Sandy Stark-McGinnis is the author of Extraordinary Birds and an award-winning poet. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Sandy lives with her husband and children in California, where she works as a fifth-grade teacher.
A compelling portrait of a girl negotiating the harrowing journey. * BCCB, starred review * Moving. * Publishers Weekly * Filled with raw emotion and exemplifying the power of family, The Space Between Lost and Found is a moving novel in which a girl struggles to find her place in an upended world. * Foreword Reviews * Stark-McGinnis writes with empathy. . . . Thoughtful and enlightening. * Booklist * Cassie's perceptive narration rings true . . . A sensitive exploration. * Kirkus Reviews * Cassie is an engaging narrator.....The delivery of the book’s art and math themes is effective without being heavy-handed and helps unify the story... [An] emotionally intense read. * Horn Book Magazine * A beautiful story filled with heart. * Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s and coauthor of To Night Owl from Dogfish, on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * An amazing debut -- filled with heart, lyrical prose, and a heroine who soars! * Jewell Parker Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Boys, on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * A heartbreaking and hopeful story about a young girl who learns the power of kindness and the beauty of belonging. * School Library Journal, starred review, on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * Poignant... This heartbreaking but ultimately redemptive middle grade novel shows the beauty of accepting one's true self and finding a place to belong. * Foreword Reviews, starred review, on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * Stark-McGinnis nimbly constructs poignant relationships born of reciprocal patience, trust, and understanding, and December’s connections with Eleanor, Cheryllynn, and the red-tailed hawk feel authentic and earned… This sensitive debut is a sincere and hopeful exploration of family, history, and belonging from a promising new voice. * Publishers Weekly on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * Stark-McGinnis’ prose is carefully crafted, direct, and convincing...appealingly hopeful. * Kirkus Reviews on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * This ably constructed first-person narrative is meant to tug at the heartstrings and it surely does, encouraging readers to hope for a happy ending to this affecting story. * Booklist on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * Stark-McGinnis adds a vivid artistic flourish with the avian theme [and] writes with smooth sympathy… This is a gracefully written modern take on the orphan story. * BCCB on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * Emotional, bittersweet, and ultimately uplifting. In her first novel, author Sandy Stark-McGinnis deftly walks the line between showing the sadness and uncertainty in main character December's life without letting the story get too intense or heavy. December is a great characte.... Her narrative is engaging and heart-rending, showing how kids in tough circumstances have to protect themselves emotionally.....This is an excellent read for middle-grade readers and up. * Common Sense Media on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * An emotional tale about finding one’s home and facing one’s truth...An extraordinary debut! * Ellie Terry, author of Forget Me Not, on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS * This soulful story will wing its way straight into your heart. * Jess Keating, zoologist and author of the My Life is a Zoo series, on EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS *