A review by kentanapages
How to Turn Into a Bird by María José Ferrada

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“This book is a gift” quotes the cover (Megan McDowell), and for me this is both literally and figuratively. This was part of my gifted Aadrvark subscription, and also exactly the story I needed to read when I did.

‘It wasn’t a war against the universe. Or even a war against himself. Still, several people sustained injuries.'

I read this in one sitting, and felt like I was breathing it in. It’s a novella, or almost a long poem, written with the simplicity of a fairy tale, with an enchanting poetic lyricism. It’s a story told from the perspective of Miguel, a 12-year old Santiaguino, and from him we get the brutally honest view and creativity of a child’s lens. It’s a story of the human spirit, and human nature, and of the ways society teaches us to treat the “other” and conform. It’s a story that doesn’t flinch from the truth, but inspires hope nonetheless. 

     some things can’t be explained

     some things can’t be divided

     into what ends well and what ends

     badly; some things can’t be fixed

I’m grateful to have discovered this story, and for the beautiful translation by Elizabeth Bryer. I’d love to read this in the original Spanish. 

For you if:

• you’re looking for a short read
• you ever get lost staring at the stars and thinking about flying away
• you like magical realism or a fairy tale feel, but can handle a brutally honest look at society and human nature