The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya by Jane Kelley

Zeno can't understand why his professor is just laying on the floor.  Despite all the sounds he can make and asking for food, his professor won't get up.  When those on the outside rush in and gather the doctor up for transport, he escapes out of his room and out the door.  He's never been a free bird in his entire life, and he has a lot to learn.

MacMillan's Children Publishing Group and Net Galley allowed me to download a copy of this ebook for review (thank you).  It will be published in the middle of October, so make a note to grab it then.

Zeno expects everyone to think he's smart and beautiful.  He's expecting admiration.  What he finds is that even the other birds don't care about him; it rains at night; and nobody is feeding him.  He's not happy. There is a little girl in a hospital bed in her room.  She's not happy either.  She's developed cancer and they are treating her, but she can't do anything either.  She can't even walk anymore.

When Zeno tries to steal a banana nut muffin from her windowsill, Ayla thinks they might be friends.  Zeno gets carried away trying to find a safe place to live his bird life and they lose contact.

The bird and the girl get a little worse for wear before the word comes along the "bird" vine that Ayla needs Zeno.  No one has needed Zeno before; this makes him feel special.

There's excitement, almost tragedy, the potential loss of tail feathers and the death of a pigeon involved in this story.  It will keep a young reader reading and it's a good story.  Who doesn't like a happy ever after ending?

Happy reading.