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Beyond the Laughing Sky
In the tradition of E. B. White and Kate DiCamillo comes the magical and moving story of a bird-like boy who longs to fly
Ten-year-old Nashville doesn’t feel like he belongs with his family, in his town, or even in this world. He was hatched from an egg his father found on the sidewalk and has grown into something not quite boy and not quite bird. Despite the support of his loving parents and his adoring sister, Junebug, Nashville wishes more than anything that he could join his fellow birds up in the sky. After all, what's the point of being part bird if you can't even touch the clouds?
With an ear for language and a gift for storytelling, Michelle Cuevas will remind fans of Stuart Little and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon that anything is possible. Even flying.
Ten-year-old Nashville doesn’t feel like he belongs with his family, in his town, or even in this world. He was hatched from an egg his father found on the sidewalk and has grown into something not quite boy and not quite bird. Despite the support of his loving parents and his adoring sister, Junebug, Nashville wishes more than anything that he could join his fellow birds up in the sky. After all, what's the point of being part bird if you can't even touch the clouds?
With an ear for language and a gift for storytelling, Michelle Cuevas will remind fans of Stuart Little and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon that anything is possible. Even flying.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
About the author
Michelle Cuevas
10 books117 followersMichelle Cuevas is an award-winning author of children’s literature. She graduated from Williams College and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Virginia, where she received the Henry Hoyns Fellowship.
Cuevas is the author of eight books for young people, most recently the 2023 Indie-List Bestseller, The Dreamatics. Her other books include Massachusetts Book Award-winning novel, The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole, national best seller The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles illustrated by Caldecott medalist Erin E. Stead, and international best seller Confessions of an Imaginary Friend. Her books have been named best of the year by Time, People, The Boston Globe, and School Library Journal, and have been translated into over twenty languages as well as various theatrical productions.
Her other titles include: Beyond the Laughing Sky illustrated by Julie Morstad, Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow illustrated by Sydney Smith, The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant illustrated by Ed Young, and The Town of Turtle illustrated by Cátia Chien.
Her 2017 title The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole is in production with Matt Reeves through his 6th and Idaho banner, and her 2015 title Confessions of an Imaginary Friend is being developed into an animated feature film by Fox. Cuevas has freelanced as a creative consultant for Fox Animation, and is the writer of "Follow Your Heart," which qualified for the animated shorts category of the 2018 Academy Awards, as well as the STEM short Happy Birthday, Ada, commissioned by Google, which won 1st place at the 47th ASIFA-East Animation Awards.
Michelle lives and works in the Berkshires in Massachusetts with her husband and two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Fable and Indy.
Cuevas is the author of eight books for young people, most recently the 2023 Indie-List Bestseller, The Dreamatics. Her other books include Massachusetts Book Award-winning novel, The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole, national best seller The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles illustrated by Caldecott medalist Erin E. Stead, and international best seller Confessions of an Imaginary Friend. Her books have been named best of the year by Time, People, The Boston Globe, and School Library Journal, and have been translated into over twenty languages as well as various theatrical productions.
Her other titles include: Beyond the Laughing Sky illustrated by Julie Morstad, Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow illustrated by Sydney Smith, The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant illustrated by Ed Young, and The Town of Turtle illustrated by Cátia Chien.
Her 2017 title The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole is in production with Matt Reeves through his 6th and Idaho banner, and her 2015 title Confessions of an Imaginary Friend is being developed into an animated feature film by Fox. Cuevas has freelanced as a creative consultant for Fox Animation, and is the writer of "Follow Your Heart," which qualified for the animated shorts category of the 2018 Academy Awards, as well as the STEM short Happy Birthday, Ada, commissioned by Google, which won 1st place at the 47th ASIFA-East Animation Awards.
Michelle lives and works in the Berkshires in Massachusetts with her husband and two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Fable and Indy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 16, 2015
I don't usually read Middle Grade fiction, but this book charmed it's way into my TBR pile -and I'm so glad it did. The language was concise, but beautiful. The story was so imaginative and out of the ordinary, but still teaches such an important lesson about acceptance. An extraordinary story for young readers.
April 24, 2022
Her iyi masal gibi. Yazılanın ötesinde hoş anlamlar barındırıyor. Ve çok güzel bir dili var:
"Birlikte çok vakit geçiriyorlardı ve iki başlı gölgelerine alışıktı. Kendi gölgesini görmek ona tuhaf geliyordu."
"Nashville'in annesinin karda bırakılan ayak izleri gibi bir sesi vardı."
"Hep birlikte, soyulmuş elma kabuğu gibi tepeyi saran dönemeçli yoldan indiler."
"Her ne kadar yazı depolamaya çalıştıysa da işe yaramamıştı. Gece bir ara yaz kasabayı terk etmiş, ateşböceklerini ve yüzme havuzlarını bir bavula koyup ıslık çalarak yola koyulmuştu."
"Birlikte çok vakit geçiriyorlardı ve iki başlı gölgelerine alışıktı. Kendi gölgesini görmek ona tuhaf geliyordu."
"Nashville'in annesinin karda bırakılan ayak izleri gibi bir sesi vardı."
"Hep birlikte, soyulmuş elma kabuğu gibi tepeyi saran dönemeçli yoldan indiler."
"Her ne kadar yazı depolamaya çalıştıysa da işe yaramamıştı. Gece bir ara yaz kasabayı terk etmiş, ateşböceklerini ve yüzme havuzlarını bir bavula koyup ıslık çalarak yola koyulmuştu."
April 13, 2015
Reminiscent of fairy tales where a couple is unable to have children the parents in this story find a human baby hatched out of an egg. While Nashville, appears to be human he also has feathers and yearns to fly. His parents wanting him to feel at home build him an elaborate tree fort, perches instead of chairs at the dining table, and allow him the luxury of bathing in the outdoor bird bath. Nashville does not wish to hurt his family but he realizes he needs to fly and spends a lot of time fantasizing about it. When he goes to middle school the inevitable bullying begins and intensifies his yearning but little by little as he tries to fit in he realizes being different isn't necessarily a bad thing. With the aid of his sister Nashville may actually reach his lofty goal of flight.
December 8, 2017
"Haydi," dedi "Gizli görevi öğrendim."
Görevler sürekli değişiyordu: Bazen kavanoza yağmur suyu, torbaya hıçkırık toplamak, kayıp ay ışığını hapsedip pasta hamuruna katmak gibi.
Bazen ay ı��ığında parlayan salyangoz izlerini takip etmek, kayıp düğmelerin sahiplerini bulmak ya da tırtıllara henüz kozalarındayken saksafon çalmak.
Fakat o gün görev tamamıyla balla ilgiliydi.
Nashville'i tanımak büyük bir keyifti, anımsadıkça yüzünüzde tebessüm olușturacak bir dost kendisi hakikaten çok sevdim. :')
Görevler sürekli değişiyordu: Bazen kavanoza yağmur suyu, torbaya hıçkırık toplamak, kayıp ay ışığını hapsedip pasta hamuruna katmak gibi.
Bazen ay ı��ığında parlayan salyangoz izlerini takip etmek, kayıp düğmelerin sahiplerini bulmak ya da tırtıllara henüz kozalarındayken saksafon çalmak.
Fakat o gün görev tamamıyla balla ilgiliydi.
Nashville'i tanımak büyük bir keyifti, anımsadıkça yüzünüzde tebessüm olușturacak bir dost kendisi hakikaten çok sevdim. :')
November 25, 2020
Miła historia, ale bez szału. „Jak hodować i karmić domową czarną dziurę” podobało mi się dużo bardziej.
March 3, 2018
Sometimes as an avid reader you just need to take a break from all the intense and longer books to be read and settle in on something more basic. It’s funny because I end up almost every time getting more out of children’s stories than most adult ones.
“Beyond the Laughing Sky”, is such a sweet and moving story. We follow Nashville, a ten year old boy who like a lot of children feels like he doesn’t fit in: with his family, in his town, or even in the world. He has a good reason for this, because he is part human but also part bird. It doesn’t matter how old you are, sadly the world will always judge by appearance first. This story is about accepting who you are and finding a way to love yourself, it’s about showing kindness and also what makes a family...a family.
With so many charming elements and lovable characters, children and adults will cherish this story. You will root for Nashville just like so many great characters in timeless fables.
“He saw the kind of beauty yellow flowers have growing over a carpet of dead leaves. The beauty of cracks forming a mosaic in a dry riverbed, of emerald-green algae at the base of a seawall, of a broken shard from a blue bottle. The beauty of a window smudged with tiny prints. The beauty of wild weeds.”
Nashville saw beauty where others saw ugliness or flaws.
This book was beautiful!
“Beyond the Laughing Sky”, is such a sweet and moving story. We follow Nashville, a ten year old boy who like a lot of children feels like he doesn’t fit in: with his family, in his town, or even in the world. He has a good reason for this, because he is part human but also part bird. It doesn’t matter how old you are, sadly the world will always judge by appearance first. This story is about accepting who you are and finding a way to love yourself, it’s about showing kindness and also what makes a family...a family.
With so many charming elements and lovable characters, children and adults will cherish this story. You will root for Nashville just like so many great characters in timeless fables.
“He saw the kind of beauty yellow flowers have growing over a carpet of dead leaves. The beauty of cracks forming a mosaic in a dry riverbed, of emerald-green algae at the base of a seawall, of a broken shard from a blue bottle. The beauty of a window smudged with tiny prints. The beauty of wild weeds.”
Nashville saw beauty where others saw ugliness or flaws.
This book was beautiful!
November 25, 2014
On the surface, this is a story about a boy who is born different. He is half bird, half human, and during the trying years of middle school he struggles to find his place in the world. The author's use of figurative language is astounding, and I wanted to savor every word. Children and adults will find this book delightful, and I highly recommend this book to any adolescent struggling to accept who they were born to be.
January 20, 2015
This is about a boy hatched from an egg with a beak and feathers but sadly without wings.
I liked this book because:
1. It Dares the Reader to dream...
"You said impossible," the widow would point out.
"There ain't no such thing. There's thing you've seen and there's thing you may not have, but there ain't nothing that's impossible, sugar."
2. Celebrating with Cake
...they baked cakes to welcome the first firefly of the season, and cakes to commiserate incurable hiccups. Cakes for well-shaped clouds, cakes for bad hair days, and cakes only to be eaten barefoot in the grass.
3. We all wish we could fly.
"I was hatched from an egg," he stated.
The class had stopped tittering with laughter, and now just stared.
"I sleep in a next," he continued.
"I bathe in a birdbath."
I... I..." he paused, and then quickly proclaimed a final fact.
"I wish O could fly."
The students looked around at one another. Slowly, cautiously, one girl rose, then a second boy, followed by a third. Soon, the entire class was standing.
I liked this book because:
1. It Dares the Reader to dream...
"You said impossible," the widow would point out.
"There ain't no such thing. There's thing you've seen and there's thing you may not have, but there ain't nothing that's impossible, sugar."
2. Celebrating with Cake
...they baked cakes to welcome the first firefly of the season, and cakes to commiserate incurable hiccups. Cakes for well-shaped clouds, cakes for bad hair days, and cakes only to be eaten barefoot in the grass.
3. We all wish we could fly.
"I was hatched from an egg," he stated.
The class had stopped tittering with laughter, and now just stared.
"I sleep in a next," he continued.
"I bathe in a birdbath."
I... I..." he paused, and then quickly proclaimed a final fact.
"I wish O could fly."
The students looked around at one another. Slowly, cautiously, one girl rose, then a second boy, followed by a third. Soon, the entire class was standing.
May 6, 2015
This book was so beautifully written, and I often found myself stopping and rereading the sentences as they were so well-crafted. It's a weird premise of a boy who is part bird who was raised by a family of humans (he looks like a boy except for the beak and feather hair), but it worked somehow because it really was about being different and how honoring your true self is all we can really do at the end of the day. I loved this book.
Quote: "He was, however, extraordinary, and that tended to scare townsfolk, who were hooked on the Ordinary with a capital O, and preferred their day-to-day served without any Extra."
Great for 4th grade and up.
Quote: "He was, however, extraordinary, and that tended to scare townsfolk, who were hooked on the Ordinary with a capital O, and preferred their day-to-day served without any Extra."
Great for 4th grade and up.
February 1, 2015
I guess this was a young 9-12. I loved it, and it broke my heart a little. An extreme case of bullying/singling out for being different, and then accepting yourself. I listened to the audio, and the reader was quite good.
October 15, 2015
I love a beautiful book cover and I think that the book cover to Michelle Cuevas’s Beyond The Laughing Sky is gorgeous. Read the rest of my review here
November 9, 2014
Such a beautiful book. Review forthcoming.
February 12, 2015
i would give it a 4 1/2 if I could. Willow and I liked this one alot. willow said that she would give this book a 5 star rating but she couldn't because i did not let her. :-P
February 13, 2015
Very imaginative story line and the writing, oh! The writing was beautiful!
Read
November 6, 2015I loved the ending of this book.
February 6, 2017
"What an absurd little word. You said impossible, there ain't no such thing. There's thing you've seen and things you may not have, but there ain't nothing that's impossible, sugar."
August 28, 2018
3.5 stars
January 22, 2018
At it's heart, this is a book about the power of love and acceptance, wrapped up in the charming garb of magical realism.
Nashville is a bird boy who hatched from an egg, and his parents love him as their son, despite his difference. But unlike birds, he can't fly, and longs to. I feel like that's the overall allegorical message of this book. When we finally accept ourselves as we are and are grateful for the things that make us different, it gives us this power to just be who we are, what we are meant to be, and that's incredibly liberating.
There's also the message , with the other kids at Nashville's school, that being different is ok. In the beginning, the kids who don't know him have all kinds of questions, and even pick on him a little because they don't understand him. But as they get to know him, they learn to appreciate what and who he is, and see beyond his beak and feathers to him as a person, and that in turn, inspires them to accept their own differences and become more comfortable with themselves and the things they're insecure about.
I loved Junebug, Nash's sister from the beginning because she never saw the things that made him weird or different, she always just saw him as her brother and lovely him accordingly. Beyond that, she knew when he needed to go and fly free and "be a bird" (or whatever), to be what he was supposed to be, and did all that she could to send him off with love and to support him in becoming his true self. I feel like that's what love truly is, accepting that people you care for will grow and change in ways you can't predict or control, and that occasionally that will mean that you'll have to let them go. Junebug knows that Nash needs to go and fly, and loves him enough to help him on his way. And he doesn't forget her (the honeysuckles prove that).
Nashville is a bird boy who hatched from an egg, and his parents love him as their son, despite his difference. But unlike birds, he can't fly, and longs to. I feel like that's the overall allegorical message of this book. When we finally accept ourselves as we are and are grateful for the things that make us different, it gives us this power to just be who we are, what we are meant to be, and that's incredibly liberating.
There's also the message , with the other kids at Nashville's school, that being different is ok. In the beginning, the kids who don't know him have all kinds of questions, and even pick on him a little because they don't understand him. But as they get to know him, they learn to appreciate what and who he is, and see beyond his beak and feathers to him as a person, and that in turn, inspires them to accept their own differences and become more comfortable with themselves and the things they're insecure about.
I loved Junebug, Nash's sister from the beginning because she never saw the things that made him weird or different, she always just saw him as her brother and lovely him accordingly. Beyond that, she knew when he needed to go and fly free and "be a bird" (or whatever), to be what he was supposed to be, and did all that she could to send him off with love and to support him in becoming his true self. I feel like that's what love truly is, accepting that people you care for will grow and change in ways you can't predict or control, and that occasionally that will mean that you'll have to let them go. Junebug knows that Nash needs to go and fly, and loves him enough to help him on his way. And he doesn't forget her (the honeysuckles prove that).
October 9, 2014
I've noticed a trend lately in children's literature, or maybe just in the kid-lit that I've been reading. Birds and nests seem to be very en vogue right now. There's Nest by Esther Ehrlich, Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle by George Hagen and Scott Bakal, Nightingale's Nest by Nikki Loftin, Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, and now Beyond the Laughing Sky. But they're each very different stories, with unique characters and plots, although the tone of Beyond the Laughing Sky reminds me of Nightingale's Nest.
Nashville is a boy who hatched from an egg. He has feathers instead of hair and a beak instead of a human mouth. But he has been raised by human parents and has a human little sister named Junebug. The story tells us about Nashville's unusual origins, then takes us into the events as he begins middle school. Entering middle school can be rough for any child, especially when the kids are coming together from several different elementary schools and trying to get used to a new building and new classmates after five or six years of being in the same familiar place. In Nashville's case, the other kids have gotten used to him over their years together, but now he will be facing new kids and teachers who will all react to his differences.
Middle school is also a time when kids are moving from being tweens to being teenagers, looking at their lives and questioning their identity and their future. Nashville wonders why he can't fly. He has feathers and a beak, why not wings? Junebug helps him collect spare feathers for a project at school, while his parents continue to support him as he deals with bullies and overly curious classmates. As they reach the end of the year, it seems that Nashville may find some of the answers he is looking for.
I loved the house perched in the tree, the family sitting on swings around the kitchen table, Nashville scrubbing his feathers in an oversize bird bath... It was such a quirky, loving home that his parents had created, but even in the most perfect home - kids eventually have to leave the nest. (Pun intended.) When Nashville finds what he's looking for, will he leave, too?
If you've read Nightingale's Nest and enjoyed it, I would recommend Beyond the Laughing Sky. It's also a great read for those who don't mind a little fantasy mixed into stories that also deal with real issues like belonging, family, and being true to yourself.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Nashville is a boy who hatched from an egg. He has feathers instead of hair and a beak instead of a human mouth. But he has been raised by human parents and has a human little sister named Junebug. The story tells us about Nashville's unusual origins, then takes us into the events as he begins middle school. Entering middle school can be rough for any child, especially when the kids are coming together from several different elementary schools and trying to get used to a new building and new classmates after five or six years of being in the same familiar place. In Nashville's case, the other kids have gotten used to him over their years together, but now he will be facing new kids and teachers who will all react to his differences.
Middle school is also a time when kids are moving from being tweens to being teenagers, looking at their lives and questioning their identity and their future. Nashville wonders why he can't fly. He has feathers and a beak, why not wings? Junebug helps him collect spare feathers for a project at school, while his parents continue to support him as he deals with bullies and overly curious classmates. As they reach the end of the year, it seems that Nashville may find some of the answers he is looking for.
I loved the house perched in the tree, the family sitting on swings around the kitchen table, Nashville scrubbing his feathers in an oversize bird bath... It was such a quirky, loving home that his parents had created, but even in the most perfect home - kids eventually have to leave the nest. (Pun intended.) When Nashville finds what he's looking for, will he leave, too?
If you've read Nightingale's Nest and enjoyed it, I would recommend Beyond the Laughing Sky. It's also a great read for those who don't mind a little fantasy mixed into stories that also deal with real issues like belonging, family, and being true to yourself.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
August 5, 2018
My 8-year-old recommended this book to me. He came into my room, excited, and pointed to a paragraph he wanted me to read. After reading the lovely, poetic words, he said to me, “Can’t you just tell by that paragraph that this is a good book!?” Thanks Michelle Cuevas for writing beautiful books for my little reader.
March 7, 2018
This book was simple. Simple plotline, simple set, simple characters. Usually when I rate a book two stars it means I disliked it, but in this case, there just simply wasn’t enough that I did like. I didn’t hate it, but there was nothing I really liked either.
The story looked interesting—about a boy who is part-bird and is trying to learn to fly. There were some nice morals of being different and such, but for me, it was too cliche and predictable to feel real.
This book was very abrupt; there’s really no other word to describe it. There was no real storyline, but rather a bunch of random chapters illustrating random parts of Nashville’s life. Each chapter jumped to a whole different scene and set unrelated to the last; it didn’t really flow at all. Towards the end it was better, but not till the very end. This book was very, very short, too. I read it in one sitting and it maybe took forty minutes.
So, to sum it up, there was nothing I directly disliked. I just didn’t like it at all. I found it poorly written and dull at times. It was a cute story, but nothing beyond a cute story.
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The story looked interesting—about a boy who is part-bird and is trying to learn to fly. There were some nice morals of being different and such, but for me, it was too cliche and predictable to feel real.
This book was very abrupt; there’s really no other word to describe it. There was no real storyline, but rather a bunch of random chapters illustrating random parts of Nashville’s life. Each chapter jumped to a whole different scene and set unrelated to the last; it didn’t really flow at all. Towards the end it was better, but not till the very end. This book was very, very short, too. I read it in one sitting and it maybe took forty minutes.
So, to sum it up, there was nothing I directly disliked. I just didn’t like it at all. I found it poorly written and dull at times. It was a cute story, but nothing beyond a cute story.
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September 28, 2014
A perfect short book, for middle-graders, about a boy who's different and whose destiny is to fly. This would make a wonderful gift for any misfit or awkward kid, and if you got teased in school for that sort of thing, you'll probably love this book even if you're an adult. Cuevas captures childhood marvelously, even though the most threatening thing here is school bullies (her children have both parents, there are no illnesses, violence, random cruelty, poverty, etc. for the protagonist to deal with). Aside from the intense sweetness of the story, there's nothing to criticize -- and even the sweetness is refreshing when you've been reading the news too frequently, I must say. I read the advance reader's version without all the drawings in it, which I can only imagine complimented the story even more; the illustrations that are in the book I have were charming, but most of the pages where illustrations were due to be were still blank. A delightful read, touching and warm-hearted.
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February 12, 2015Nashville, his sister Junebug, and his parents lived in the small village of Goosepimple, a place where nothing is impossible.
“There’s no such thing. There’s things you’ve seen and things you may not have, but there ain’t nothing that’s impossible…”
Nashville looked like a bird, small for his age, with feathers for hair, a beak for his nose and mouth, and legs thin and long. He is going to a new school this year, Goosepimple Middle School. Would he fit in? Would he make friends? His new teacher, Miss Starling, welcomes her new students with a game, where each person tells a fact about themselves. Nashville’s turn arrives. He says, “I wish I could fly.”
In their treehouse, Nashville and Junebug travel the world and explore to the edges of their maps. But still, Nashville cannot fly.
Birds on strings, tree songs, and wings made of leather, sticks and feathers take Nashville on a journey to discover where he truly belongs, the place where his heart can soar.
Review by Kathy
“There’s no such thing. There’s things you’ve seen and things you may not have, but there ain’t nothing that’s impossible…”
Nashville looked like a bird, small for his age, with feathers for hair, a beak for his nose and mouth, and legs thin and long. He is going to a new school this year, Goosepimple Middle School. Would he fit in? Would he make friends? His new teacher, Miss Starling, welcomes her new students with a game, where each person tells a fact about themselves. Nashville’s turn arrives. He says, “I wish I could fly.”
In their treehouse, Nashville and Junebug travel the world and explore to the edges of their maps. But still, Nashville cannot fly.
Birds on strings, tree songs, and wings made of leather, sticks and feathers take Nashville on a journey to discover where he truly belongs, the place where his heart can soar.
Review by Kathy
February 17, 2015
In this rather unusual tale a young couple, whose house is perched in a large pecan tree, discover a baby in a cracked egg from a bird’s nest on the sidewalk. This human-looking baby has feathers for hair and no mouth or nose but in its place a beak. His adopted parents, sister, and the small community of Goosepimple adapt to life with him, but as he grows and goes to school his life becomes more difficult and he longs to fly. This short, but significant, tween book is about fitting in and dreaming big dreams. I loved it!
Sharyn H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
October 15, 2014
A husband and wife discover a mysterious egg that hatches into a curious little bird boy with a beak and feathers, but no wings. This is a magical, lyrical story with obvious connections to Stuart Little. Though this is a beautifully told, fanciful story, it doesn't quite measure up to White's classic. While both boys struggle to fit in with society, and both eventually leave a loving and supportive home, Stuart's departure feels like an adventure, while Nashville's feels more like an escape. As such, I'm not sure that it will resonate as strongly with children. Of the two, Stuart is also the more richly developed--his character adds up to much more than just his differences from other boys. Still, this is a sweet story that will likely find many followers.
December 6, 2014
So many magical little lines in this book that really do remind me of Kate DiCamillo's writing, but not sure elementary kids are mature enough to connect with the message of the story. I think most kids at my school would read it and just think it's strange! Middle school kids who are more at the age where they struggle to feel like they fit in and accept who they are might really connect with this, though.
I loved the swings at the kitchen table, and the birdhouse, and the questions all of Nashville's classmates asked that turned out to be about him. I really enjoyed it, despite how quirky it is, and I hope some kids (or grown-ups!) pick this story up and are able to relate with it. Maybe we don't have feathers, but plenty of us are just trying to find a way to fit in.
I loved the swings at the kitchen table, and the birdhouse, and the questions all of Nashville's classmates asked that turned out to be about him. I really enjoyed it, despite how quirky it is, and I hope some kids (or grown-ups!) pick this story up and are able to relate with it. Maybe we don't have feathers, but plenty of us are just trying to find a way to fit in.
July 21, 2016
This book is odd. I understand the message it is conveying: you can be anything you set your mind to be, even if others think it impossible. It is a good message and the book was well-written. However, it did not move me as much as I thought it would based on its plot and other reviews. I do have one grievance . I do like Nashville and Junebug’s close sibling relationship. The pictures are cute. If one enjoys short stories about accepting differences, growing up, and chasing dreams, then this book may be for you.
December 18, 2015
The art is so lovely in this short chapter book, but the story is also compelling. A 10-year-old boy called Nashville is pretty normal, except for the way he looks, and some of his habits. He was hatched from an egg, and has a beak and feathers for hair. He takes baths in the backyard birdbath, and eats birdseed, and his family lives in a house in a tall tree. And Nashville feels out of place. Something isn't right. Will he be able to fit in anywhere, since he isn't really a bird and he isn't quite a boy? I loved this story, as lightly told as a bird flitting around and yet with so much depth and heart. One of my favorite chapter books of the year. 4th grade and up.
July 22, 2017
This book like it says in the review is similar to something you would see from DiCamillo or from E. B. White. Similar to the trumpet of the swan in style this book is a slow moving story with exciting parts, but no real climax. Nashville is part bird, part boy. He lives like a bird, looks like a bird, and he even sleeps in a nest. Nashville is quick witted, with his differences he inspires all who are different that different is okay. I docked a star, because I thought this book was to short, I feel like there was still more to add to the story. I liked the ending, but some parts seemed to frag a little.
December 5, 2015
This book was one of the very few stories that made me break out into tears. I'm not embarassed by saying that because it shows the author wrote the book in a stunning way that it gets emotional for the reader. The details and flow of the book was astonishing and really touched my heart on a personal level. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a nice heartwarming book that tells you nothing is impossible.
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