Bird by Angela Johnson

Bibliography
Johnson, Angela. 2004. Bird. New York: Dial Books.

ISBN: 0-8037-2847-6

Summary
Thirteen year old, Bird wants so badly for her step-father, Cecil to return to Ohio she will do anything she can to find him. Alone, she travels to Alabama, where she hides out in a farmhouse waiting for Cecil to show up. While she is waiting, she befriends Ethan, a boy who's sickness has kept him from ever having a real friend. Along the way, she encounters another boy, Ethan, who is saddened by the loss of his brother. The interesting connection among the three will help each child begin to heal. Bird has to decide to what to do when she finally sees Cecil again.

Critical Analysis
Angela Johnson's story, Bird, as told through the eyes of three youth looking to heal their wounded souls, is peaceful, yet mesmerizing.

The story takes place in a town in Alabama, where Bird has traveled to find her step-father, Cecil. The chapter heading of each chapter denotes the viewpoint the story is being told. Johnson does a excellent job at developing each character, where the reader makes inferences about the connections between the three. The author quickly develops Bird as a strong, but sad character. Bird misses everything about her life back in Ohio, but she is determined to find Cecil. The second chapter is Ethan's chapter, where Johnson explains Ethan has been sick his entire life, which has left him friendless. As the story continues, it becomes obvious Ethan has gotten a new lease on life with a new heart, but he is still lonely. The third chapter is Jay's chapter, where it is apparent he is deeply hurt by the death of his brother. As the story continues, the characters develop chapter by chapter, where the three souls help one another begin to heal.

There are very few African-American cultural markers throughout the entire story. At the very beginning, Bird says, "My people don't smile." At this time, there is no explanation for Bird's use of words, but it does show Bird sees a distinction among types of people. Later in the story, when Ethan and Bird go swimming, Ethan looks at Bird and sees her "wet face, wet braids." This is the first mention of Bird's hairstyle. At the end of the story, Ethan realizes Bird is wearing an Afro. This is the definite confirmation that Bird is African-American, since this is a typical hairstyle of people of indigenous African descent.

Another glimpse at an African-American cultural marker is seen when Jay describes his mother. She has beaded braids that she wears back in a scarf. Beaded braids is a typical African-American hairstyle.

The last Africa-American marker in this story is found in the list of food, which includes collard greens and corn bread, Mrs. Pritchard has prepared. According to The African American Registry, found at http://www.aaregistry.com/, collard greens and corn bread are food traditionally eaten in the south by African-Americans.

The African-American cultural markers are so slight, it is more a story of sweetness and healing, than a lesson in African-American culture. Delicately weaving their lives together, while not fully embracing, Johnson's poignant story of these three wounded characters is truly uplifting.

Review Excerpts
Kirkus states, "Told through the alternating voices of Bird, Jay, and Ethan, this moving journey follows four lonely people as they touch each other's lives. A lovely and sad glimpse of individuals caring for one another in an imperfect world."

Horn Book comments, "The lives of each of these three teen narrators intersect, under unusual circumstances and with lasting effects. Johnson's prose is eloquent and poetic in this spare, powerful novel about matters of the heart."

Review excerpts accessed from Follet's Titlewave site: www.titlewave.com

Connections
Other books for young adults about runaways:
The Blue Mirror by Kathe Koja
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn
Ghost Boy by Iain Lawrence
Tallulah Falls by Christine Fletcher

Other young adult stories by Angela Johnson:
The First Part Last
Heaven
Looking for Red