From Powells.com
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Staff Pick
After Jack and her brother Birdie lose their mom, they move to a small town to live with their uncles. As they adjust to their new life, they navigate some big issues including grief, identity, family, home, and community. I laughed and cried and will remember this lovely book forever. Recommended By Leah C., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
An emotional and uplifting debut about a girl named Jack and her gender creative little brother, Birdie, searching for the place where they can be their true and best selves.
After their mama dies, Jack and Birdie find themselves without a place to call home. And when Mama's two brothers each try to provide one — first sweet Uncle Carl, then gruff Uncle Patrick — the results are funny, tender, and tragic.
They're also somehow . . . spectacular.
With voices and characters that soar off the page, J. M. M. Nuanez's debut novel depicts an unlikely family caught in a situation none of them would have chosen, and the beautiful ways in which they finally come to understand one another. Perfect for fans of The Thing about Jellyfish and Counting By Sevens.
Review
"Nuanez's outstanding debut shines with exceptionally well-drawn characters, all hobbled by one unspeakable loss, and all taking seemingly disparate measures to mend their tattered hearts. Birdie and Me is an absorbing, hope-giving story about family love and acceptance." Leslie Connor, author of National Book Award Finalist, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
Review
"Here is book you will want to hug before you put it down. You will want to share it with all your friends. You will especially want to give it to anyone who has ever felt like an island. Then you will open the cover and read it again. I promise." Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award Finalist
Review
"Brimming with heart, humor, and hope, Birdie and Me is a touching exploration of grief, mental illness, and the many beautiful definitions of family." Greg Howard, author of The Whispers
Review
"Both hopeful and heartbreaking, Birdie and Me is a tender story about grief, identity, and the beauty and comfort that comes from letting yourself love and be loved. A luminous debut." Ashley Herring Blake, author of the Stonewall Honor book, Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
About the Author
J. M. M. Nuanez was born and raised in California, but has lived in other places like Texas and Korea. When not reading or writing, you can usually find her outside with her husband and son. In her limited spare time, she likes to play with her cats, make Korean food, and build miniature things.