Roll - Hardcover

Darcy Miller is the author of Margot and Mateo Save the World and Roll. She lives in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, with her two children and librarian husband. Their cat, Jeffreys, deserves his own sentence. Their kitten, Stompy, does not. You can visit Darcy online at www.darcyamiller.com.

Gr 4–6—Soon-to-be sixth grader Lauren Hall has a lot going on. His dad, a former cross-country coach, is very excited that Ren (as he likes to be called) plans on joining the school's cross-country team in the fall, but as Ren begins training, he's not so sure running is his thing. Ever since Ren and his family moved into his grandparents' old house, he's finding it harder and harder to keep in touch with his old neighbor and best friend, Aiden. And this summer, Aiden is starting to hang out with the cool kids. One morning while he's out running, Ren sees a flock of birds acting in the strangest manner and meets a girl who just moved nearby. Her name is Sutton, and she is training a kit of Birmingham Roller Pigeons. As the summer progresses, Ren sorts through his familial and friendship issues, coming out a bit wiser in the end. VERDICT This character-driven, light coming-of-age story will appeal to fans of realistic fiction. Kids with an interest in animals will find the pigeons fascinating.—Matthew Forster, Big Words, Clarkston, MI