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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
Inspired by a pair of real birds with an unbreakable bond This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. By
CARON LEVIS Illustrated by
CHARLES SANTOSO
Abrams Books for Young Readers • New York
The illustrations for this book were made with digital brushes and love. Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-1-4197-5458-6 Text © 2022 Caron Levis Illustrations © 2022 Charles Santoso Book design by Jade Rector Published in 2022 by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Abrams Books for Young Readers are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity This is an advance, uncorrected proof. for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below. Not for resale, duplication, or is a registered Harry N. Abrams, Inc. reposting. Abrams Please dotrademark notofquote without comparison to the finished book. ®
For all who together apart And my far but close friends With special feathers for CE, J & T —C.L. For Wordy C —C.S.
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Rain or shine, Klepetan and Malena explored every season together. When spring bloomed and hopped, he inspected everything closely—klep, klep, hmm—
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and she jumped into it all with wings wide open.
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At night they nestled side by side planning their next adventures.
Summer would be for swimming and fishing. Then in fall, they would migrate with the flock, all the way from Croatia to South Africa, to spend the next season in the bright, warm air.
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The journey was long and sometimes dangerous. So Klepetan went over the directions, while Malena practiced navigating rough winds. “We’re brave explorers!” She squawked. Klepetan agreed. “Whatever the weather, we’ll weather it—” “Feathers together!” they declared.
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But then Malena got hurt.
They didn’t understand how it happened—so fast, too blurry. Klepetan swooped right to Malena’s side. His beak gently tapped her favorite tune as everyone at the pond rushed to help.
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After much resting and healing, Malena’s wing did not hurt, but it wouldn’t flap, so she couldn’t fly up to their nest.
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Luckily, the kind featherheaded man had an idea.
Soon there was a path to a new nest. The featherheaded man set out a bucket of fish. “For as long as you like, my home is your home,” he said. Klepetan checked that everything was sturdy and snug as Malena strode up the ramp. “Whatever the weather . . .” He clacked softly. “Feathers together,” she agreed.
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That night, Malena told the jokes and Klepetan told the bedtime story as stars twinkled them to sleep.
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Now, summer was for settling into their new home and getting used to the different way Malena’s body moved. It was for fishing, swimming, and gardening, too— with the featherheaded man and the cat, who became part of the flock
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or and made Malena and Klepetan reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.part of their family.
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One cool day, the storks sensed it was time to travel. But Malena knew her wing would across uncorrected proof. This never is an fly advance, forimpossible. resale, duplication, or the world. And to swim or walk soNot far was
reposting. Please do not quote without to the finished book. “If you can’t, I won’t,” Klepetan comparison said.
“You can, and you must,” Malena insisted. “But whatever the weather . . .” he whispered.
So she gave him one of her feathers, This is an advance, uncorrected proof. and he gave her one of his. Not for resale, duplication, or Theywithout promised to send jokes in the clouds reposting. Please do not quote comparison to the finished book. and stories in the stars.
“Being apart will be a new part of our together,” they decided.
But a few days before takeoff, Malena and Klepetan weren’t ready to part at all. Everything was a last time and felt all wrong. Their last swim was too cold, the last berries too sour, and the last day was definitely too short.
“No, I don’t want to hear one last joke!” Klepetan snapped. “Stop saying the end!” Malena hissed. They stalked off and ignored each other.
That night, the nest felt tight and spiky. They kept ruffling one another the wrong way.
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So the featherheaded man told the bedtime story and tucked them in. “Friendship survives all kinds of goodbyes,” he whispered.
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In the morning, winds shifted . . .
. . . and wings lifted. “Be safe!” “Stay warm!” “Whatever the weather!” “Feathers to—” A strong gust sent the flock on their way. The villagers waved.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale,kept duplication, or and Malena watched the sky Klepetan looking back, reposting.until Please do not quote without the dots of each other disappeared. comparison to the finished book.
For several weeks, Klepetan flew south, navigating smooth currents and rough patches— without Malena.
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This is an advance, uncorrected Malena walkedproof. and rolled, Not for resale, duplication, or the whole town— getting to know reposting. Please do not quote without Klepetan. comparison to thewithout finished book.
By the time Klepetan landed, Malena had built an indoor nest. The same sun shined on them in different ways. His days grew warmer, and hers got cooler. Klepetan had the flock, and Malena had the family,
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but missing each other was like having an itch in a place neither could reach to scratch. Missing made new foods taste icky and old foods taste blah. It made sleeping too loud and waking up too quiet. This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
Klepetan got confused about how he could— or if he should— have fun without Malena.
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Sometimes, Malena got so mad about the sunny sky she couldn’t fly in, and everything not fair, that she snapped at the cold air.
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Which turned her sharp breath—
into soft clouds! Remembering her promise, Malena sent her silliest jokes south.
And when frozen stars swirled, she examined them— closely— just like Klepetan would. Klep, klep, hmm. This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
One day, miles away, Klepetan saw funny shapes in the sky. They reminded him of Malena’s best joke.
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So when a sprinkle of drops sprayed him, Klepetan laughed and jumped right in—splash! Just like Malena would. That night he sent the story through the stars.
For the rest of the season, Malena and Klepetan collected new adventures under the same sky.
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Missing became a gentle hum— like the purr of the cat or the flutter of a warm breeze.
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One day, Klepetan saw legs stretching, wings fluttering, and beaks pointing—home! He took off in a hurry, rushing, flap-flap-flap . . .
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Malena was noticing buds, tadpoles—spring! She rushed to ready the nest and wait, tap, tap, tap . . .
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But as miles, weeks, and days spun by, closer seemed farther, faster felt slower— a squall blew Klepetan off course. Rain soaked his feathers and hopes.
What if Malena wasn’t okay? Waiting? Saving his spot?
Day after day, as petals opened and frogs grew, Malena kept squinting and searching— then finally the village sky filled with wings! Except for Klepetan’s. Was he lost? Hurt? Having too much fun to return? Other storks noticed the empty spot in her nest.
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She spread her wing across it, until . . .
One last stork finally arrived! But so did a surprising silence between two old friends, suddenly new again.
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Finding the right hello was like fishing in a tangle of weeds.
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Until Malena jumped in. “Whatever the weather took you so long? I missed you!” Klepetan laughed. “Silly stork, I missed you, too.”
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After some shuffling, they remembered how they fit in the nest, side by side. Cheers rose.
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And as the sun went down, Klepetan told the jokes, Malena told the bedtime story . . .
. . . then all night long, they shared the tales of their adventures apart—
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together. This is an feathers advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
Author’s Note This book is inspired by the true story of Malena and Klepetan: two white storks (Ciconia ciconia) who spent a season of each year living over eight thousand miles apart. They reunited every spring for nineteen years in the village of Brodski Varoš, Croatia, until Malena died of old age in 2021. The pair birthed and raised sixty-six fledglings with the support of their human caretaker, Stjepan Voki ć. Stjepan, a school custodian, took in Malena in 1993 after he discovered her injured by a poacher and unable to fly. After several years, Malena was joined by a male stork, whom Stjepan named Klepetan. Klepetan would migrate to South Africa each year with the flock and then, after a dangerous monthlong journey, reunite with Malena in spring. People from all over Croatia and the world anticipated and celebrated the pair’s reunion every year with nervousness and hope. Stjepan himself was inspired to become an advocate for greater protections for storks. Ideas for this book came from the research I did about the real Malena and Klepetan, stork behavior, migration, Croatia, and South Africa. I included some real-life details and used much imagination. I am in awe of the bond these birds maintained over great time and distance. Klepetan and Malena’s story also reminded me of human families and friends for whom being apart is a part of their together. When I began writing, I was thinking of separations caused by circumstances such as military deployments, immigration, work travel, and the modern-day geographic spread of families. Then a global pandemic forced family and friends allThis over the to live apart, uncorrected and I was inspired by the ways people were creatis world an advance, proof. ing a sense of togetherness—from aNot distance. I finish duplication, this story, I am looking for As resale, or forward to reconnecting with people I love. Reuniting might make us feel confused or shy, but as the storks reminded the millions reposting. Please do not quote without to and thecelebrating finished book. who watched them, there is greatcomparison joy in rediscovering with those we love and have missed. Feathers together, Caron
P.S. Did you know that Charles Santoso and I live in different countries? As of the writing of this note, we have never met in person, but we use mail, computers, and phones to communicate—and have become friends through our books. For more information about Malena and Klepetan, search for their story at croatiaweek.com. For activities and resources on wildlife conservation and navigating separation, visit caronlevis.com.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.