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Anna Whiston Donaldson

Author of Rare Bird

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Rare Bird Book

In this New York Times bestseller, Anna Whiston-Donaldson unfolds a mother’s story of loss that leads, in time, to enduring hope.

On an ordinary September day, twelve-year-old Jack is swept away in a freak neighborhood flood. His parents and younger sister are left to wrestle with the awful questions: How could God let this happen? And, Can we ever be happy again? They each fall into the abyss of grief in different ways. And in the days and months to come, they each find their faltering way toward peace.

With this unforgettable account of a family’s love and longing, Anna will draw you deeper into a divine goodness that keeps us—beyond all earthly circumstances—safe. This is a book about facing impossible circumstances and wanting to turn back the clock. It is about the flicker of hope in realizing that in times of heartbreak, God is closer than your own skin. It is about discovering that you’re braver than you think.

Rare Bird is Available at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Stacy Morrison

In her beautiful, clear-eyed prose Anna brings to life complex miracles: that the anchor of being strong is tied to feelings of unbearable weakness; that the ache of grief is often accompanied by glittering beauty; and that all we do not understand is more important to making sense of life than what we know. Her story, as well as Jack’s story, is gorgeous, bold and true, and no one will be unchanged in reading it.

Stacy Morrison
Editor in Chief, BlogHer; author of Falling Apart in One Piece

Glennon Doyle Melton

Anna’s writing just glimmers; it somehow has light in it. This book took my breath away, but when I put it down,  felt able to breathe more deeply than I could before. Rare Bird is a masterpiece of hope, love, and the resilience and ferocity of the human spirit.

Glennon Doyle Melton
NYT Bestselling Author of "Carry On, Warrior" and the amazing blog Momastery.com

Mary C. Neal

Rare Bird is not just another well-written story of love, loss, and the aftermath of death, but it is a story that clearly shows the constant presence and grace of a loving God. It gives assurance and comfort to those whose hearts are grieving, and hope to those who are afraid.

Mary C. Neal
MD, New York Times best-selling author of To Heaven and Back

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Meet Anna

Anna Whiston-Donaldson is an author and speaker. Her part-time work in a church bookstore solidified something Anna already suspected—books can change lives.

Learn more about Anna.

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Rare Bird

Rare Bird helps people who are grieving a loss, and those who are trying to love them well in the midst of it.

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