Goldie Bird by Patty Ihm is a deeply heartfelt coming-of-age novel. Eleven-year-old Goldie doesn't like change and isn't ready to start junior high. She feels lonely since her older sister left for college. Since her great-aunt has died, Goldie must go with her mother to Heritage to carry out her last wishes. While there, Goldie meets and befriends a twelve-year-old boy. Goldie grows fond of him with each adventure they share, making her return home more difficult. However, after discovering that junior high isn't bad, making a new friend, and corresponding with the boy she met at Heritage through letters, Goldie tries to muster the courage to ask her mother about her dad, about whom she knows almost nothing. Yet more changes come her way, making her feel like an outsider in her own family, and Goldie learns what growing up really means.

Some kids can't wait to grow up, but Goldie isn't one of them, and this makes the book special, highly relevant, and amazing. Goldie Bird by Patty Ihm shows that big changes bring big feelings, especially when you're too young to have control over your life and feel left out of the family. This is a touching, deeply felt, and hopeful middle-grade novel that explores family, friendship, adventure, growing up, belonging, and being ready for what comes next. It's about facing the challenge of moving through periods of uncertainty and change, and the importance of having something to move forward to or navigating new friendships. Kids and teenagers who love Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince will enjoy this book too.

Patty Ihm's Goldie Bird follows an eleven-year-old girl's journey of self-discovery, on the cusp of her teenage years. Life hasn't been the same for Goldie and her mom since her older sister, Elise, left for university. To make matters worse, her great-aunt Aida passes away, leaving her mother distraught and emotionally vulnerable. During a trip to Aunt Aida's home at the Heritage, Goldie meets Kip, a twelve-year-old boy who turns out to be a ray of sunshine in her life. After she returns home, Goldie and Kip continue to keep in touch, exchanging letters and sharing each other's experiences. In school, Goldie makes a new friend named Kate. Kate also has her own complicated relationship with her mother. And now, Goldie is about to be an aunt herself.

Goldie Bird is a poignant tale about growing up amid unexpected changes in life. Author Patty Ihm has written a heartwarming coming-of-age story that emphasizes the importance of family and friends. It also encourages young readers to embrace their individuality. The protagonist is a very relatable character. Readers, especially preteens and teenagers, will find it easy to relate to Goldie. The narrative is laced with humor, heart, and charm. But some scenes tug at your heartstrings in unexpected ways. Among the characters, Goldie, Kip, Kate, and Elise were my favorites. I also found the relationship between Goldie and her mother very realistic. There's a reveal toward the end that I think will take most readers by surprise. All in all, it's a fantastic coming-of-age novel, and I highly recommend it.