A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue

A Bird, A Girl, and a Rescue is the second book in the fictional series, The Rwendigo Tales. Designed for eight- to fourteen-year-old youth, this adventure novel is written for children and teens who love reading and learning about faraway and different parts of the world, while relating to characters and issues that seem much closer to home. Eleven-year-old Kiisa has no idea why her parents would send her away to boarding school. She wonders why they can't all stay together in their beautiful African valley home. But no matter what she says, they are firm: she must go, and she must go to this school. As she says a tearful goodbye to her father, he whispers, "For such a time as this. . . . Remember that phrase, and try to open your trunk soon. You'll find something unexpected inside." When Kiisa opens the trunk, she is astonished to find a small heap of black-and-white feathers that quickly unfold into a little bird, a wagtail to be exact. Her surprise only deepens when the bird starts to speak, "My name is Njili. I am one of the messengers, though a small one. I have been sent to assist you with the Rescue." Kiisa has no idea what she means, but she will soon find out. Join Kiisa on the adventure of a lifetime—a dangerous rescue mission that includes rebels, stolen girls, illegal logging, a hungry cobra, and more messengers who help in unexpected ways. Kiisa sets out to rescue others but finds herself rescued from fear and bitterness as she learns that bravery is nothing more (or less) than being in the right place at the right time and taking action despite her fears. This page-turning story is an adventure that children, young adults, and even full-grown adults will not be able to put down. A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue creatively and convincingly explores universal themes such as family, forgiveness, bullying, and courage by blending magical realism and compelling storytelling. Written by a long-time medical missionary to Africa and featuring realistic pen and ink illustrations, it draws first-world readers into another (equally real) world—where young girls are captured by rebel soldiers, terrorism is a way of life, and environmental are exploited without a second thought. As Myhre's characters deal with these real-life issues in the news, readers of all ages will gain a deeper interest in global human concerns.