Ari is a fourteen-year old girl who has just lost her father. She suddenly finds herself obliged to relocate to Oregon and reside with her distant, unfamiliar Indian-American family. Unsettled and overtaken by the fast changes, Ari finds herself disconnected from her new home, family and friends. Although her new circle is warm and welcoming, it is deeply rooted in tradition, with differing dynamics and interests than her own. Ari feels lonely and longs for her old home. Her mother’s necklace provides her comfort and soon proves to possess both mystical power and a grand responsibility. Still, Ari’s feelings persist and sit heavy in her heart. She constructs a plan to assure her return, starting by running away and hiding in the nearby woods. There, by accident and fate, Ari discovers a new world called Cascadia, which is ruled by hierarchical societies of governing birds. It is here that Ari will be challenged and her future set in place. Being different from the others and possessing a unique object, Ari is assigned the most important task – to find out who is responsible for the death of the chickadees, whose population is in fast decline. But solving the mystery proves to be arduous, and returning home is unlikely.

Indian-American, emerging writer Neha Hewitt’s debut draws on her bi-cultural richness, creating a mystical world that allows for both of her cultures to coexist in one place. Hewitt harmonically interlaces Indian folklore with the natural landscape of Oregon to create the mystical world of Cascadia. In honoring her cultures, she displays the value of heritage and family, while at the same time addressing and questioning cultural differences and ideologies. Hewitt also touches on other topics of interest throughout the book, such as ecological awareness and conservation, LGBTQIA+ inclusiveness, and diabetes and medical dependence. This is a complex, cohesive and entertaining text that examines connections and identity on the path to self-discovery.

In this fascinating new middle grade novel, readers follow Ari as she struggles to adjust to her new life in Portland, Oregon, with her large and unfamiliar extended Indian family after losing her father. After stealing her mother’s necklace and escaping into the forest, Ari discovers a terrifying world of wild birds in and around the Forest Park trails in Portland. With more than just her return home at stake, Ari must help the birds discover why so many are mysteriously dying and prevent a war between the species and discover what home really means to her. Powerful, fascinating, and packed with details, readers will love this unique new novel and the fascinating worlds it brings to life. Grounded in reality and weaving i n some unique fantasy elements, readers will really love this vibrant and complex world that Neha Hewitt has brought to life. The characters and emotional challenges are well-written and detailed, and readers will definitely sympathize with and understand Ari’s emotions and character arc over the course of the novel. Entertaining, unique, and detailed, this is a great new middle grade novel that readers will love for its mix of genres, great characters, relatable emotional storylines, and incredible world-building.

Ari used to lead a happy life, but then her father dies, and her mother decides to become a war-zone journalist, meaning Ari has to move in with auntie Priyas family in Portland. Which means leaving her friends. Which means living with her rude cousins. Which means doing puja in Sundays, and being addressed with Hindi words. And Ari realises that, being half Hindi and half white, there is a lot she doesn't know about her Hindi heritage. But when the alienation becomes too much, she stumbles into a whole new world, a world on the brink of war – and she might be the only one who can stop it.

This book really captures how it can feel to be a stranger in your own culture, and the conflicting emotions that can bring. It is also just a really interesting story and premise, and I especially liked the world Ari stumbles into. That said, it could at times be a bit difficult to picture what was happening in the story, like who was talking or what someone looked like. But for the most part, it was a really enjoyable adventure to follow along with Ari as she discovered more and more.

I think this book would be fun for anyone who wants to go on a fantastical adventure, especially if you have any interest in Hindi culture and how that can look in the US. Or if you just enjoy nature and birds.

I received a free digital ARC copy of this book for reviewing from Köehler Books via Netgalley, for which I am very thankful. However, my review is based on my honest opinions.

This was a fun middle grade fantasy with an important message about the damage invasive species can cause. What really stood out to me as I read Cascadia's Call was how Ari evolved to care not only about peace in Cascadia but also the extended family she found so much difficulty tolerating at the start of her visit. Anyone with a concern for the environment or who enjoys coming-of-age stories will love journeying with Ari as she learns to appreciate what she has while trying to prevent war in Cascadia.

I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reading Cascadia’s Call by Neha Hewitt was a moving and immersive experience. I was immediately drawn into Ari’s world—a fourteen-year-old navigating the pain of her father’s death and the upheaval of moving from her familiar biracial family life to live with extended relatives in Portland, Oregon. The emotional honesty with which Hewitt writes Ari’s grief and confusion felt authentic and relatable. When Ari escapes into the wilds of Forest Park, the story takes on a magical, almost mythic quality, as she finds herself entangled in a mysterious conflict among the birds and discovers that her mother’s necklace is the key to peace in the forest. This blend of coming-of-age realism and fantasy was both surprising and captivating.

What resonated most with me was how the novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the courage it takes to find your voice when you feel like an outsider. Ari’s journey is not just about returning home, but about redefining what home means after loss and change. The lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of the Pacific Northwest’s natural beauty added depth and atmosphere, making the setting feel like a character in its own right. Cascadia’s Call is a heartfelt, suspenseful, and ultimately hopeful story that will stay with me for a long time.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

"Suddenly she was dreaming of a bluebird perched on her dad's shoulder, chittering into his ear as if they were old friends."

What an absolutely lovely story. Hewitt has such an easy flowing style, and Ari is a relatable character. Can't wait for my kids to read her story. It's found family and finding yourself and finding solace and hope in nature. All in one story, with a touch of magical realism. Perfect.

A lovely and suspenseful story about a girl coming to terms with her heritage and the loss of her father through the discovery of her family's special ability and the conection with birds...
I believe I was simply a missed audience hence the 3 stars.