The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe

Starred review from April 26, 2021
Eleven-year-old homebody Loah Londonderry, who enjoys knitting and loves the family’s rickety old home, is the opposite of her single mother, a dedicated ornithologist who’s away in the Arctic longer than planned, risking her life to save her daughter’s namesake, the nearly extinct loah bird. Left in the care of elderly siblings, gentle Theo and tough Miss Rinker, Loah is overwhelmed by problems: Theo, falling ill, has to be hospitalized; a city home inspector keeps coming around, demanding repairs be made to Loah’s beloved house in the woods; and her new friend Ellis wants to run away. Loah keeps her worries inside until an incident forces her to step outside her comfort zone, seeking aid and protecting what’s dear. Through metaphor and imagery, Springstubb’s (Every Single Second) tender, sensitively written story captures the essences of places and characters, including frequently dismayed, brave Loah. In addition to offering unique personalities across the cued-white cast and a lesson about global warming, the book provides a host of facts about birds. Ages 9–12. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary.

May 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 Eleven-year-old Loah Londonderry, a rather shy, quiet homebody, looks forward to her adventurous mother's return from the Arctic tundra, but one phone call soon derails that plan. Excited by the reported spotting of a loah bird, which was thought to be extinct, Dr. Londonderry, an ornithologist, has decided to track it down on her own for a few weeks. Meanwhile, Loah remains at home, under the care of elderly Miss Rinker and her brother. When both are hospitalized, she struggles to keep their absence a secret in order to maintain her independence. Another call brings alarming news from the Arctic, and Loah decides to act, though it will take all her wits, determination, and courage to save her mother. From Loah to her caretakers to her only friend, the characters have convincing backstories that shed light on their idiosyncrasies. The well-paced story, enhanced with avian information and enchantment, builds in intensity as Loah becomes more isolated and self-reliant, yet increasingly focused on others. The novel concludes in a heartening, wholly satisfying way, suitably accompanied by birdsong.

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July 9, 2021

Gr 4-6-Loah Londonderry's mother is off on yet another expedition while Loah stays behind in their large old home with caretakers Miss Rinker and her brother Theo, who look after her while Dr. Londonderry is away. Loah's mother may be an adventurer at heart, but timid Loah is a homebody, who counts the days her mother has been gone and tries to keep busy, as Miss Rinker always suggests. But this summer it seems everything is going wrong. Dr. Londonderry may be on the brink of a discovery, so her trip has been extended. Theo has a medical emergency, and Loah is left alone while Theo is in the hospital and Miss Rinker stays with him. And a man who says he is a housing inspector from the city keeps dropping by at unexpected moments. That would be a lot for anyone to handle, much less a shy homebody. Readers will cheer as Loah steps up and makes things happen, with the help of some unexpected friends. It's a sweet, satisfying story full of heart-and fascinating facts about birds, climate change, and the environment. An author's note explains that while Loah's namesake, the loah bird, is fictional, other bird facts in the book are true, including the fact that climate change is affecting many birds' habitats. Loah and most of the primary characters are cued as white. VERDICT An excellent choice for fans of realistic fiction and readers interested in nature.-Mindy Rhiger, Hennepin County Lib., MN

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2021
Loah's widowed mother, Dr. Anastasia Londonderry, a world-renowned ornithologist specializing in birds of the Arctic tundra, is fearless and adventurous, attributes that are the polar opposite of those possessed by her daughter, a shy homebody. Dr. Londonderry's passion takes her to the Arctic for extended periods, and she depends on an elderly pair of siblings, the Rinkers, to take care of Loah and the house -- a system that works well until it doesn't. The breakdown comes at the beginning of summer when Dr. Londonderry elects to stay in the Arctic, on her own. Her situation turns precarious; both Rinkers fall ill and are hospitalized; and the house, in a state of neglectful disrepair, is cited for numerous code violations. It's up to Loah to somehow save her mother, support the Rinkers, and deal with threatening visits from an unfriendly housing inspector -- a series of challenges not included in her usual skillset. Spurred into action by a new friend who is as bold as Loah is timid, Loah finds the internal strength to meet these external forces. The authentic and compelling narrative sings with avian metaphors as Springstubb plays with language, crafting her story around the concept of an egg -- "the most perfect thing in the universe" -- an object that initially houses life but in time allows that life to emerge independently. Betty Carter

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 1, 2021
Loah's been left--again--in the care of the elderly Rinkers while her mother is on an Arctic expedition. A determined homebody, 11-year-old Loah doesn't enjoy her mother's long, sometimes perilous journeys. This one's been unexpectedly extended since her mom, an ornithologist, believes she's spotted a loah bird, the very rare animal for which Loah was named. Stiff, seemingly unemotional Miss Rinker and her brother, gentle, bumbling Theo, are nice enough, but they are inadequate substitutes for a mother who is so deeply engaged in her professional life. When Loah befriends Ellis (or L.S., whose real name is Little Squirrel), a girl just as deeply in need of TLC as Loah, it puts into motion a series of tender gestures. One lovingly crafted character after another (most seemingly White) reaches out to offer unexpected, desperately needed support, demonstrating a remarkable chain of interconnectedness. As Loah's mother had said, "All living creatures depended on one another in ways big and small." With mysterious noises emanating from Loah's crumbling home's turret, Ellis' seemingly monstrous grandfather, a threatening, busybody home inspector, and a suspenseful accident in the Arctic, there is plenty to keep readers engaged in this heartfelt exploration of goodness. Never-intrusive environmental lessons are an added bonus. Satisfying and life affirming: a perfect thing in the universe of juvenile fiction. (Fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2021
Loah's widowed mother, Dr. Anastasia Londonderry, a world-renowned ornithologist specializing in birds of the Arctic tundra, is fearless and adventurous, attributes that are the polar opposite of those possessed by her daughter, a shy homebody. Dr. Londonderry's passion takes her to the Arctic for extended periods, and she depends on an elderly pair of siblings, the Rinkers, to take care of Loah and the house -- a system that works well until it doesn't. The breakdown comes at the beginning of summer when Dr. Londonderry elects to stay in the Arctic, on her own. Her situation turns precarious; both Rinkers fall ill and are hospitalized; and the house, in a state of neglectful disrepair, is cited for numerous code violations. It's up to Loah to somehow save her mother, support the Rinkers, and deal with threatening visits from an unfriendly housing inspector -- a series of challenges not included in her usual skillset. Spurred into action by a new friend who is as bold as Loah is timid, Loah finds the internal strength to meet these external forces. The authentic and compelling narrative sings with avian metaphors as Springstubb plays with language, crafting her story around the concept of an egg -- "the most perfect thing in the universe" -- an object that initially houses life but in time allows that life to emerge independently.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)