The world's greatest singer is right outside your window. But you have to notice.
The Northern mockingbird's brilliant song--a loud, bright, liquid sampling of musical notes and phrases--has made it a beloved companion and the official bird of five states.
Mockingbirds have followed human settlement for centuries. Many Native American myths and legends feature mockingbirds, often teaching humans to speak. Thomas Jefferson's mockingbird, Dick, was the first White House pet. John James Audubon's portrait of a rattlesnake raiding a mockingbird's nest sparked outrage in the world of art. Atticus Finch's somber warning to his children, "Remember, it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird," is known throughout the world. Some jazz musicians credit mockingbirds with teaching them a four-note call that says, "Break's over." And mockingjays--a hybrid between jabberjays and mockers--are a symbol of the rebel cause in the Hunger Games trilogy.
But in the early 1900s the mocker was plummeting toward extinction. Thousands had been trapped and caged. Something had to be done. To the rescue came a powerful group of wealthy society ladies.
Now, National Book Award and Newbery honor-winning nonfiction master Phillip Hoose brings the story of the important and overlooked connection between humans and mockingbirds--past, present, and future.
Duet is a case study in courage, resilience, and the power of song. As author Steve Sheinkin puts it, "This book will change how you listen to the world."
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