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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
As someone who has been known to talk with birds (ahem), I was extra-appreciative of this story about Zeno, the African Grey parrot, and Alya, a girl dealing with a recent leukemia diagnosis.
In the end, The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya is about being respectful and kind, and having an open heart for both people and other living things. It is about being gentle without being to careful, and about digging down deep and finding strength you didn't know you had until you need it most.
Still, this story is not all doom and gloom and fanciful animals who can talk and understand the languages of multiple species. It is about how you can sense a true friend in just an instant, about the distance that you would go to save someone you love, of what we do when everything we know about life gets turned upside down.
I can't really say much else without giving the story away. It was a quick read for me, with well-developed characters and a good pace. A great read for 4th- to 8th-graders, and adults who are young at heart. Especially those who talk with birds.
In the end, The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya is about being respectful and kind, and having an open heart for both people and other living things. It is about being gentle without being to careful, and about digging down deep and finding strength you didn't know you had until you need it most.
Still, this story is not all doom and gloom and fanciful animals who can talk and understand the languages of multiple species. It is about how you can sense a true friend in just an instant, about the distance that you would go to save someone you love, of what we do when everything we know about life gets turned upside down.
I can't really say much else without giving the story away. It was a quick read for me, with well-developed characters and a good pace. A great read for 4th- to 8th-graders, and adults who are young at heart. Especially those who talk with birds.
I just finished reading this book to my 8yo boys. We all enjoyed the story but I was no mentally prepared to discuss a major illness with my kids. I was looking for a light hearted romp and got serious book with some depressing parts in it. Over all I am glad we read it.
Zeno is an proud African Grey parrot who knows 127 words and loves Banana Nut muffins. However, none of those things can help him when he finds himself alone in Brooklyn. Alya is a very sick little girl who is trapped in life filled with hospitals, chemo and sickness. She misses her old life just as much as Zeno misses his. A chance meeting over a muffin just might change things for both of them.
The is a sweet and sometimes heart wrenching story of a very lonely girl and a lost parrot. Zeno is a wonderful character who has many misadventures as he tries to find out what home really is. Alya is sweet and her character is an honest take of a child going through chemo.
There were several things that brought me to tears in this book. Poor Zeno endures some really harsh things as he flies around the city. As a bird lover the scene with the pet store just tore my heart out!
A good story for children and adults who love animals. It is a bit more sad than most out there. But, I think many readers will enjoy this tale about a bird. It's nice to see one out there among the hero dog and cat books!
The is a sweet and sometimes heart wrenching story of a very lonely girl and a lost parrot. Zeno is a wonderful character who has many misadventures as he tries to find out what home really is. Alya is sweet and her character is an honest take of a child going through chemo.
There were several things that brought me to tears in this book. Poor Zeno endures some really harsh things as he flies around the city. As a bird lover the scene with the pet store just tore my heart out!
A good story for children and adults who love animals. It is a bit more sad than most out there. But, I think many readers will enjoy this tale about a bird. It's nice to see one out there among the hero dog and cat books!
I have to admit that I was nervous about reading a book about cancer with my child who is lucky, at age 6, to not personally have experience with it. However, this was in our Bird reading crate and I trust the woman selecting the books so I carried on and I'm so glad I did!
Such a cute story about a bird figuring out who he is (and he really is a complex animal!) and how to give to another being. And also a strong story about a girl who has real struggles with cancer and how her illness affects her relationships (with family and friends) and her life.
We don't find out the fate of Alya at the end of the book, which I have decided is ok with me. This book allowed me to have some really great conversations about friendship, kindness and illness with my 6 yr old.
Such a cute story about a bird figuring out who he is (and he really is a complex animal!) and how to give to another being. And also a strong story about a girl who has real struggles with cancer and how her illness affects her relationships (with family and friends) and her life.
Spoiler
We don't find out the fate of Alya at the end of the book, which I have decided is ok with me. This book allowed me to have some really great conversations about friendship, kindness and illness with my 6 yr old.
My 6&11 year olds enjoyed this as a bedtime read-aloud. Keep in mind if your kid is sensitive, the little girl is quite sick and talks about death a bit.
hopeful
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Medical content
Moderate: Death
I really enjoyed the character of Zeno. I agree what one reviewer said about wishing Zeno and Alya got together earlier in the book - or at least that there was more of them together at the end. It seemed a little rushed once both characters accomplished their goals. But this book is more about the journey. Maybe there will be a sequel to give us a proper conclusion with these two.
Beautiful book about a girl and a parrot, hope and friendship, and how together, they can beat desperation.
So good. It's The Fault in Our Stars for kids only Augustus is a parrot.