The Monarchs of Winghaven -- Naila Moreira, Hardcover

Young naturalist Sammie loves to do field research in a special stretch of wilderness in the suburbs--but now she must protect it. Science and heart combine in this engaging story.

Sammie, a budding naturalist, knows of a secret and wonderful place: Winghaven, an abandoned lot in the middle of the suburbs where wildlife flourishes. She spends hours making notes and drawings in her meticulous field journal. When Bram, a new boy, turns up with his camera, Sammie worries he'll give away her hidden haven--after all, the other boys at school bully her. But Bram is a scientist like Sammie, and together they observe tiny pond creatures, a pileated woodpecker with a red crest like a pirate's bandana, and thriving monarch butterflies whose habitats are becoming scarce. When Sammie and Bram discover bright flagging tape encircling the trees, they learn Winghaven is in danger from a local developer--and it's going to take courage, spirit, and science to save it. This beautifully written story, full of details about the natural world, includes Sammie's field illustrations as well as real-life notes on keeping a nature journal, studying monarchs, and bird-watching.

Author: Naila Moreira
Publisher: Walker Books Us
Published: 05/14/2024
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.18lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.77w x 0.98d
ISBN: 9781536218305
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/19/2024
Booklist 03/01/2024 pg. 51
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2024 pg. 99
Kirkus Reviews 03/15/2024

About the Author
Naila Moreira teaches science writing at Smith College and has been writer-in-residence at the Shoals Marine Laboratory in Maine and the Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her creative nonfiction and science journalism have appeared in Science News for Students, the Boston Globe, the Seattle Times, and elsewhere. She is also an award-winning poet. She lives in Massachusetts.