Customer Reviews

Bird

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Both the illustration and the writing of this book stir the soul as a child grasps one of the more difficult issues of life, loss, and love.
Many props for the reference to the late Charlie Parker, the devotion to artistic development and expression in an impressionable child, and the loving presence of the steadfast male figures.

He loved to draw birds, but he wasn't called Bird because of that. Granddad told him that when he was a baby he would "cheep just like a baby bird in its nest, waiting to be fed" and so Bird seemed like a natural nickname. Bird's big brother Marcus was a really good artist and helped critique his work. Some of his big brother's best stuff ended up on walls near school, but Granddad frowned heavily on it and said it was nothing but "garbage graffiti." Art belonged in museums, not in the streets. Marcus was changing and art no longer had any meaning for him. He left school and firmly told Bird "It's not too late for you . . . " Something very scary and unusual was happening to his brother.

Bird kept drawing because an eraser could always change the picture, but he couldn't change what was happening in his life. He peeked into Marcus's room one day and saw him sprawled out on his bed in the dark, holding his stomach and folding his other arm over his eyes. He was "shaking and sweating," begging Bird not to tell their Mama. Later on he was told not to let his beloved brother into the apartment after everything was destroyed or missing one Sunday morning. Marcus did come to see Bird and he peered at him, but did not remove the chain from the door. He accepted a bird book from his brother and rushed to give him his best drawing. His eraser was not going to change what was happening to Marcus.

This was an amazing but, unfortunately, true to life story of many young people. If this book were a movie, I'd be going through a box of tissues. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one. The artwork was a nice blend of Bird's work and his surroundings. It captured the emotions of the situation perfectly and could almost stand alone to tell this sad tale. This book won a New Voices Award Honor. This was a very sobering work, Zetta Elliot's first, but hopefully not her last. Stunning, stunning!

Mehkai goes by the name Bird, this is his journal. Each entry is a poem. A lot is going on in Bird's life. His grandfather recently passed. His older brother Marcus has become addicted to drugs. Birds writings and drawings give him the oppurtunity to heal. Bird remembers the good times he shared with his grandfather. He writes about his brothers artisic talent. Through Bird's words you can feel how much he loves his family and looked up to his older brother. Its not all happy, there is some anger and sadness. I loved Elliott's writing, the simplicity made it that much better. As I contiuned to read Bird and his family became more real. Marcus is not painted as a villian. He's lost but still loves his younger brother. Strickland's illustrations enhance the story. The illustrations allow the reader to enjoy Bird's words that much more. Many families are affected by addiction. Elliott has written a book that will enable the youngest family members to talk about their feelings. Young readers will easliy relate to Bird's words.

This book is a really beautiful one that I found recently. The writing is very delicate and Shadra Strickland's illustration delivers the story wonderfully. I bought this book for my 4 years old niece and she loves the drawing images so much. I strongly recommend this book!