Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (implied prostitution); Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
12yo Opin lives out of a car with his mom and his older brother Emjay, 15yo. Each time they move they get a little poorer and their circumstances become a little more dire. This time Mom is trying to get them from Northern California to her brother’s apartment in Los Angeles. It doesn’t help that Emjay is full of anger and runs away at every possible chance. And when money gets really tight, Opin’s mom dresses up really fancy and stays away most of the night. Clinging to their Native American heritage, Opin believes that things will get better - especially if they can fly under the radar and avoid Family Services.
Opin’s naivete and his firm belief in everything his mother tells him shines throughout the book - painfully. That Bird draws from his own unhoused childhood is readily apparent - Opin’s life is heart-breaking for us in our comfy houses to read, but realistically accurate for families who are living way over the edge. A great mirror for kids similar to Opin, and an excellent window for others.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
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