The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya

Gr 3–7—Zeno, an African grey parrot, knows 127 words, but when his human suddenly dies, his advanced vocabulary does nothing to prepare him for life outside his Brooklyn apartment. Not comprehending what has happened to Dr. Agard, he embarks upon a journey to find food, friendship, and understanding. In another part of Brooklyn, a girl named Alya has all but given up hope as she battles leukemia. In a desperate search to find his favorite food, banana-nut muffins, Zeno appears at her window where he sees his beloved food within. Bedridden, Alya fantasizes that the mysterious talking bird can give her strength. Zeno, unfortunately, is facing his own obstacles as he is famished, lost, and kidnapped by an evil woman, and he has frustrating encounters with birds that can't comprehend his words. Alya's older brother, Parker, sets out on his own journey to try to find Zeno to bring him back to Alya, in a frantic attempt to save his ailing sister. The story is alternately told in Zeno's and Alya's voices, and both characters are compelling, believable, and likable. Sprinkled with humor, particularly with Zeno's gaps in vocabulary, the plot is fast paced and will appeal to a wide range of readers as they root for a satisfying ending for both the bird and the young girl.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA