Louder- A Songbirds Manifesto

LOUDER- A Songbirds Manifesto
By Martha Johnston

In Michigan’s fire-dependent Jack pine forests, a young male Kirtland’s warbler named Sparky is born into a world where flames make way for new life. But while fire helps the forest grow, Sparky struggles to find his own voice. His raspy, off-key squawk doesn’t match the polished melodies of the elegant suburban flock known as the Kirtlanders.

Next door lives Riot, a fiercely independent girl who feels just as out of place. When Riot cannonballs into the flock’s pristine world and challenges Sparky with a single word — “Louder” — an unlikely friendship ignites.

As Sparky discovers that his rough voice holds real power — strong enough to defend his territory and rally a crowd — he and Riot form a band that turns self-expression into activism. Together, they inspire others to protect the endangered Kirtland’s warbler and the fragile Jack pine forest they call home.

LOUDER is about reclaiming what makes you different, embracing your voice, and discovering that being “too much” might be exactly what the world needs.