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Description
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava LavenderA 2015 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga. Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava in all other ways a normal girl is born with the wings of a bird. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen
A 2015 William C. Morris YA Debut Award FinalistMagical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga. Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava -- in all other ways a normal girl -- is born with the wings of a bird. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naive to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the summer solstice celebration. That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava's quest and her family's saga build to a devastating crescendo. First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
Published: 03/25/2014
ISBN: 9780763665661
Pages: 301
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.80w x 1.20d
Award: Tayshas Reading - Commended
Award: Literary Award - Winner
Award: William C. Morris YA Debut Award - Finalist
Award: Washington State Book Award - Winner
Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 12/23/2013
School Library Journal 02/01/2014 pg. 116
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2014
Booklist 03/01/2014 pg. 72
Shelf Awareness 03/25/2014
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2014
PW Best Children's Books 11/03/2014 pg. 48
PW Children's Starred Reviews 12/01/2014 pg. 99
SLJ's Best Books 12/01/2014 pg. 26
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2014 pg. 133 - Recommended, Satisfactory
Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 168895 / Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Reading Level: 6.8 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 12
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4.3 ★★★★★
Based on 6 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
A Totally Unique and Lasting Ball Toy Which Captures My Older and Previously Lethargic Dog’s Attention
Size: 3.5"
At about the time of my dog’s 8th birthday, I felt discouraged when I noticed a change in his playing habits and he seemed bored with most of his former favorite playthings. At a younger age, he played for hours until he exhausted himself, and then after a deep and lengthy nap he would resume playing with his toys.
His indoor playing time had decreased even though he was in perfect health. He does not have any arthritis, and he does not have any aches or pain, he was just mostly bored with his toys and after about 10 minutes of playing, he would walk away, stretch out and lie down. He seemed to have lost his interest in chasing after a ball, and I was getting desperate to find something new and completely different to end his daily lethargic existence.
These Gnawsome squeak and light balls have re-captured his interest as something completely different that he had never experienced with any of his other toys. Currently, he has several of these squeak and light balls and in two sizes, the medium 3.5” and the larger 4.5”. There are a variety of colors with different color flashing lights. Both the medium and the extra-large size are suitable for larger breed dogs like my Old English sheepdog. The large dimension guarantees safety that he will not accidentally swallow and choke, because they are too big to slide down his throat.
What makes this squeak ball unique is the addition of a flashing light, as this is something different that he had never experienced with any of his toys.
As he mouths the ball, a light inside the ball starts to flash with color. When he sees the flickering light he then drops the ball and he stares and watches and perks up his ears. When the flickering light stops he bats the ball around, grabs it in his mouth and tries to squeak and flash the light again. It’s obvious that the flashing light fascinates him and he enjoys the squeak sound as he mouths this ball. In addition, the soft flexible rubber spikes must feel good against his gums.
In the mornings as I struggle to wake-up and grab a cup of coffee, he is right there nudging my leg with his ball. He drops it at my feet, and starts running down our long hallway in anticipation of the throw and catch game. At night, it’s even better, I’ll turn off the lights and he can easily see the ball to catch it, and the ball lights flicker as it bounces against our hard tile floor.
I started his Gnawsome Squeak and Light Ball collection almost a year ago with both the large and the medium ball sizes. He has two Reds, two Greens, and one Blue scattered around our home because he carries and plays with them from room to room. Each color ball has a different color light. The Red ones light up red, the Green ones flash a green light, and his Blue one flickers with both a red and a blue light. The only color that we don’t have is the yellow, but I’m still hoping to get that color too.
I am impressed that they have all retained both the squeak and their flashing/flickering lights.
These balls are lightweight so they really go a distance when thrown, and the color NEVER comes off on our white woodwork.
This is one of the best dog toys that I have discovered, they are unique, durable and the squeak and flickering lights last through his mouthing, and normal playing habits. My dog loves them and they are his very favorite toys. In addition, and these light strobe balls may even work for a dog whose hearing has declined, because instead of hearing a ‘bounce’, the dog could just follow and chase the flashing light.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2017
★★★★★ 5
Great Toy!
Size: 3.5"
My dog loves it. The ball is not soft, that's why I chose it for my super chewer dog. The squeak pitch is a medium level. The ball fits comfortably in her mouth. I would say it's an average weight.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Durable for large dogs
Size: 3.5"
This is adorable ball. I have a 90 pound Dog and is still intact. I’d like to use it at night when I throw the ball because it lights up my Dog likes this ball over any tennis ball. It’s chewy and a little spikes massages there gums. I bought this ball 9 months ago and he plays with it every day. The light still works.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Dog loves it
Size: 3.5"
Beautiful blue, No smell, Dog like the soft spikes. Very bouncy. The light only work when I bounce it hard enough and it hits just right.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2025
★★★★★ 5
HE WON’T STOP PLAYING!!!!! Ha Ha!
Size: 3.5", Size: 3.5"
Just when I thought I couldn’t find a toy that would let me watch a 2 1/2 hour movie without interruption…. This came along!! I had to hide it overnight, but he saw where I hid it and he whined for 20 minutes until he finally went to sleep and they say dogs don’t have long-term memory well, this one as soon as I woke up was sitting right by the closet where the ball was hiding, he hasn’t let it go since ….the disco lights are fun, especially at night!!!The only thing is he’s biting the little spikes off but at least he’s spitting them out which is a good thing. Highly recommend for hours and hours of enjoyment plus it’s very bouncy.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023