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kaneebli's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying
seaschells's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Minor: Abandonment
kooky_kayla's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Child death
cc_shelflove's review
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
This book sounded interesting but it did not end up being anything like I expected. Maybe some things were lost in translation? Essentially our main character, Miguel, becomes upset when his uncle chooses to abandon his family and live inside a Coca-Cola billboard he has converted into a small apartment. The book ends with the family disappearing because the housing community has ostracized them for the decisions that have made with respect to the billboard. This book didn’t make me feel sad, happy, anything at all! It’s been very interesting to read reviews where people had opposites reactions and loved the story. Huh?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Minor: Bullying
jayisreading's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
How to Turn Into a Bird was a poetic and dreamily written book, and I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in the original Spanish. The book is a bit difficult to describe when it comes to the plot, which wanders from one day to the next. It is a coming-of-age story, though, and is narrated by a curious boy, Miguel, who is captivated by the world around him. However, he is especially interested in his eccentric uncle, who happens to live on a billboard. It seems simple enough (and a little quirky), but Ferrada takes this opportunity to reveal the deep mistrust that runs through humans when they encounter someone different, as well as the quickness to blame those who aren’t “normal” for existing problems in the community. Miguel finds himself trying to make sense of everything in all of this. Considering this, he presents himself to be a rather introspective boy, and his narration is tinged with quiet sadness.
As beautifully written as this book was, I wasn’t quite taken to it as much as I had hoped. I think it might have been because I wasn’t entirely in the right mindset while reading it, because I often found myself distracted while reading. I think it’s worth checking this one out, though, especially if you’re a fan of dreamy prose.
Thank you to Tin House for sending me an ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse
internationalreads's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Grief, Alcoholism, Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Death, Mental illness, and Vomit
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