Sometimes a book comes along that, in your mind, becomes a treasured book that you make a deep connection with. It immediately becomes a friend you will visit again and again. This book is that for me. I never anticipated how much I would love this story. I could not stop thinking about it when I had to put it down to do other things. Once I finished reading it still rolled around in my thoughts. Even now I think about little Aggie and Celia and wonder what they are doing in their lives.

The story takes place in the Pacific Northwest in a small urban community in late summer. It is, in essence, about two young girls… Aggie who is 10 and Celia who is 16 and their unlikely friendship that was literally sparked by the burning down of young Aggie’s family’s home. Aggie flees the burning home thinking she has killed her own parents through her carelessness. She escapes to the wooded area around her home to hide from what she thinks she has done. Her brother, who lived elsewhere when the fire occurred, was safe but Aggie could not face him, yet. She goes into hiding and has to rely upon the things her father taught her about nature to survive.

Celia enters the story just as Aggie runs away. She has come to stay her grandmother while her father leaves the country for work. Her parents are divorcing and she is bitter and feeling left alone and abandoned. Celia is drawn into Aggie’s story as she helps the community search for the young girl.

The story is absolutely compelling. The writing is beautiful and lyrically descriptive. The characters draw you into quickly caring for them and what happens to them. Cheryl Grey Bostrom has such a gift for storytelling.

Let me give you a little more background on this book. I found the author when I happened upon her devotional book The View from Goose Ridge: watching nature, seeing life (2001). I went in search of other books she had written when I found Sugar Birds. I actually read Sugar Birds back in 2022 after it was originally published (2021) through an “independent” type publisher. I also listened to it in audio book format this past summer. Tyndale publishing loved the story so much they chose to re-release it under their umbrella and asked the author to continue the story in two more books to follow. You cannot imagine how excited I am to see my friends again in the sequels.

Sugar Birds is actually being re-released on October 17, 2023 (next week). I love the book so much I am choosing to share it with you now and encourage you to preorder if you can. Christianbook.com actually has it available for 29% off and I know some other outlets have it discounted, too.

I am not getting any kickbacks to tell you about this book. I get nothing if you buy it. I don’t get any free books or merchandise to share it. I just love this book so much and I think you will, too. The second book in the series will be coming in 2024. If you want to know more about Cheryl and enjoy some of her beautiful nature photography and lovely words you can check out her blog. If you sign up for her newsletter you will get beautiful photos in your inbox and if you write to her she always writes back. I know… she has written me back several times. 🙂