Bird by Crystal Chan, Why Many Readers are Touched by it

Sometimes, it's nice to to listen to the musings of a child. Their small minds can hold more thoughts and their small hearts can feel more emotions than we'll ever know. I realized this when I read the novel Bird by Crystal Chan.

Bird is about a young girl who was born the day her younger brother died in a tragic accident. The protagonist, Jewel, is biracial: Jamaican on her father's side, Mexican American on her mother's side. The story has hints of mystical and cultural elements involving both races, I found both rich and interesting at the same time. Throughout the story, Jewel struggles to overcome the grief of her family upon losing his brother, whom they nicknamed Bird. The story portrays racism as Jewel laments on how she is treated as a brown girl in a white town. One day, she'll meet John and together their adventures will unfold secrets that her family is keeping.

Honestly, Jewel's POV is so innocent, so pure, it is beautiful. I have been reading lots of books where the protagonists are hardened strong individual and it is refreshing to unfold a mind so demure and wholesome. When she thought of what she wants to be in the future and how she ponders how life work.

I don't know if any of you have read Bird but I highly recommend it. It was Crystal Chan's debut novel and it is amazing. Crystal mastered the characters, how a child's mind can work, how perfectly flawed they are. It's as if they were real. Also the writing is absolutely spectacular, there are awesome lines that would definitely awe you.

I know this review isn't too informative but I hoped I teased you enough to read it. You definitely won't regret. Until the next pose, stay safe and healthy!

-Alissu