While driving one night, Frannie O’Neill, a veterinarian in Colorado, notices something unusual by the side of the road. Stopping to investigate, she is incredulous to discover a human with feathers. Frannie learns that the "bird girl" Max has a fantastic tale to tell about her escape from mad scientists and the “people” sent to recapture her. But not only does Frannie have to deal with Max’s unusual story, she must also contend with her new tenant Kit Harrison, who could be either a confidante or an enemy.

James Patterson, known for his Alex Cross and Women’s Murder Club series, is the author of this fantasy title. Told from Frannie’s point of view, When the Wind Blows is as fast-paced as his other books and reads like a movie.

With intriguing and mysterious characters, Patterson reveals just enough to keep the reader looking for more and he gracefully obliges with a sequel. In The Lake House, the story continues as the bird children (yes, there are several) are returned to their biological parents. With the parents finding it difficult to raise their special offspring, Frannie and Kit ask the court for custody. Of course nothing is easy, as the crazy men responsible for the experiment will stop at nothing to recapture their creations.

Finally, check out Maximum Ride based on (but not identical to) some of the characters in these books. Don’t look to the teen series for a continuation of the above story, as these tell the tale from Max’s point of view. There are five books in the series: The Angel Experiment, School’s Out – Forever, Saving the World and Other Exteme Sports, The Final Warning, and the latest,  Max.

Pick up When the Wind Blows (and Patterson’s subsequent books) for a thrilling read!

Robert Bates – Glenwood Branch

Luke Dempsey’s A Supremely Bad Idea, the tale of “three mad birders and their quest to see it all,” is a grabber, a book with a first paragraph that completely drags you in to the writer’s world. Dempsey’s discussion of train-spotting and morris dancing establishes a framework for his introduction of bird watching. From there we’re on a slippery slope towards a fun read, particularly once we meet Dempsey’s bird-crazy traveling companions, Don and Donna Graffiti.

Throughout the book Dempsey emphasizes the generosity and extraordinary knowledge of his fellow birders. Whether from Robin Diaz in Florida; Ted Ollinger in Gig Harbor, Washington; or Barbara Kennett on South Padre Island in Texas, Dempsey and the Graffitis are the repeated beneficiaries of kindness and hospitality, based only on a shared interest and set of specialist knowledge. In many cases Dempsey sees or hears the bird he seeks because of the support provided by these local heroes. His community encounters contrast with several unfulfilling “strip mall” events that the trio experience in generic Anytown, U.S.A.

Dempsey’s book articulates an environmental agenda in a new and different way. His argument, while less scientific and more aesthetic, has no lesser impact. It is hard to disagree as he explains the migration and nesting patterns of the rare birds that he seeks, and points out that it would only take a minor change in habitat, feeding patterns, or temperature to permanently affect the behavior of these particular birds. As an example, Dempsey explains the migration patterns of the Cerulean Warbler, a bird whose habitat in western South America has been drastically reduced by deforestation for coffee cultivation.

The Warbler is not the only bird explored in depth. Dempsey’s detailed explanation of birds’ behavior makes it clear that with a little effort, a good birding guide, and perhaps a recording of the song, we, too, could have an encounter with a “life bird.” Employing wit, sparkle, and a clear affection for his subject, Luke Dempsey’s A Supremely Bad Idea encourages us to seek out nature that is happening all around us.

February and March are National Bird Feeding Months. Why not stock a feeder in your backyard, pull out the birding guide and binoculars, and see which of Luke Dempsey’s friends show up for dinner?

John Jewitt – Savage Branch

Having worked at Howard County Library for many years, one of the most exciting things about blogging will be sharing some of the many titles that have resonated with me throughout my career. I’d like to start by recommending the DVD The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. I hadn’t seen the movie since its release, so I wanted to watch it again before writing a review. Coincidentally, my oldest daughter happened to be at home. Although we have completely different tastes, I assured her that if she could spare 83 minutes, she would thank me profusely for introducing her to Mark Bittner and his family of parrots. If only to stop my relentless pressure, she finally agreed. From the moment she saw Mingus, a cherry-headed conure, dancing to the bluesy notes of Bittner’s guitar, she was hooked.

Hoping for a musical career which never materializes, Mark Bittner settles in San Francisco. He eschews a traditional lifestyle, choosing instead to move from job to job while bunking down on roofs and equally unusual places. He regularly notices a flock of wild parrots and begins to research what they are, where they came from, and how they can thrive in an urban environment. His interest morphs into a vocation as he names, befriends, and tends to the needs of the birds. By the end of the film, the parrots have become his family.

A small film like The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill and a gentle man named Mark Bittner can go a long way toward making you appreciate the small things in life. I might even go so far as to say it could bolster your faith in humankind.

When the film was over, I gushed, "Wasn’t it GREAT, Britt!!" "It was okay, Mom," she reluctantly agreed. Later that night she was talking on the phone to a friend. As I benignly eavesdropped, I heard her say, "There’s this AMAZING movie you’ve just GOT to see…"

Fritzi Newton – Miller Branch