formats
-
Kindle Book
-
OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780823461349
-
EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780823461349
- File size: 1642 KB
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
October 1, 2024
A fifth grade girl experiments with friendships and grows to love birds. Nyla Braun, unkindly dubbed "Encyclopedia Braun" by her classmates, is taking the spring birding tournament between Anderson Elementary's City Birders and Penn Elementary's Burb Birders very seriously. She's determined to count the most birds and learn all the bird songs and calls, allowing her to leave Anderson "on a high." Becoming obsessed with her interests isn't new--but this time, she also wants to improve her social status by leading the City Birders to victory. Nyla's dreams start to come true when the wealthy Portia invites her to study for the trivia portion of the competition. Nyla already has a best friend, but Tasha isn't into birds, and Nyla can't put birding--or her chance at popularity--on hold. Thankfully, Nyla gets abundant support from Aunt Cherise, Granddad, and her parents, who help her with both birding and feelings (even if Nyla sometimes struggles with her mom's relentless positivity). In her debut, Richter skillfully addresses mild tensions between the City Birders (who are mostly Black, like Nyla) and the Burb Birders (who are mostly white) and shows how common interests can unite people. With clear, descriptive writing, a tight storyline, and plenty of bird-related information (including excerpts from Nyla's birding journals and checklists), readers may feel inspired to explore birding, too. Quietly shares hard-won wisdom on friendship as well as a well-informed passion for birding. (author's note, resources)(Fiction. 8-12)COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
-
October 15, 2024
Grades 3-6 Nyla is trying not to be a birding know-it-all, but it's hard to keep her knowledge about her passion to herself. As her Philadelphia school holds a birding tournament against a more-affluent suburban class, she's determined to lead the City Birders to victory. She'd love to head into middle school being known for something other than her nerdy tendencies. Her best friend, Tasha, is less interested but fully supportive until a misunderstanding between them sees Nyla choose a more-popular birding competitor over her best friend. Now Nyla has to figure out how to balance changing friendships, her beloved birding, and her desire to shift her social status. The sunny story joyfully portrays Nyla's birding passion while skillfully exploring subtle clashes between the majority-Black City Birders and the majority-white Burb Birders, though the competition remains quite congenial. Occasional chapters cleverly present birding notes and study guides, and the quick pace and Nyla's boundless excitement make reading a breeze. A stellar study of friendship and self-acceptance sure to make an avian enthusiast out of anyone.COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
-