Schroder, Monika.
Be Light Like A Bird.
Capstone Publishers
2017
240p
$25.99
ISBN 978-1-4965
3301-2 ms/jr
Realistic fiction
VG-BN
When Wren’s father dies in a plane crash, her mother
ineffectively deals with her grief by junking all of his things and sets out to
find a better place to live. (“Any place but
here.”) After attending
three
new schools in less than a year, 12-year-old Wren puts
her foot down and tells her mother they must settle down. At
the school in Pyramid, Wren is the odd person out. She tries to fit into the popular
crowd but quickly realizes that she is not accepted. Another misfit, Theo,
becomes her partner on an English debate project. She begins to realize that she and Theo make
a good pair, as both become deeply involved in saving an
untouched pond, home to many species of birds and wildlife, from
being filled in for an expansion of the local landfill. The
extended cast of quirky characters helps Wren and
Theo, on the project as well as
offering sage advice on life. The local conservation effort is seamlessly
brought into the plot, with school and community conflicts presented
realistically. The novel does not necessarily have
a
happy-ever-after
ending, but it is an ending that is filled with hope for the future for Wren,
her mother, Theo, and his father. The author
contrasts the metaphors of being light as a bird
(who has a direction and goals) versus light as a feather (that just
floats), lending a unique view of how to live life. A
novel to be cherished. Recommended
for all middle school students as the conservation subplot keeps the story of
grief and its effects on characters from becoming too heavy.
Summary: When Wren’s father dies, her mother
ineffectively deals with their grief. Three new schools in less than a year is
difficult. Wren becomes active in an effort to save a pond from being bulldozed
into a landfill. Excellent writing. Characters well drawn. Gr. 5-8.
Grief-Fiction, Conservation-Fiction --Lois
McNicol
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