Bird
Bird, this novel that hit me hard but left me the pieces to put myself back together was more than I expected when I opened the pages and I started to read about Jewel and her family. She was born the night her five-year old brother decided to fly off the boulder because his name was Bird and he had dreams of flying. Imagine celebrating your birthday every year while your parents are grieving over the loss of a child, it’s really not much of a celebration. What happened on the day of her birth, Jewel will soon find out but her world is consumed right now with a grandfather who does not speak, two parents, a battle at home about superstitious duppies and her new friend John. Jewel wishes she knew why her grandfather doesn’t speak but no one wants to talk about it. His constant vigil for the duppies and his antics for resistance had me questioning grandpa state of mind. John, Jewel’s new friend from down the road, proves to be a good outlet for her. She is able to relax and the two of them tell stories and some secrets they both held deep inside. It seemed almost too perfect and it was, for things took a nosedive and I was left with my mouth hanging open. What just happened, really?!? Crystal Chan provided an excellent conclusion, one that provided hope, understanding, and affection.
It was an impressive book from the beginning. Jewel was kept in the dark about her brother and about why her grandfather did not speak. Her parents do not talk to her that much and when she asked them questions, those questions get sidelined. Crystal did an excellent job with the pace of the book; there was never a lull in the book or a time where there was too much dialog or description. Grandpa was an interesting character, without having spoken any words, Crystal ability to describe his actions and his mannerism you understand his position in life and how he relates to the family. Truly an enjoyable read.
