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Soar

Tracy Edward Wymer (Goodreads Author)

3.89 · Rating details · 109 ratings · 35 reviews

Seventh grader Eddie is determined to honor his father's legacy and win the school science fair in this fun and quirky debut novel.

Eddie learned everything there is to know about birding from his dad, including the legend of the Golden Eagle, which Dad claimed he saw once down near Miss Dorothy's pond. According to his dad, the Golden Eagle had wings wider than a creek and ...more

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Hardcover, 288 pages

Published July 5th 2016 by S&S/Aladdin

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Lists with This Book

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The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari

Middle Grade Debuts 2016

48 books — 90 voters

Middle Grade Novels of 2016

601 books — 988 voters

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Average rating 3.89 ·

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· 109 ratings · 35 reviews

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May 27, 2015 Lois Sepahban rated it it was amazing

I was lucky to read an advanced copy of SOAR.

When 7th grade is about to start, Eddie is at a low point: his dad has died, his best friend has moved away, he's being bullied by a classmate, and he can't find his dad's elusive golden eagle.

Things begin to look up when Gabriella moves to his neighborhood. Gabriella is a 7th grader, too, and, like Eddie, she has a special relationship with birds.

This is a beautiful story of loss and redemption. It is the story of a boy who learns that friends can be ...more

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Jun 03, 2016 Sandra rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016, netgalley, middle-grade, children-fiction, 4-stars

Eddie inherited his dad's passion for birds, and he also learned from him all there is to know about that feathered creatures. His dad was so lucky he once got to see the Golden Eagle, although the location and the time of the year were very unlikely for the eagle to appear. That's why nobody but Eddie ever believed him. Dad never gave up trying to see such magnificent bird again, and that's why now that he has "flew away", it's up to Eddie to see it again. Eddie is planning to win the blue ribb ...more

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Jun 09, 2015 Brooks Benjamin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There's a lot to love about this book. The tenacity of Eddie--the main character, the friendship between him and his new neighbor, and the beautiful descriptions of the birds he encounters along the way. Tracy does such an incredible job weaving Eddie's storyline of his quest to win the seventh-grade Science Symposium and his dad's storyline of claiming to have spotted the elusive Golden Eagle near his house. The "villains" in Soar ...more

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Jun 18, 2016 Emily Montjoy rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved everything about this book! From birds to bullies to budding new friendships. The main character, Eddie, is on a quest to find the golden eagle and save his dad's credibility and reputation. Eddie is an avid bird watcher, but he does more than just watch birds, he's birding. Eddie decides to use his golden eagle hunt for the upcoming science symposium in an effort to win a blue ribbon and prove his dad did in fact see a golden eagle in their town years ago while proving everyo ...more

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Oct 28, 2014 Sara Grochowski rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016, fathers, friendship, family, science, disabilities, bullying, birds, july-2016

So much love for this book. Highly, highly recommend!

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Jun 07, 2017 Nancy Kotkin rated it it was ok

Shelves: stars-1-or-2, diversity, pub-ss-aladdin, realistic-fic, middle-grade, 2017-reads, disability-illness, 2017-mg-new

I have a number of issues with this middle grade novel. If a very large, rare bird is living in this "one-horse town" (pg 159), why have there been only two sightings of it, many years apart? Surely someone else would have seen this bird at some other point, especially given that other people looked for it after the first reported sighting.

Then there is the science project. Why is Eddie so focused on whether or not Mouton shows up with a painting of the bird when the only evidence that the bird I have a number of issues with this middle grade novel. If a very large, rare bird is living in this "one-horse town" (pg 159), why have there been only two sightings of it, many years apart? Surely someone else would have seen this bird at some other point, especially given that other people looked for it after the first reported sighting.

Then there is the science project. Why is Eddie so focused on whether or not Mouton shows up with a painting of the bird when the only evidence that the bird even exists is a single feather that could belong to any number of bird species. It is a science fair after all, yet somehow Eddie is hoping to win first place without any conclusive proof. Why would he fall apart when his unreliable partner doesn't produce an artistic representation to use as supplementary exhibit material? That seems to me like the least of his worries.

Eddie continuously complains that Mr. Dover hates him and has it out for him. Not only don't I see any proof of that, but I see a lot of evidence to the contrary. When Eddie is rude to him on the first day of school in front of the entire class, Mr. Dover takes Eddie aside and asks him to "agree to disagree" and "start over." Then Mr. Dover shares the injured falcon with Eddie, knowing how much he loves birds. When Eddie draws Mr. Dover as "the Grim Quail-Reaper" and leaves the drawing on Mr. Dover's desk, Mr. Dover doesn't give Eddie detention, send him to the Principal's office, or call his parent, despite Eddie's obvious disrespect. Finally, Mr. Dover allows Eddie to pursue the science project he wants so much to do, even though there is a distinct lack of evidence to support Eddie's hypothesis. From where I sit, Mr. Dover has bent over backwards to accommodate, and even help, Eddie.

The character of Mouton (What an odd name.) is labelled with Tourette's syndrome (pg 39) which the book describes as "a brain disorder" but is really a neurological disorder. Yet Mouton exhibits many behaviors of someone on the autism spectrum. It's possible that a person could have both Tourette's and autism, but autism is never mentioned anywhere in the book. Also, the book seems to be set in the present, at least I see no evidence of a historical time period, so there is medication and therapy available for people with Tourette's syndrome which would make the uncontrollable tics displayed by Mouton very rare. If you're going to write about someone with a disability or illness, it's critical to conduct thorough research and reflect the issues of that disability or illness accurately.
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Feb 23, 2017 Martha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: elm-572

Soar is a story about a new middle school boy named Eddie. He struggles with the loss of his father and in the story he starts developing feelings for another girl. He also goes through a hard relationship with a lifelong bully and is forced to over come that when they are partnered for a school project. Aside from these everyday struggles, Eddie's greatest hobby is birdwatching. I really enjoyed this book for these reasons - in the story, the main character has a central hobby and interest. Whi Soar is a story about a new middle school boy named Eddie. He struggles with the loss of his father and in the story he starts developing feelings for another girl. He also goes through a hard relationship with a lifelong bully and is forced to over come that when they are partnered for a school project. Aside from these everyday struggles, Eddie's greatest hobby is birdwatching. I really enjoyed this book for these reasons - in the story, the main character has a central hobby and interest. Which I think is great for kids to see because in life, it is important for kids to have hobbies that are special to them and that give them the greatest fulfillment on their own. Bird watching is a unique hobby and I would apply this book as a read aloud in my class by showing kids that it is important to be yourself and immerse yourself in unique hobbies. In the book, Eddie also has to take a level-headed approach to dealing with a bully, and romantic interest, and a hurtful teacher. Not to mention, Eddie does not have the best relationship with his mom and his dad passed away. All of these things make this a dynamic book because when it comes to teaching kids, you never know what their home life is like and what kinds of things they are going through. Thus, may different kids could potentially find some way to connect with this read aloud.
On the other side of the coin, the writing in this story is easy to understand (dramatically) and the writing style is fluid for a read aloud. Also, science language is incorporated throughout the book via vivid writing, scientific hypotheses related to a project in the plot and Eddie's own scientific birding observations. I think that the way the book makes science seem like a part of every day life (because it is a part of Eddie's hobby) makes science seem more approachable and common place. Sometimes, science and related work can come off as labor intensive and tedious, but science is a huge part of life that kids should be able to apply to anything that they do - whether it is their hobby or their relationships. This book would allow for a lot of unique class discussions incorporating science, hobbies, and relationships. ...more

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Sep 30, 2016 Steve Dicken rated it it was amazing

Eddie, the thirteen-year-old main character in Tracy Edward Wymer’s pre-adolescent/adolescent novel Soar is a kid I’ve known before. Though this Eddie is a middle-schooler, I’ve met the high school version many times. And his friends, the one with Tourette’s, the other a new girl in town, recently arrived from South America, I’ve known, too. Even the adults in the story: Eddie’s mom who is the school janitor, Eddie’s science teacher, the Brazilian girl’s hearing-impaired father — all are very fa Eddie, the thirteen-year-old main character in Tracy Edward Wymer’s pre-adolescent/adolescent novel Soar is a kid I’ve known before. Though this Eddie is a middle-schooler, I’ve met the high school version many times. And his friends, the one with Tourette’s, the other a new girl in town, recently arrived from South America, I’ve known, too. Even the adults in the story: Eddie’s mom who is the school janitor, Eddie’s science teacher, the Brazilian girl’s hearing-impaired father — all are very familiar to me. Mr. Wymer’s characters in Soar are real, authentic, and easy to relate to as universal types.
This authenticity permeates the story itself. Eddie deals with grief, bullying, loss, academic challenge, feelings for the opposite sex, the truth about adults — the many emotional ups and downs of seventh graders. Obviously, Mr. Wymer, a teacher, knows middle schoolers and their attitudes, behaviors, hopes and dreams, even their speech patterns.
Mr. Wymer write Soar in first person point-of-view, not an easy task. It is worth the challenge, however, because the reader has access to Eddie’s thoughts and enjoys hearing this three dimensional kid express himself, sometimes humorously. The book’s chapters are mostly short and blend seamlessly. When readers finish one chapter, they slip into reading the next one before realizing it. The story builds a suspenseful momentum and the author throws the readers a curve or two to keep them engaged.
Since the author is a teacher, the reader will learn from reading this novel. Soar is about ornithology — birds. Not bird-watching, but birding. Eddie’s explanations about bird shapes and bird calls and bird plumage and bird habits appear in his regular journal notes and in his everyday conversation. His school project involves using the scientific method. Mr. Wymer is not heavy-handed with these educational elements. They are interwoven with the entertaining aspects of the narrative and the reader absorbs them, again, without realizing it.
Indirectly, the young reader will learn the greater truths and values of Mr. Wymer’s Soar: working hard, having persistence, holding on to dreams, coping with loss, understanding others, valuing friendship, being gracious, and more. Soar is a very uplifting work of fiction suitable for young readers ages 8 to 12. Those youngsters will have a positive reading experience that, in the end, will make their fledgling spirits soar. ...more

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Jul 07, 2016 Margie added it

When a being has been a part of your life, here one moment and gone forever the next, you know the world tilts. It does not matter if the death arrives at the end of a terminal illness, as a result of old age or suddenly because of an accident. The hole in your sense of normal seems to have no bottom; your life as you knew it is gone.

There is no set time for recover. Each person works through the loss at their own pace. For those who have experienced this grief, one thing seems to be true, even ...more

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Feb 25, 2016 Chalida rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-for-liam, books-read-since-baby-2-s-birth, books-read-since-baby-s-birth, good-for-teens

I had the opportunity to meet this author (an educator himself) earlier this month at CSLA and loved what he had to say about the cover art chosen for his book. This educator has written a great book to read with my almost 8-year-old. Who knew a book about birding and a science symposium would have us totally addicted? Liam did not want to stop reading it and when my voice got tired he said, "Mom, I'm going to finish it on my own!" and he did before I got to the last 20 pages. Full of family lov ...more

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Mar 29, 2016 Nicole Otting rated it it was amazing

What a great story about second chances. Will be perfect for tons of my students to read and appreciate!

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Jan 08, 2021 Jean rated it really liked it

"If I can just find that golden eagle, and win the blue ribbon—like Dad—then maybe everyone will believe Dad actually saw it—that he really was telling the truth."

🦅 Soar is a story told by a seventh-grader called Eddie, our leading protagonist. Eddie and his late father shared an interest in birding and he learned everything there’s to know about birding from his dad. The story starts when Eddie set off on a quest to find the golden eagle (which his dad claimed to have seen it once) and to win ...more

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May 12, 2020 Alfa rated it really liked it

I'm looking for a bird, but not just any old bird. I'm looking for Dad's golden eagle. And I'm not stopping until I find it.

Dad said it was the most magnificent, most spectacular bird he'd ever seen, and that's saying something, because Dad had seen more birds than John Audubon himself. And if you don't know who John Audubon was, he was like The Beatles of birding. Yeah, he was that famous.

Bought it from Big Bad Wolf and I fell in love with this book right from the first page. Probably it was th ...more

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Jan 05, 2019 Melinda Bender rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Eddie is compelled to prove to everyone that a golden eagle has been spotted in his area when no one believes him including his science teacher. It’s an encouraging story about having drive and determination.

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Feb 14, 2017 Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens rated it really liked it

Shelves: realistic, childrens-books, animals

Eddie has to find the elusive golden eagle for two reasons . One, to win the Science Symposium prize. Two, to prove that his father wasn't a liar when he was alive. ...more

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Jul 26, 2017 Amanda Kingswell rated it liked it

It is a very cute book. I would definitely recommend for Middle School students. It deals with a loss of a parent and bullies becoming friends.

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May 15, 2018 Alice rated it really liked it

What an interedting and refreshing book about self-discovery

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Mar 19, 2017 Rachel Marie rated it really liked it

Soar Book Review A quick read and definitely one I'll keep in my back pocket to recommend to middle grade students. Soar deals with a young boy named Eddie who is dealing with his fathers death, his father who was obsessed with birds and claimed he saw a Golden Eagle. Problem is, no one believed him. Now its up to Eddie to find the truth.

I liked this for many reasons, it deals with loss and death in the family, has a student from another country trying to learn English AND has a boy who has tu ...more

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Oct 07, 2016 Kathryn Zebrowski-Wray rated it really liked it

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I was so thrilled because I love this book! My heart broke for Eddie, who tries to deal with the loss of his father by bird watching because his father loved it so much. Eddie wanted so badly to find the golden eagle! Will he win at the Science Symposium? You have to read this book to find out!

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May 31, 2016 Pop Bop rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed

A Mellow, Well Written Shaggy Dog Tale About Family and Friendship

I had some doubts about the way this book is framed. Seventh grader Eddie is having difficulty accepting his father's death and has invested a lot of emotional capital in winning a school science fair by sighting and recording a rare Golden Eagle that his father once saw and that most people don't believe actually exists. Between the emphasis on birding, the difficulty of expressing grief over the father's death, and the addition A Mellow, Well Written Shaggy Dog Tale About Family and Friendship

I had some doubts about the way this book is framed. Seventh grader Eddie is having difficulty accepting his father's death and has invested a lot of emotional capital in winning a school science fair by sighting and recording a rare Golden Eagle that his father once saw and that most people don't believe actually exists. Between the emphasis on birding, the difficulty of expressing grief over the father's death, and the addition of a possible girlfriend and an always present bully, the book looked like it could be both overstuffed and tin-eared. Well, excuuuuse me for being a grump.

In fact, the story is well-written, fairly restrained, and has enough heart and authenticity to help the reader over the bumpy spots. Sometimes we go right up to the edge. The possible girlfriend is a modified manic pixie dream girl, but I figure if you're going to have a middle grade girlfriend, well a wise, supportive, ironic dream girl is a fine way to go. The same is true of the stressed out mother, the Snape-like teacher who was the hero's father's rival, the bully with Tourette's, the kindly neighbor, the wise mystery friend of the father's, and so on. We don't break any new ground here, but the parts are assembled with such care, generosity, and decency that you are carried on by the authentic good nature of the project.

This isn't kitchen sink realism. Everything is a little gauzy and a little too easy. But, middle grade readers have to start somewhere and this struck me as a fine introduction to a literary coming of age tale. It helps immensely that the book is distinctly well written. There are a number of arresting lines, observations, throwaway bits of dialogue and images that are well above the usual for this target reading demo. There is a lot of rueful wisdom slipped between the lines. It also helps that while Eddie is our hero and is the center around which the book revolves, he doesn't have to do all of the heavy lifting. While Eddie is the narrator this isn't a single voice monologue. Every character gets to be heard, which adds variety and spice to a story that could have turned into a teen angst-a-thon.

So, this is a generous, well crafted, and ambitious book that has subtle but real charms. It's nice to have that on the shelf for an adventurous reader.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.) ...more

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Oct 21, 2015 Ms. Yingling rated it liked it

E ARC from Netgalley.com

Eddie's father was an avid bird watcher who swore he saw a golden eagle, but other local enthusiasts doubted him. Since his father is gone now, Eddie is bound and determined to catch sight of the eagle and use it as his topic for the science symposium, which his father won when HE was in the 7th grade. Unfortunately, Eddie is partnered with Mouton, who doesn't like Eddie and seems to have Tourette's syndrome. With the help of new Brazilian neighbor Gabrielle, Eddie puts t ...more

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Aug 26, 2016 Paper Clippers added it

Shelves: awesome-box

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Jan 30, 2016 Aliso rated it it was amazing

As a parent, it is always gratifying to see your child engaged in a book. My 9 1/2 year old surprisingly stepped out of her usual adventure/fantasy based books to read this and didn't put this book down until she reached the end. I loved that she connected with the story and the interesting characters and we definitely hope to see more from this author! My daughter wanted to add her own review:

"I was lucky to be one of the few who was able to read the advanced copy of the book. It is a touching ...more

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Sep 14, 2016 Tammy Bonisteel rated it really liked it

Picked up this book on the recommendation of a relative, thinking it would be a great choice for my 11 year old son. He chose it for one of his summer reading books and really enjoyed it. The bird watching storyline that runs through it is engaging and is a topic my son is interested in. The themes of loss and friendship and understanding make this a great read for this age group. My son gave it to me when he was finished, and I just finished reading it last night. My son has been eagerly waitin ...more

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May 31, 2016 Debbie Tanner rated it really liked it

Shelves: animals, chapter-books, making-a-change, family-stories, social-issues, bullying, feelings, text-to-self, realistic-fiction, small-moments

This is a book that covers a lot of ground-Eddie is a boy going into 7th grade. His dad died the year before and he's dealing with that grief. He doesn't have a lot of friends and he gets bullied by a mean kid in his grade. He is determined to spot a golden eagle that his dad says that he saw before he died, but no one believes him. This is a compellingly written story and I think a lot of kids will like this one. ...more

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Mar 24, 2016 Scott Fillner rated it it was amazing

A fun book where the main character Charlie is put to the test by his teacher and others. Charlie has to learn to be accepting of all, and have to be honest many situations. The element of the bird call is a different NGOs from any book I have read. I find the journal entries to be insightful and reflective. I also enjoyed the humor that show up in this novel.

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Jul 14, 2016 Alice Kunce rated it really liked it

YA novel exploring the themes of living up, or down, to a deceased parent's expectations. Eddie's dad passed on his love for birds to his son, as well as his competitive spirit. Will Eddie follow in his father's footsteps and win the seventh grade science fair? Will Mouton continue to ruin Eddie's life? What about the new neighbor, Gabriela? ...more

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Apr 11, 2016 Christina Hanson rated it really liked it

Just finished Soar (29/60) by @tracyewymer! What a great story about new friendship, birds, and second chances! I can't wait for you to meet Eddie, Gabriela, Mr. Dover, and Mouton when this book is released in July! ...more

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Apr 15, 2016 Laura Phelps rated it really liked it

Shelves: possiblemsba2016

This was a bit slow for me at the start, but Eddie’s story eventually drew me in; by the end I was fully invested in his relationship with Mouton and with his quest to honor his dad and witness the Golden Eagle.

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Mar 20, 2016 T.J. Burns marked it as to-read

Shelves: young-adult-teen, ng, preferred-publisher, middle-grade, to-read-priority, with-jazz, 2017-05-may, simon-and-schuster-childrens, 2017-06-june

I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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About Tracy Edward Wymer

Tracy Edward Wymer

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Tracy Edward Wymer grew up in Missouri and Indiana. He spent most of his childhood riding his bike, playing neighborhood Wiffle ball games, and reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over and over again. He is the author of Soar and The Color of Bones, and he is part of the anthology Been There, Done That: Writing Stories from Real Life. When not plowing through stacks of books on his nightstan ...more