Books by Suzie Gilbert
Licensed to care for injured and orphaned wildlife, Luna Burke is determined to smuggle a homicidal bald eagle out of her husband’s private zoo in Florida, reunite the bird with its mate in Pennsylvania, and get them both to an eagle sanctuary in Canada. Trying to stop her are her furious husband, his bodyguards, and the authorities; aiding and abetting her are a smitten young tech guy, a lethal Navy SEAL turned panther advocate, and an underground railroad of wildlife rescuers. Unflappable is a comic suspense story, an epic road trip, and a page-turning adventure with a big cast of unconventional characters, both human and not.
“A rollicking debut novel… Gilbert does a great job of describing the distinct world of her characters, and the plot builds nail-biting suspense.” – Publishers Weekly
“in this eco-woke suspense story… excitement, adventure, romance, and sex fill the book’s pages, as does a wacky cast of characters… This zany rescue tale starring an eagle offers readers a great escape.” – Kirkus
“Longtime bird rehabber Suzie Gilbert’s funny, fast-paced debut novel is a great read.” – Audubon Magazine, one of its Three Best Summer Reads of 2020
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“If there’s a special heaven for animals, it has connecting doors to the one for wildlife rehabbers, those incredible people who care for injured and orphaned animals. Suzie Gilbert is one such person, and Flyaway recounts her early experiences as a licensed bird rehabilitator sacrificing money, emotion, and family time for the care of feathered charges.
“Gilbert embarked with a list of strict rules (no water birds, no raptors, no nestlings, no crows!), but quickly discovered she’d break every one. Bird rehab is a bittersweet game: Success means releasing the creatures you’ve nurtured and loved, a parting nearly as final as death. It requires a tricky mental balance Gilbert found so elusive that, for a time, she closed her business; it was a bird on the “no” list that helped her back. George was a crow who stayed on as a friend when given his freedom—until autumn came. Renowned birder Roger Tory Peterson said, “First birds captivate you, then they enslave you.” Ultimately, Suzie Gilbert decides to accept this bondage so that a few more birds can live free.” – Susan Krawitz, Chronogram
“Funny, insightful, and remarkable … Most of us see birds through binoculars and windows. Suzie Gilbert has entered their lives.” – Carl Zimmer, The New York Times
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When Pete moves to a new town he can’t seem to make any friends. But one day he takes a new road home from school, and what he discovers changes him forever. Debut author Suzie Gilbert’s lyrical text is paired perfectly with magnificent watercolor paintings by best-selling artist Sylvia Long.
“When a lonely boy who loves birds begins to share in the rescue of injured raptors, he finds hope, friendship and a profound connection with wild creatures. The striking paintings, paired with an eloquent text, make for the finest natural history title of the year.” — Smithsonian
“Debut author Gilbert’s text—as loquacious as its characters are laconic—draws readers easily and gently into Pete’s world. In the warm light of Long’s watercolors, humans and wild creatures share a believable albeit brief kinship. Ultimately, the tale is of a lasting human friendship: the woman teaches the boy the dignity of his reticence; he inspires in her the courage to call wild animals her own before letting them go.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A wealth of information on raptors can easily be absorbed from this readable story of a shy boy who becomes a helper at a wildlife rehabilitation center. . . . This is a fine introduction to the world of raptors and the patient work of the nature lovers who care for the wounded and helpless birds. It satisfies both as a narrative and as a well-researched source of information that can be used with science projects or read aloud to a class.”—School Library Journal
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