A Low Diving Bird

by Libby Copa

The Civil War is over, but the hostilities continue to rage. Can she protect her home from the ravages of divided loyalties?

Missouri, 1865. Hester Cain’s world is unraveling. With her father and brother still off waging a guerrilla fight against the victorious Union, the quiet young woman tries to keep the three orphans in her charge safe from the local militia’s harassment. And though she has no reason to trust the other side, she shocks herself by opening the door to a wandering Yankee soldier.

Struggling to balance the rejection of her childhood sweetheart and a growing bond with her guest, Hester worries her forceful sibling’s return will only bring trouble and chaos. But when tragedy strikes, the determined survivor fears her found family is about to become the final casualty in a never-ending battle.

Can she knit together a new future for everyone she loves?

A Low Diving Bird is a captivating historical fiction story. If you like complex characters, dark themes, and exploring political issues, then you’ll adore Libby Copa’s provocative look at past trauma.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2023

About the author

Libby Copa is a writer, educator, and rebel. She is the author of both fiction and nonfiction books, and her short stories, poetry, and essays have appeared in publications across the country, including Hanging Loose, Sin Fronteras, Matter, Hobart and The Blue Mountain Review. You can visit her online at www.LibbyCopa.com.

Reviews

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and heartfelt historical fiction. The US Civil War officially ended a year ago, but for those who fought and for those left behind it continues with poverty, lawlessness, retaliation, and death. On both sides, the wounds of war are deep and lasting, and this is true in Missouri, in the home of Hester Cain.

She’s on her own, a young woman caring for three orphaned boys while her brother and father continue attacks against Union soldiers. She’s sold everything (everything!) she owns to put food on the table. And I’m not sure which was worse, the Union militia hunting down Confederate soldiers and sympathizers, or the rebels killing Union families. Hester walks a fine line to keep herself and her family safe. Then Eben, a Union soldier, walks into her yard and offers to stay and help. Her life improves in small steps until her brother returns home and all she’s gained may be lost.

There’s a tangible feeling of melancholy pervading this story. The war’s psychological damage is profound. Hester and Eben are sympathetic characters, as are the boys though their life’s wounds are slow to heal. Even Hester’s brother, despite his despicable acts, earns some sympathy. The author makes it easy to see the terrible misery endured on both sides of the war. The story ends with a dose of hope and it’s hard-earned. The writing is beautiful and well-paced. I highly recommend this read to fans of historical fiction, literary fiction, and books about the US Civil War, and to readers who enjoy an emotional and beautifully crafted story.

[Lana Orndorff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the time period, relationships and dynamics in this book. I've read a bit of fiction set during the Civil War, but nothing I can remember set right after. The healing that needs to take place and the tensions among people who fought on opposite sides of a war who now need to live together is handled really well by the author. As for the characters themselves, Marlow is someone I would never want to meet in real life, but that makes him a compelling character to read about. He's vicious and raw, which contrasts so well with some of the other characters. I also really liked the chapters told from the children's perspectives. A Low Diving Bird is a wonderfully unique story, and I'd recommend this to anyone, especially those drawn to historical fiction.

[Timothy Dorr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life after the Civil War

In the novel, A Low Diving Bird, author, Libby Copa, uses the 1865 Missouri background following the Civil War to depict the lives of several characters – Marlow, Hester, Eben, Lonnie, Steven and Aaron. In the work, each chapter name is labeled and written for each of the characters. With Marlow as the main protagonist, the other follow suit, waiting for his anticipated return home after the war, which may end up in a violent culmination, within this complicated story of the South’s warring parties. Copa let’s some characters refer to the thoughts of a famous Confederate, William Quantrill, leader of Quantrill’s raiders, who led a brutal and guerilla type tactics during the conflict, adding to the characters mindful tragedies still concentrating on the battles of the South versus North. The author did some great work on bringing the reader deep onto the real lives of this group of people that survived this horrific setting.

I enjoyed these characters–Hester Cain, the young female, twenty years old, who adorned the same outfit, not changing out of her favorite dress for years. The younger sister to Marlow, with dreams of matrimony with Kip, and also the one still cooking for the men, while bringing in some orphans and one of the hated soldiers of the North. Then, there is Marlow, a man that held a venomous spite in his inner psyche, but would do anything to harbor the safety of Hester. And though he would always stand tall and fight for his sister, he let his gun take the lives of anyone that stood in his path. Kip Evans, who lost an arm in the war, but held a high education into his school teaching, which put him in a higher category than most others, who were uneducated. But he was a man who still keep guard over the ones he cherished, whether by the gun or the book.

In this story of the most written and talked about wartime conflicts, Miss Copa does a nice job with stilling metaphors and nice work of dialogue between the main characters. Definitely, a book for the historical buff, or either a firm believer in the life in the South or a belief in one United States, which was the final ideological path of the North. Enough to keep a reader interested as the revolving post-Civil War characters fight all the demons the past and try to live on into the future with the ghosts still lying around from the killings from the brutal engagement.

[Thomas Norford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Low Diving Bird tells the story of brother and sister, Marlow and Hester, in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Hester has been left behind to struggle and manage the home alone, and has more troubles heaped on her plate when a number of children, orphaned by the war, decide that she will do as a replacement mother. Marlow, meanwhile, roams around causing mayhem with a group of Bushwhackers - which I take it means a kind of self-organised paramilitary group. A Unionist soldier, Eben, arrives and lingers at Hester's home, while the Confederate Marlow is making his way back there, setting up an inevitable conflict. The local area is a hotbed of resentment, violence, divided families and friendships.

I was hugely impressed by this book, the most obvious attribute being the concise, tightly controlled writing style. There's no melodramatic over-explanations of events or characters' feelings - readers are given enough credit to be able to make their own interpretations. The action switches between Hester and Marlow's points of view. Hester's sections take place in 3rd person past tense, whereas Marlow's are in 1st person present tense. I'm not sure the purpose of this - I could probably come up with a literature essay-type justification for it that might relate in no way to the author's intention. If nothing else it distinguished the two characters' mindsets and circumstances from that of the other, and I had no problem with it. Occasionally the prose got a little too close to that of a romance novel, and the dialogue was a little clunky in places, but that's nitpicking - the writing in this novel really is excellent.

The sparse style made the violent incidents in the book all the more effective - brutal actions just take place with little fanfare, reflecting I suppose how cheap life had become for these people. I'm rather ignorant of this bit of history, so I have to assume it is well researched but others would know better than me. It was quite satisfying that there was no simple divide between goodies and baddies in the book - morally, all the characters are forced to live in a murky grey area between the two, and this was one of the main strengths of the story. The book toyed with supernatural elements in some places; this was not overdone and fit in well with the characters and historical setting.

Overall, highly recommended.

[Rob The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby Copa's "A Low Diving Bird" is quite a feat of storytelling, not only because it hooked me in ways I never expected, but also because it serves as a gold standard of literary storytelling that could be taught in university writing courses. So, it comes as no surprise that the creator of the Rebel Writer's Workbook also has her own course on writing.

Copa's writing is full of deep metaphor and its deft prose is so insightful and effortless that it draws you in. Let me tell you, I have nearly no interest in the American Civil War and never thought I'd be reading a story like this. However, it's premise is partially similar to the film "The Beguiled" which I so loved, and then it was a shock how good Copa's words were.

Driven more by characterization than plot, Copa's Hester, Marlow, and Eben are standouts; whereas the children have comparitively more limited voices, save for Steven's disturbing asides from his dead brother. Marlow's wild card nature provides a shot of energy and danger to Hester and Eben's burgeoning and tender relationship. Hester evokes alot of sympathy and is one of the best rendered women of the time period ever depicted. Her brother Marlow is, by turns, creepily obsessed with her, violent, and highly dangerous. His change of heart near the end of the book was abrupt, but the story had to go that way in order to keep him alive.
Hester and Marlow's relationship contains alot of red flags which could have used more explanation, though the author could have wanted us to draw our own conclusions.

In terms of setting, Hester's family farm is rich and full of meaning. Definitely felt like I was there. The voices of each character were spectacularly strong, though I did note the dialogue was stilted every so often, signposting motivations but this was only 1/10 of the time; they stood out because the rest of it was so strong.

I didn't expect to love this novel, but I do. That being said, I don't think I'd read it again, as it's very Steinbeck-y, so my advice is you is read it, you won't be disappointed.

[Robert Appleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young Missouri woman harbors a wayward Yankee soldier, stirring up local resentment and buried passions in this powerful story set in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Hester was left to fend for herself when her father and brother joined the Confederate Army. She’s since taken in three orphan boys, and learned to survive any way she can; that includes placating the angry local militia. But when Eben, a wandering enemy soldier, arrives at her door, she surprises herself by taking him in, and in the process lets a little hope into her life for the first time in years. Hope, reconciliation, healing, and eventually, maybe even love.

But this is no sweet romance novel. The war has traumatized every character in different ways, not least Hester’s brother, Marlow, who returns home bitter and borderline psychopathic, with many a score to settle. There are grisly action scenes, and tragedies, but A Low Diving Bird is by no means a grueling read. It’s written with great sensitivity and very little sentimentality, capturing the wounded emotions behind these personalities hardened by trauma. Each character is vivid and has their own unique story arc.

I found the switches to first person present tense for Marlow’s POV chapters a little jarring, but I can see why Ms. Copa chose that, to show how disconnected he’s become. And for such a short book, I think there are a couple too many characters given center stage in the second half. But these are minor quibbles in what is a compelling, superbly crafted piece of historical fiction. It captures the discombobulation of a post-Civil War nation; some people can’t move on from the killing, while others desperately want to feel their way to some semblance of a normal life, even if it can never be what they once had.

An impressive read, one I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and/or terrific writing.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting historical drama set in 1865 Missouri. (Trigger warning for brutal violence.) The Civil War is over, but the hatred and distrust between those on opposite sides remain. Marlow is part of a band of cold-blooded, ruthless marauders who murder those they see as traitors: anyone who sympathized with or aided the Union army.
The author penned sections in Marlow’s POV in first person, while the majority of the story is written in third person. Marlow left his younger sister, Hester, behind in the family home, and she seems to be the only one he has any love or sympathy for.
Meanwhile, Hester has survived by selling everything in the house she could. She takes in three male orphans and forms a makeshift family. When a handsome Union solder, Eben, shows up with nowhere to go, she reluctantly allows him to stay. He shows her how to plant vegetables to best advantage and makes repairs around the property.
When it becomes clear that Marlow will return home, it seemed to be inevitable that his homecoming would be tragic and deadly. However, what follows is unexpected, and for me at least, unbelievable. Although we get scenes in Marlow’s POV, there is little presented of his feelings until one of his fellow marauders show up and they talk about the Union soldier living in the house.
Despite finding Marlow’s behavior towards Eben (and that of his friend Royal) less than believable, I enjoyed other aspects of this story enough to keep me invested. There is Hester’s former love interest, Kip, who lost his arm in the war and did not ask Hester to marry him as she had expected. And the three disparate orphans, who provide both comfort and distress to Hester. Overall, this is an engaging historical drama.

[InTheMiddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exploration of the post-Civil War era offers a stirring narrative that manages to remain profoundly human amidst the backdrop of a nation struggling with the aftermath of a divisive conflict. It captures the turbulence of a period marked by tattered loyalties and deep-seated trauma, while presenting it through the lens of realistic and engaging characters.

The narrative maintains an omnipresent sense of tension: unease that mirrors the essence of the era. This is a world teetering on the brink of change, a world where hostilities still simmer beneath the surface.

The characters are impressively well-crafted; in particular, I enjoyed Hester Cain's perspective. The quiet young woman at the story’s center is a character of immense depth and complexity. Her struggles with divided loyalties, the looming threat of harassment, and the pressure of caring for three orphans in a volatile world, all combine to create a character that is as resilient as she is endearing. Her relationships, particularly with the wandering Yankee soldier, are compelling and offer a nuanced look at the human capacity for connection amidst chaos.

Perhaps the most commendable aspect of the story is the author's insightful approach to trauma. She doesn’t shy away from the darker themes, but rather embraces them, exploring the impact of past trauma on the characters and the world they inhabit. The trauma here is not just a plot device, but a key part of the characters' journeys, treated with the gravity and sensitivity it deserves.

[Dee Osah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not one for historical fiction, but from the first sentence “We are already ghosts” I knew I was in good hands.
In post-civil war Missouri, the brilliantly characterized Hester Cain takes care of three orphans. Hester lives in a world on edge, where the war is over but isn’t really over. She meets Eben, a Yankee soldier, her enemy, as Hester is sister to Marlow, who has been away from home for a long time, time spent killing Yankees. From then, the tension mounts because Marlow must inevitably return home and Eben is there waiting for him.
Eben falls for Hester, but this isn’t a romance story. From the well-timed metaphors to the simplicity of the prose, the author paints a tragic world where some long to move on from the cruel past, while others remain trapped in the cycle of killing and blood.
Hester loves her brother Marlow, but she needs Eben. Eben and the orphans give her a reason to live, but she remains tied to Marlow, who seems destined to drift in the endless cycle of war.
I loved reading this novel, the language, the characters and those conflicting natures that reside within us. When Royal talked about the low diving birds that go deep into the sea, I stopped reading to think about what I had just read.
“A bird’s got to know when enough is enough. How deep are you going to dive, Marlow?”
This is a story about war and the trauma that makes ghosts of all its victims, searching for a reason to live and hope again. If you love historical fiction or just plain good literary storytelling, then read this book.

[Book Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Low Diving Bird" by Libby Copa is a profound and poignant tale, masterfully written in crisp, clean prose. Set in 1865 Missouri, it offers a personal exploration of the deep wounds left by the American Civil War, narrated through the perspectives of various characters, chiefly a woman named Hester, her suitor Eben, and her brother Marlow.

The post-war period is depicted as unexpectedly violent, with factions from both sides still roaming Missouri seeking retribution. Copa’s sparse yet vivid descriptions, coupled with a provocative plot and occasionally brutal scenes, keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

The novel’s tone is markedly dark and serious, which is fitting for a story centered on grief, loss, and the indomitable human will to survive. We experience this narrative through several viewpoints:

•Hester, the main character, navigates a perilous world alone but cannot resist taking in damaged souls, such as orphaned boys or a lost Union soldier.

•Eben, a Union soldier, arrives at Hester’s home in Missouri, where the end of the war has not ended the hostilities between loyalists on both sides.

•Marlow, Hester’s battle-scarred brother.

•A trio of orphaned boys whom Hester has taken under her wing.

In summary, "A Low Diving Bird" is a commendable work of literature that deserves five stars for its compelling storytelling and emotional depth.

[Melanie Horev · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves historical dramas, I found A Low Diving Bird by Libby Copa to be a captivating and interesting read. The author's writing style is immersive, painting vivid pictures of life in 1865 Missouri. It almost felt like I was there! The setting was truly a great foundation for the more action-filled parts of the book.
What stood out to me the most were the well-developed characters, each with their own motivations and relationships that felt genuine and relatable. When I read I usually look for books and characters that I care for even after I finish, and that is what happened here! Although there were some parts of the plot that felt a bit unbelievable (Marlow's sudden change of heart towards Eben), the story as a whole was still enjoyable and kept me invested until the end.
Overall, I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with complex characters and an exploration of the aftermath of war. If you want a story to stay with you, this is the one! Great read, I’ll look out for more works like this. Bravo.

[J.S. Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby Copa's A Low Diving Bird gives a snapshot of several months in post-Civil War Missouri. It's a bleak tale about a young woman named Hester who was left to fend for herself after her brother and father failed to return home at the end of the war. She takes in three orphaned or abandoned boys and later a handsome Yankee soldier.

Although a literary work, there is much here for genre readers as well. The romance between Hester and Eben is subtle yet poignant. There is action with plenty of blood and gore for the horror and thriller lovers. A professed witch and a boy who sees and talks to spirits will appeal to readers of paranormal fiction. And the suspense is held throughout - what will all these wild card characters, traumatized by the killing they've either seen or had to do, do to themselves or each other?

So although this is not my typical read, I learned something about a past era while being captivated and immersed in this beautifully written story. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who likes good writing and a blending of genres.

[Michail Tsikerdekis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Low Diving Bird" by Libby Copa is a captivating literary work set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The novel skillfully weaves together personal and historical dimensions, exploring themes of loss, grief, and human resilience.

Copa's narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, offering deep insights into each character's journey. The tragic death of Aimee serves as a catalyst, casting a profound shadow over the narrative and highlighting the complexities of human relationships and love.

The author's evocative prose and vivid descriptions immerse readers in the setting, enhancing the story's thematic depth. The characters are authentic and relatable, with their evolving relationships adding depth to the plot.

While the pacing is deliberate, it aligns with the somber tone, allowing readers to absorb the emotional weight of the story. "A Low Diving Bird" is a poignant exploration of the human spirit and the enduring impact of historical events, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

[Andrea Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A low Diving Bird is an interesting historical drama that is quite unlike other historical fiction novels I've read.
The setting, a post-civil-war south, is rife with simmering conflict and hatred. This setting alone is enough to provide consistent tension throughout, but the characters, which are distinct and well voiced, add greatly to the sense of impending conflict.
I think the author did a great job for the most part maintaining the speech patterns and habits of people of the time and place of the novel. The dialogue is believable and flows well. Sometimes, things are a little romance novelly, but that's great if that's what you're into.
The strong point of the whole thing, I feel, is the emotional language. You really feel what the characters feel, and the author doesn't beat you over the head with "telling" you.
The action stuff was mostly well done, but I sometimes wondered why nobody seemed to notice or care about gunshots.
Anyway, I'd overall recommend.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not always a fan of historical fiction, because I find it can be done in such an overblown, stylized way, but this story drew me in immediately. The characters, while living in a past I will never know, feel relatable to me (like people I might know now) as they struggle through violence, isolation, broken communities and families, and ultimately, try to put together a new reality. The dialogue is great (plain, but not dumb, just earnest enough but with some subtle sass). Sensory descriptions are spare but not withholding, and the pace moves right along (think Faulkner). This author is one to watch...

[Ryan Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of history, I can't praise Libby Copa's new historical fiction book "A Low Diving Bird" enough.

Capturing the spirit of post-Civil War America is not an easy task, but the author managed to bring another era to life with a gritty finesse and verve.

The author has you in the palm of their hand in the very first sentences and their storytelling ability is first-class. They have a particular knack for the use of narrative, imagery and character development. Hester is a determined and very believable character, as is Marlow in his own way. Small details of daily life are seamlessly interspersed and treated with the same respect as the growing tension that builds chapter by chapter.

Whenever an author tackles a historical fiction book set during a period of War, the natural tendency is to write a good .vs. evil narrative. One area this book really excels is in its understanding of the murkiness of that divide during the era in which it is set... and the moral dilemnas that everyday people would have faced. As one might expect from any book with this setting, there is violence right from the get-go (page 2 in fact) so I would caution any reader uncomfortable with its inclusion of this.

There was one line from Royal in the final chapter that stood out to me - "This isn't a place I know how to be from." It beautifully captured the sense of how difficult the adaptation from one way of life to another would be for the character and it was especially poignant.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It is a marvellous effort and this is definitely an author that is going places!!

[TracyMN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sincere praise for Low Diving Bird

As an American born in the late 1950s the civil war was a period in history studied loosely, and remembered mostly in vague references to key names and places with little personal reflection on the residual effect on my experience of the world around me.
This book, and the perspective it presents, brought home to me the deeply personal impact of a war fought on familiar ground by those considered part of collective community, where differences were accepted to whatever degree possible for the benefit of the whole. Where going home at the conclusion would require reconciliation on a level so personal and constant, with an immediacy in direct contrast to such a process.
The perspective of this book, and it's illustration of the personal politics of every individual are impossible, at least for me, to ignore- and my earlier dismissal of the few aspects I had even considered is proving equally impossible. To say I am changed by this book, by its subtle presentation of a wide range of valid opposing views, plays out in my day to day life in seemingly endless references, impressions, and associations; reminders of a past very much alive in the present- a personal, political, and relevant part of the individual and collective consciousness of the nation.
I applaud this author's ability to invite the reader to think for themselves and to engage readily with characters that price worthy of further consideration.

[Chris Pendlebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story really gets going in the second chapter, when we meet Hester, who offers a war-weary Union soldier, Eben, some solace. Hester’s life is a difficult one, beset my tragedy beginning when she was only little, after what happened to her mother. Copa does not go for long descriptions of her characters - this could be a plus or a minus for readers - but for me it was a plus. I could imagine Hester quite easily, and the difficult life she was living, taking care of orphans. Some knowledge of the time period would help prospective readers.

By chapter 4 I realised similarities to one of my favourite books, Mr Wroe’s Virgins by Jane Rogers. The ‘Aaron’ chapter was written very childlike, and I could tell the author had talent in finding the voice of her characters. This great writing continues in chapter 6, ‘Marlow’.

And it is Marlow who provides much early tension in the book – the wildcard, damaged brother of Hester. I felt myself wondering what he might do next. I feared it would be something terrible.

Copa has created a well-polished drama here, the civil war a backdrop, loosely reminding me of Cold Mountain. If you enjoyed that book/film, you would certainly enjoy A Low Diving Bird.

[Cathy Lynn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this character-driven historical novel, set just after the Civil war in Missouri. Hester is a single woman who has taken in three orphans and a Yankee Soldier, Eban. Her brother, Marlow is away at war. She is heartbroken that her childhood love has not married her, as expected.

Eban teaches Hester how to grow food and becomes part of her family. He takes the boys to school and becomes a father figure to them. The boys each have their own unique personalities. Hester seems happy with her life.

Marlow returns from war, having never left the country. He is shocked that his sister has allowed an enemy soldier into her home. Marlow has great love for Hester and can’t understand the choices she made in his absence. Hester resents that Marlow stayed away so long and left her, unprotected.

This story is rich in history and a satisfying read.

[M.J. Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You got a letting-go spell?" Hester asked.
"Oh, honey, there is no magic powerful enough for that. Time and work are what straightens that path."
Set in 1865 Missouri, "A Low Flying Bird" tells the story of the pain and sorrow suffered by Hester and her family as a result of the Civil War. Though the war was supposed to have ended, it lives on in the hearts and minds of the people who have been so damaged by it.
This is a fabulous read, slow and peaceful at times, vivid and intense at other times. The point of view switches frequently with each chapter so the reader gets into the minds of numerous characters. History lovers and even romance readers will enjoy this book. It is more a "touching" read than a "fun" one.
M.J. Evans Award-winning author of "The Sand Pounder-Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII"