Bird Lake Moon

Kevin Henkes's 'Bird Lake Moon' is a sensitive and deeply felt middle-grade novel about two boys, Mitch, 12, and Spencer, 10, who meet during a pivotal summer at Bird Lake. Mitch is reeling from his parents' separation and the uncertainty of his family's future, while Spencer's family has returned to the lake for the first time since his younger brother drowned there years ago. As their friendship blossoms, they find solace and understanding in each other, helping one another to process their respective grief and anxieties. This book offers a gentle yet profound exploration of loss, family change, and the power of connection, making it suitable for children navigating similar difficult life moments.

Twelve-year-old Mitch and his mother are spending the summer with his grandparents at Bird Lake after his parents separate, and ten-year-old Spencer and his family have returned to the lake where Spencer's little brother drowned long ago, and as the boys become friends and spend time together, each of them begins to heal.