Cast of Characters THE SIZZLING SIX Clara Chen Clara has excellent common sense but can be stubborn when faced with new challenges She is loyal to her friends Sarah Datdan Sarah is dependable and caring She has a vivid imagination which sometimes goes wild She scares easily Alex Kohn Alex is thoughtful and curious She can be quiet and shy at times She is a keen photographer and is passionate passionate about nature Rose Perez Rose is a daredevil and drama queen who seeks attention and adventure She is athletic confident and a go getter She is usually cheerful and easily makes friends Sophie Price Sophie is very sensitive She is a dreamer and a creative thinker Sophie appreciates fairness and enjoys socializing with her friends Grace Willis Grace doesn't like to lose an argument She marches to her own beat and is very energetic She has an unusual sense of humor and often tells jokes to calm people people down vii
THE VANISHING BIRDS OTHERS Luke Truman and José Sanchez Luke and José are Sizzling Six's classmates Luke is outgoing but also kind of a science and technology nerd Like his friend José he is adventurous José loves exploring outdoors alone or with his friend Luke José's father is a scientist who serves as his role model Raymundo Ortiz Raymundo lives in Mexico as do his best friends Pedro Manuel and Herman They call themselves Los Halcones or the Falcons He enjoys playing soccer and helping the local nature organizations with his friends He hopes to be an ornithologist one day a scientist who studies studies birds Sofía Bridges Sofía is from Argentina but has traveled all over the world with her father who leads hiking trips to study birds Sofía is daring and adventurous and loves exploring exploring new subjects and places She is used to being around adults and well known scientists and appreciates when her own work also gets the respect it deserves Alysie Muckpa Alysie has silky black hair and beautiful dark eyes that are constantly studying the world around her She grew up with a biologist for a father and travels with him on many research trips Alysie is tough curious and not one to back down from a challenge viii
Preface All across the planet birds wing across their flyways in search of food and shelter They are zipping high above the oceans forests deltas marshes rivers villages towns cities cities church spires skyscrapers and highways All across the planet birds come to rest on shores where turtles and crabs lay eggs and fish spawn They shelter in forests for the night feed in fields where insects hatch and flowers bloom providing food to fuel their journeys Over land and sea birds battle storms and icy winds crash into glass windows are killed by bullets eaten by cats poisoned by toxic chemicals and starved for lack of habitat And all across the world people young and old are joining together like a wave to help birds survive ix
