GLOW

The feathers of the mycteria lumen, or glow stork, pulse with a light that not everyone can see—and it’s up to those who can to save this species that’s believed to be extinct.

Polish American Frano is a dreamy kid with a father who’s been laid off and is battling depression. His family recently moved to Ruby Beach, on Florida’s east coast. Red-haired Cordelia, who presents white, is all about facts—although the statistics about how many marriages end in divorce were little comfort when her mom moved away to New York. Though they’re dissimilar in some ways, the two Marshwood Middle students have both seen a large white bird with “an eerie glow.” She’s injured and in distress, and the kids are committed to protecting the three chicks in her nest in the marsh before the impending Category Five hurricane arrives. Frano and Cordelia are themselves much like the vulnerable baby birds, with parents who can’t be there for them. What brings them together is mostly Frano’s one-sided quest to make friends with the prickly Cordelia, who reminds him of the “fierce and determined” bird. Although the leads’ internal growth doesn’t feel entirely organic, the approaching hurricane and communication mishaps work to create a level of urgency that moves the story along at a steady clip. The third-person omniscient narration alternates between Frano’s and Cordelia’s perspectives.

A fast-paced story that balances a dash of magic with serious science.