Eleven-year-old Kiisa has no idea why her parents would send her away
to boarding school. She wonders why they can't all stay together in
their beautiful African valley home. But no matter what she says, they
are firm: she must go, and she must go to this school.
As she
says a tearful goodbye to her father, he whispers, "For such a time as
this. . . . Remember that phrase, and try to open your trunk soon.
You'll find something unexpected inside." When Kiisa opens the trunk,
she is astonished to find a small heap of black-and-white feathers that
quickly unfold into a little bird, a wagtail to be exact.
Her
surprise only deepens when the bird starts to speak, "My name is Njili. I
am one of the messengers, though a small one. I have been sent to
assist you with the Rescue." Kiisa has no idea what she means, but she
will soon find out.
Join Kiisa on the adventure of a lifetime—a
dangerous rescue mission that includes rebels, stolen girls, illegal
logging, a hungry cobra, and more messengers who help in unexpected
ways. Kiisa sets out to rescue others but finds herself rescued from
fear and bitterness as she learns that bravery is nothing more (or less)
than being in the right place at the right time and taking action
despite her fears.
This page-turning story is an adventure that children, young adults, and even full-grown adults will not be able to put down. A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue creatively and convincingly explores universal themes such as family, forgiveness, bullying, and courage by blending magical realism and compelling storytelling.