Bird, by Angela Johnson, 2004

Bird is a runaway searching for someone who left. Jay is a juvenile under house arrest mourning what has died. Ethan is luckier than he realizes -- he has the thing both of them want most, and can never get back. Three young people's stories weave together in a short realistic novel of melancholy beauty. My appetite for happy endings was left half-unfed, but I salute the honesty in this mature story of finding pardon, finding kindness, and letting go. Strongly recommended.