A review by catle
Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The first thing I noticed was how descriptive the writing style is. I liked the way sounds were described using scents and flavors. The book beautifully depicts the raw emotions of grief, and it isn't cliché at all. I appreciate the ace/aro (and general LGBTQ+) representation because that's not often seen in literature. The main character, Rumi, is abrasive and her character development is slow-paced, but I actually enjoyed that because it shows how people process trauma in their own ways. I also really like the depth of the other characters as well, specifically the adults. No one is completely good or bad; they all have their flaws because they're all human. Overall the book is an emotional exploration of self and one's relationships with others.
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