Kestrel Takes Flight by Joy Mccullough
Two starred reviews!A girl learns to stand up for herself and embrace the true meaning of home against the backdrop of the Montana wilderness in this heartfelt novel in verse by acclaimed author Joy McCullough that is a “quietly powerful exploration of courage, chosen family, and learning to trust yourself” (Booklist).
A kestrel
is the smallest
bird of prey
in North America.
Kestrel doesn’t feel much like the fierce bird for which she is named. Not after being rushed away from her grandfather’s strict church community to the wilds of Montana. Her mother has gotten a job at a conservation institute, where she’ll work with a special breed of dog to help make interactions between humans and bears safer.
At first, Kes is terrified of the dogs and angry at her mother for ripping her from the only world she’s known. But with some distance from her grandfather, she starts to understand how badly his bark hurt. In this new terrain, can Kestrel discover a safe place to spread her wings and soar?
* “McCullough’s moving verse novel elegantly holds space for Kestrel’s conflicting emotions as the summer progressesKestrel’s spare, honest first-person narration lays bare the intensity and complexity of her feelings. . . . Well-realized secondary characters (including canine ones) support Kestrel as she moves from fear (of dogs, of freedom, of Grandpa) to belief in herself and what she’s capable of.” -- Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW
"In this tender verse novel, Joy McCullough explores complications of love and loyalty, reminding us that—with great courage and true friends—we have the power to redefine ourselves, our homes, and the kinds of families we want to create." -- Megan E. Freeman, bestselling author of Alone
"A layered story about found family, the desire to be understood and valued, and how nature can help us find the courage to soar." -- Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor-winning author of Red, White, and Whole
"What a beautiful story, and what a subtle unraveling of a young girl's understanding of abuse and what home should really feel like." -- Nicole Melleby, author of Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season
“McCullough chronicles one tween’s reckoning with religious faith and overcoming fear in this empowering verse novel. . . . Accessible text portrays the protagonist’s shift from frightened nervousness to steadfast self-confidence, resulting in a deeply introspective offering.” -- Publishers Weekly
“McCollough offers a tender look at a girl and her mother as they slowly begin to build a life outside the shadow of an emotionally manipulative elder. Kestrel’s relationship with her grandfather is handled thoughtfully, showing the complicated mix of love, loyalty, and fear that can exist in families. . . . An accessible and heartfelt story about emotional control, resilience, and finding a path forward.” -- School Library Journal
"The sparse verse effectively conveys Kestrel’s anxiety and gradual realization . . . An accessible and appealing exploration of coercion, autonomy, and finding one’s voice.” -- Kirkus Reviews
"In this tender verse novel, Joy McCullough explores complications of love and loyalty, reminding us that—with great courage and true friends—we have the power to redefine ourselves, our homes, and the kinds of families we want to create." -- Megan E. Freeman, bestselling author of Alone
"A layered story about found family, the desire to be understood and valued, and how nature can help us find the courage to soar." -- Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honor-winning author of Red, White, and Whole
"What a beautiful story, and what a subtle unraveling of a young girl's understanding of abuse and what home should really feel like." -- Nicole Melleby, author of Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season
“McCullough chronicles one tween’s reckoning with religious faith and overcoming fear in this empowering verse novel. . . . Accessible text portrays the protagonist’s shift from frightened nervousness to steadfast self-confidence, resulting in a deeply introspective offering.” -- Publishers Weekly
“McCollough offers a tender look at a girl and her mother as they slowly begin to build a life outside the shadow of an emotionally manipulative elder. Kestrel’s relationship with her grandfather is handled thoughtfully, showing the complicated mix of love, loyalty, and fear that can exist in families. . . . An accessible and heartfelt story about emotional control, resilience, and finding a path forward.” -- School Library Journal
"The sparse verse effectively conveys Kestrel’s anxiety and gradual realization . . . An accessible and appealing exploration of coercion, autonomy, and finding one’s voice.” -- Kirkus Reviews
Joy McCullough writes books and plays from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is the author of the middle grade novels Across the Pond, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Not Starring Zadie Louise, Code Red, Kestrel Takes Flight, and Basil & Dahlia, as well as the middle grade series Team Awkward, and the picture books Harriet’s Ruffled Feathers, Champ and Major: First Dogs, and The Story of a Book. Her debut novel Blood Water Paint was longlisted for the National Book Award and was a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist. Visit her at JoyMcCullough.com.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781665972659 |
| ISBN 10 | 1665972653 |
| Title | Kestrel Takes Flight |
| Author | Joy Mccullough |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books for Young Readers |
| Year published | 2026-05-26 |
| Number of pages | 304 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |