Description
A bird and a BFF
Arden Sachs has always wanted a pet: a purring kitten or an adorable puppy, or even a fuzzy guinea pig. But living in a cramped condo with her mom and siblings means she’s unhappily pet-free. Then her Uncle Eli, a professor and scientist, asks Arden to look after Ludwig, his African Grey parrot, while he’s away on sabbatical in Guinea. A little afraid of the bird, Arden reluctantly agrees to prove that she can handle pet ownership.
But when Ludwig goes beyond his usual sounds and imitations to spout numbers and words that seem way too complex for a parrot, Arden wonders if there's more to this bird than meets the eye. As they get to know each other, Arden realizes Ludwig is not only super smart, he's also fiercely loyal, helping her with everything from her school presentation to her bully problems, and her pursuit of a spot on the Science Bowl team. Ludwig may not be the pet Arden wanted, but he might turn out to be exactly the pet she needed.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Author Bio
Joanne Levy is the bestselling author of a number of books for young people, including The Sun Will Come Out, Bird Brain, Let It Glow (cowritten with Marissa Meyer) and the award-winning Sorry For Your Loss, which was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award and won the Canadian Jewish Literary Award. She lives in Clinton, Ontario, with her husband and a small menagerie of furred and feathered freeloaders.
Prizes
- Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards - Diamond WillowNominated 2025
- CCBC Best Books for Kids & TeensCommended 2024
Review Quotes
“Levy offers a well-paced, realistic story that explores bullying and its effects on the victim over a period of time, while offering fascinating information about African Grey parrots. With well-drawn characters and an appealing first-person narrative, Levy’s latest is a fine choice for middle-grade readers who prefer relatively short chapter books.”
— Booklist“An engaging, heartwarming, and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny middle-grade novel that will appeal to a broad range of readers—animal lovers, STEM enthusiasts, and even science fiction fans.”
— Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children’s Book News“Arden is a nerdish heroine, keen on science and not afraid of showing that she is brighter than most of her classmates, but she is still a sympathetic character that readers can relate to without difficulty. Recommended”
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials“Readers who are dealing with bullying will identify with how Marni causes Arden to have major anxiety about herself and school. Children interested in the intelligence of birds, and parrots in particular, will enjoy this book. A fun read.”
— Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)Biographical note
Joanne Levy is the award-winning author of a number of books for young people, including Double Trouble, Fish Out of Water and The Book of Elsie in the Orca Currents line and the middle-grade novels The Sun Will Come Out, Small Medium at Large and Sorry For Your Loss, which was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award and won the Canadian Jewish Literature Award. She lives in Clinton, Ontario.
