Books by John (Washington State University) Irby

The Junior class of the Prairie Winds School of Flight has flown over two hundred miles to compete in the annual South Dakota competition for red-tailed hawks.Two days later with the competition completed, they depart for home despite threatening weather. The happy young flyers eagerly take to the air, their youthful hearts beating as one. But eight hours into their twelve-hour flight, they disappear without a trace.When Kate Flannery, a friend of the hawks since the age of twelve, learns the class has gone missing, she launches a rescue mission. Heading off into the teeth of the South Dakota storm, Kate is determined to find the missing young red-tailed hawks.However, Kate finds herself facing much worse than the dangers of the blizzard. Once again, hawks and humans must unite to help save those they love.

The lives of one highly educated red-tailed hawk named Orville and Kate, a 12-year-old girl, intersect one day on South Dakota ranchland. Orville has a slight vision problem due to faulty DNA, and Kate needs a friend. When Orville crash lands into the side of the Flannery's home, Kate and her parents rescue him and take him to the local vet for treatment.With Orville's broken leg nearly healed, he and Kate go fishing. Orville flies back, carrying the fishing pole in his talons, as part of his physical therapy, while Kate walks alone across the vast prairie. Only she does not arrive.Her parents gone for the Labor Day Weekend, leaving a slightly addled grandmother at home, now creates a desperate situation for Kate. Orville and his schoolmates, the county sheriff's department, and a police dog named Deputy Grace must combine forces to find Kate before it's too late.