Additional information
by Alan Barillaro (Author), Alan Barillaro (Illustrator)
"Powerful. . . . A lyrical and sensitively rendered coming-of-age tale." --Kirkus Reviews
Ava's mom is about to have twins, and the pregnancy isn't going well. All Ava wants to do is stay by her mother's side, but instead, she is sent away to stay with her grandparents. Normally, spending time at the lake with Nonna and Nonno is wonderful. But everything is different now. While her mom's hospital visits are getting serious back home and summer storms rock the island, making the electricity go out at the cabin, Ava grapples with anxiety. An annoyingly cheerful boy named Cody seems determined to pop up everywhere she goes, but Ava can't be distracted from the feeling that something terrible, something irrevocable, is going to happen to her mom while she is gone.When a bird dies in front of her, Ava is sure it is a sign that she is cursed--the last thing she, or her family, needs. But if a curse has been placed on her, there must be a way to break it. So Ava makes a deal: If she can take care of two orphaned bird eggs, she will have paid off her debt, and her family will be all right.
With everyone she loves on the line, Ava will do everything in her power to make sure that her mom, her twin baby brothers, her birds, and even Cody all come through the summer safely.
Author Biography
Alan Barillaro is the Academy Award-winning writer and director of the animated short film Piper and has been supervising animator on many other popular theatrical releases, including The Incredibles, Incredibles 2, WALL-E, and Brave. He began his career in animation at the age of sixteen and spent more than twenty-five years at Pixar Animation Studios. Alan Barillaro lives in the Bay Area, CA.
Number of Pages: 224
Dimensions: 0.7 x 7.8 x 5.8 IN
Publication Date: June 03, 2025
Accelerated Reader:
Quiz Name: Where the Water Takes Us
Interest Level: Middle Grades, 4-8
Reading Level: 5.5
Point Value: 4
