
★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)
Sometimes big things come in small packages. Such is the case with Monika Schröder’s newest novel, Be Light Like a Bird.
Coming in at only 240 pages, Be Light Like a Bird tells the story of Wren, a twelve-year-old who recently lost her father unexpectedly in a plane crash. Her mother fails to offer her the support she so desperately needs, and the two of them travel from town to town hoping to start a new life. They eventually settle in Pyramid, Michigan where Wren must not only deal with her mother’s cold demeanor, but a multitude of other issues as well.
This middle-grade novel tackles many weighty topics such as bullying, peer pressure, nature conservation, the rights of indigenous peoples, death, and the ability to forgive and it does so in a manner that even younger students would be able to process. The language is simple. The sentences are short. But the overall effect will leave a lasting impact.
I will definitely recommend Be Light Like a Bird to my middle-school students and adults as well!
Be Light Like a Bird will be released on September 1, 2016 and can be purchased HERE.
A big thank you goes out to NetGalley, Monika Schröder, and Capstone Young Readers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!