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Uplift

By Jessica Mann

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Overview

When her high mountain wilderness is threatened by humans, a rebellious young bird must teach others how to work together to save their common home.

PRAISE for UPLIFT

“A deeply imaginative and thought-provoking novel that beautifully merges storytelling with environmental awareness. . . An excellent read for nature lovers, families, and anyone looking for an imaginative tale with heart and purpose. Its rich storytelling and heartfelt message make it a standout novel that deserves to be cherished and shared.” —IBPA Book Awards

“Enchanting and enlightening. . .  A poignant reminder of the environmental challenges of today. . . . A highly recommended read for its captivating narrative and important central message.”—Readers’ Favorite 5-star review

“A riveting must-read for everyone who wants to know what birds are thinking and feeling from their point of view. . . . A compelling and moving story with an important message.” —Psychology Today

"Reading like part ancient myth and part experimental fiction, (Uplift) is a great read for a cold winter's night, transporting you deep into the Rocky Mountains with some of its most fascinating inhabitants." —The Nature Conservancy

"From the beginning of this thoughtful novel, readers will grasp the beautiful symbiosis between the bird family and nature in their wilderness home. . . Mann’s striking presentation of this naturalist world—heightened by Steve Habersang’s pen-and-ink illustrations—combines instinctual wisdom with inventive adaptability. A beautiful portrait of nature's cycles.” —Publishers Weekly Book Life

"Richly imagined. . . Clever plot turns kept me turning the pages. . .  And like the title, we do feel uplifted by the end…"—Marina Richie, author, Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher, winner of the 2024 John Burroughs medal

—CURRENTLY RATED “5-STARS” by Amazon readers


AWARDS:
  • National Independent Excellence Awards Winner 
  • IBPA Book Awards Silver medal
  • Readers’ Favorite Bronze medal
  • NYC Big Book Awards Winner
  • Indies Today runner up
  • Hollywood Book Festival runner up



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Description

Born high in a spruce tree, Columbina and her brothers grow up listening to ancestral tales through long winters and harvesting pine seeds in summer. But Columbina begins to question her clan’s traditions and forms bonds with creatures beyond her species. When she uncovers a looming threat from the mysterious Tall Ones, she must decide how far she’ll go to protect her world. A richly imaginative novel told through avian eyes, UPLIFT explores the strength of community, the power of interconnection, and the impact of environmental change. It may just change the way you see birds forever.

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About The Author

Jessica Mann is an award-winning author who divides her time between Teton Valley, ID and Ojai, CA. A naturalist and conservationist for 35 years, UPLIFT is her debut novel. To learn more about her or the book please visit her website at https://jessicamann.org 

The author is donating profits from the sale of UPLIFT to organizations dedicated to the conservation of birds and nature. The more books sold, the greater good it can do!

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Book details

  • Genre:fiction
  • Sub-genre:Animals
  • Language:English
  • Pages:288
  • eBook ISBN:9798350968132
  • Paperback ISBN:9798350968125

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Book Reviews

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Cynthia
An uplifting journey into the natural world What a delightful book! ‘Uplift’ takes us to beautiful and fascinating places we can only imagine. Starkly stunning alpine landscapes are described, through the seasons, from the eyes, ears and minds of the creatures that live there. Columbina, a precocious Clark’s Nutcracker befriends Halcyon, a wise and empathetic Kingfisher and the tale that weaves from this unlikely encounter introduces us to a wonderful collection of animals, insects, trees and eventually, human presence, surviving together in a fragile and intricate environment. The personalities of the creatures are completely believable - what it might be like to be a freshly born bird looking up at the world from inside a crowded nest, or flying with your clan from tree to tree in desperate search of food, or trying to figure out what might be the cause of lakes drying up or what is that noisy and smelly thing churning up snow. The story leads to an inevitable confrontation between man and forest creatures and the ending is heartbreaking as well as heartwarming - leaving the reader uplifted and enlightened. Reading this book is pure joy. Read more
Liz
What we can learn from animals I finished reading Uplift this weekend and enjoyed it very much. I think of it as a fable, because the characters are forest animals and plants who teach us important lessons in the course of their adventures. Jessica is a naturalist and the story is supported by accurate descriptions of animal behavior, climate and other natural phenomena. The book's heroine, a young Clark's Nutcracker named Columbina, is highly intelligent; she is able to foresee disastrous events and enlist other creatures to help her avert them. It's unusual to read a book told entirely from the point of view of animals, but I quickly became absorbed by the story, and the animals' unique voices rang true to me. Scientists are learning more every day about the abilities of trees to communicate with each other, altruism and cooperation between animals and many other aspects of nature that were once believed impossible. Jessica uses real science and familiar species to encourage us to work together to address climate change and habitat loss. Read more
Sandra
Uplift The title of this book says it all. It is a wonderful story that draws you into the complex world of birds and nature with its descriptive imagery and character development. The important story message highlights the environmental challenges all living beings face in today’s world. Read more