Bird Lake Moon: Summary and book reviews of Bird Lake Moon by Kevin Henkes, plus links to an excerpt from Bird Lake Moon and a biography of Kevin Henkes.
Bird Lake Moon
by Kevin Henkes
Hardcover: Apr 2008,
192 pages.
Paperback: Mar 2010,
192 pages.
The whole time Spencer and Mitch hung out together at Bird Lake that summer, there were secrets keeping them apart.
And maybe a secret knowledge keeping them together, too—together like members of the same tribe. Like friends.
Author Note
Dear Reader,
Olive’s Ocean, my last novel, was published in 2003.
Since then I’ve written and illustrated three picture books and two board books.
All the while I was working on those books, I was thinking about Bird Lake Moon.
In fact, my first notes for Bird Lake Moon are dated June 2003.
My new book revolves around two boys: Spencer Stone and Mitch Sinclair. It was
Spencer and his family who came to me first. It’s interesting to me now that
Mitch wasn’t part of the story when I began. But once he appeared in my thoughts
and on the page, he became increasingly important. In its final form, the book
starts with his story.
The creative process is difficult to understand, much less explain. I do
know that bits and pieces of my life and of my family’s life are embedded in
Bird Lake Moon, as they are in all my books. And, like a person, a book
grows, lives, moves forward in its own way.
After being a huge part of me for years, Bird Lake Moon is ready to find
its readers. It’s bittersweet to let a book go, but I’m already thinking of
other ones. . . .
With sure, crystalline prose, Henkes discloses the breathless suspense that even the shortest moment can contain, and the enormous courage that loss demands. Young readers who plunge into these extraordinary interlocking stories will discover mysterious, sad, and hopeful things about themselves and the people they love. (Reviewed by Jo Perry).
VOYA
[T]he novel embodies the sympathy and kindness of which Henkes is capable when creating young characters dealing with loss.
Publishers Weekly
In a novel as tender as his acclaimed Olive's Ocean, Henkes probes the psyches of two boys facing family conflicts.
School Library Journal
Henkes creates compelling, child-centric images, excellent dialogue, and a believable resolution, with humor and just the right amount of tension to make this a significant and highly readable book.
Kirkus Reviews
Through artfully observed details and perfectly pitched dialogue among the boys and clever Lolly, Henkes deftly locates Mitch's pain and confusion, delivering a novel that's quiet, nuanced and redemptive.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Jillian I loved Bird Lake Moon Hi I am Jillian and I thought that Bird Lake Moon was a very good book. If you want to know whether it is good or not then it is awesome! You should definitely read it! If you don't agree with my opinion then okay it is my opinion not yours.
Preventing Drowning
In Bird Lake Moon, the tragic drowning of Spencer's four-year-old
brother haunts his family during their return visit to Bird Lake. As we approach
the summer months, it is wise to ponder the following tragic statistics
presented by the
Orange County
Fire Authority:
"Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths to
children ages 14 and under. A temporary lapse in supervision is a common factor
in most drownings and near-drownings. Child drownings can happen in a matter of
seconds - in the time it takes to answer the phone. There is often no splashing
to warn of trouble. . . "
Even more sobering are the following facts about how and when drownings occur:
Of all preschoolers who drown, 70% are in the
care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning.
Of all preschoolers who drown, 75% are missing
from sight for five minutes or less.
Two-thirds of all drownings happen between May and
August....
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