A review by tylerdad
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This novel is very much a piece of historical fiction about John Brown. In that way, although the narrators are completely opposite, it owes a significant debt to Flashman and the Circle of Light.  In both cases, it’s a pretend memoir of a fish-out-of-water, in-disguise individual accidentally trapped with John Brown as a device for humor and a means for creating a portrait of Brown. 

McBride’s portrait is a sympathetic one.  As in his novels that followed, McBride sees the humanity in all of his characters, real or fictional, and gives them grace.  Recommended for anyone interested in historical fiction about the 19th century United States.