Adri á n and Santiago live in a “neighborhood that has been forgotten by everybody.” Every day after school, the two Latino boys sit in a garbage and weed-filled lot, Santiago reading and Adri á n climbing trees, looking for “little creatures.” On this day, Adri á n is angry. He’s been in a fight and has a black eye and a cut lip. And then he finds a wounded falcon. (A two-page spread before the title page shows a rock hitting the falcon’s wing as it flies.) Adri á n takes the bird home; later, the boys take it to a man Santiago’s uncle knows, “a guy who cures broken bones.” “It’s scared, like me,” Adri á n thinks. This quiet story has so many deeper layers. It’s implied Adri á n’s home life may be abusive or neglectful, and he is clearly a kid easily judged by others. Here, the side of him only Santiago sees is revealed to readers and a few others. His interest in animals, his role as nurturer/protector and companion to the bird, make clear he is so much more than what most people may see. It’s also clear his love for animals brings him solace and healing, as does the quietly supportive friendship Santiago offers. The fate of the falcon is left open-ended, much like the fate of Adri á n, but neither are without hope. Digital illustrations reminiscent of pen-and-ink in their clean lines and details form an arresting backdrop for this moving story. (Ages 5-9)

A story about the heart-opening effect that taking care of a wounded creature has on a wounded boy, from acclaimed picture-book creators Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng.

Adrián is always in trouble, at school and at home, while Santiago gets along quite well. But they are friends. When Adrián finds a wounded bird in an abandoned lot in the midst of the city, things begin to change. Taking care of the bird, learning all about it, discovering that it is a falcon, loving it — and accepting what this love means — gives Adrián a chance to show others a glimpse of who he truly is. Santiago has always known that Adrián has a big heart, and his steadfast friendship is also the reason Adrián has a chance to heal.

Key Text Features

illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6
With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.