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Hummingbird
Bestselling author Natalie Lloyd returns with her most personal book to date, a story about a girl who—armed with her trusty, snazzy wheelchair—refuses to let her brittle bone disease stand in the way of adventure.
Twelve-year-old homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as “fragile” just because she has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease) so she’s thrilled when she finally convinces her parents to let her attend Macklemore Elementary. Olive can’t wait to go to a traditional school and make the friends she’s always longed for, until a disastrous first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in.
Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird that supposedly lives near Macklemore. It’ll be the solution to all her problems! If she can find the bird and prove herself worthy, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true.
When it becomes clear that she can’t solve the mystery on her own, Olive teams up with some unlikely allies who help her learn the truth about the bird. And on the way, she just might learn that our fragile places lead us to the most wonderful magic of all . . .
Twelve-year-old homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as “fragile” just because she has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease) so she’s thrilled when she finally convinces her parents to let her attend Macklemore Elementary. Olive can’t wait to go to a traditional school and make the friends she’s always longed for, until a disastrous first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in.
Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird that supposedly lives near Macklemore. It’ll be the solution to all her problems! If she can find the bird and prove herself worthy, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true.
When it becomes clear that she can’t solve the mystery on her own, Olive teams up with some unlikely allies who help her learn the truth about the bird. And on the way, she just might learn that our fragile places lead us to the most wonderful magic of all . . .
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2022
248 people are currently reading
6096 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Lloyd
13 books534 followersNatalie Lloyd is the New York Times Bestselling Author of novels for young readers (and the young at heart).
Her first novel, A Snicker of Magic (2014), was an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, a top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick and an NPR, iBooks and Parents Magazine best book of the year for children. The book has been optioned for television by Sony Tristar. Natalie’s other novels include The Key to Extraordinary (Scholastic 2016), The Problim Children series (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen 2017), and Over the Moon (Scholastic 2019). These novels have won accolades from Entertainment Weekly, Junior Library Guild, SIBA, Amazon and Bank Street College of Education, among others. Silverswift, her first Audible Original, was published in 2020. Hummingbird, her seventh (and most personal) novel for kids, was published in August 2022. In January 2023, it was awarded a Schneider Family Honor Award by the American Library Association. Her next novel, The Witching Wind, will be available in Fall 2024.
Natalie writes in the shadows beside a sunny window in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She loves adventuring with her husband, Justin, and their dogs.
Her first novel, A Snicker of Magic (2014), was an ALA Notable Book, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, a top 10 Kids Indie Next Pick and an NPR, iBooks and Parents Magazine best book of the year for children. The book has been optioned for television by Sony Tristar. Natalie’s other novels include The Key to Extraordinary (Scholastic 2016), The Problim Children series (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen 2017), and Over the Moon (Scholastic 2019). These novels have won accolades from Entertainment Weekly, Junior Library Guild, SIBA, Amazon and Bank Street College of Education, among others. Silverswift, her first Audible Original, was published in 2020. Hummingbird, her seventh (and most personal) novel for kids, was published in August 2022. In January 2023, it was awarded a Schneider Family Honor Award by the American Library Association. Her next novel, The Witching Wind, will be available in Fall 2024.
Natalie writes in the shadows beside a sunny window in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She loves adventuring with her husband, Justin, and their dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 722 reviews
February 12, 2022
If I picked the Newbery Award, it would be this book right here. It’s a masterpiece of middle grade. I cried no fewer than three times while reading. If you trust my opinion at all, read it.
July 27, 2022
My bones are fragile, but I am not.
When Olive Miracle Martin transfers in to Macklemore Middle School in her blinged up school jacket and her bedazzled wheelchair, the 5th grade will never be the same. BTW, she has two wheelchairs. One is named Dolly Parton and the other Reba. This girl has good taste in country music. Anyway, after being homeschooled due to her brittle bone disease, Olive convinces her parents to let her try going to school. On the first day, fifth grade teacher Mr. Watson tells the class about a legendary hummingbird that grants wishes. With feathers falling from the sky and a blue moon on the way, the time is ripe and the hunt is on. Olive hopes to find a BFF along the way. She might also find that the quest for the hummingbird will help her to understand herself and her stepbrother Hatch better. Natalie Lloyd writes this story with a wealth of personal knowledge on the subject. Her letter at the beginning is a beautiful introduction to this inspiring story. This is my favorite from Lloyd so far and sure to be in the running for accolades in 2023.
Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
When Olive Miracle Martin transfers in to Macklemore Middle School in her blinged up school jacket and her bedazzled wheelchair, the 5th grade will never be the same. BTW, she has two wheelchairs. One is named Dolly Parton and the other Reba. This girl has good taste in country music. Anyway, after being homeschooled due to her brittle bone disease, Olive convinces her parents to let her try going to school. On the first day, fifth grade teacher Mr. Watson tells the class about a legendary hummingbird that grants wishes. With feathers falling from the sky and a blue moon on the way, the time is ripe and the hunt is on. Olive hopes to find a BFF along the way. She might also find that the quest for the hummingbird will help her to understand herself and her stepbrother Hatch better. Natalie Lloyd writes this story with a wealth of personal knowledge on the subject. Her letter at the beginning is a beautiful introduction to this inspiring story. This is my favorite from Lloyd so far and sure to be in the running for accolades in 2023.
Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2023
✰ 4.5 stars ✰
“Fragile is what I’ll always be. I get that.
But I am a thousand other things, too.
I’m whole constellations of wonders and weirdness and hope.”
The opening lines to Hummingbird is both powerful and impactful - it is the courage and resilience and positivity of Olive, who even having to spend most of her life in a wheelchair because of what she was born with, does not allow it to define her. And this deeply moving and inspirational Middle Grade book speaks to your heart about the silent testament of strength a child can display even when the odds defy her success, is one that truly makes it one to be recommended for the ages. 💜💜
I adored the idea - I adored the magical element of the plot - that how once every thirty years, a hummingbird visits the little quiet town of Wildwood, Tennessee to grant one lucky person a wish of a lifetime - a good luck charm for those who need a wish so that 'everything can change for the better'. I love that it was such a widespread and shared thrill that engaged all the community children on a night of a hunt. I admired Olive - I admired how willing she was to try and adapt for a chance of having a normal life at school, despite her limitations, despite being homeschooled out of fear for so much of her life. 🥹 🥹
Her passion for acting - her love for all that glitters - her bond with Emily Dickinson's poetry - her positive look at people's views about their doubts of her capabilities, and her eagerness for something that was missing in her life - a friend her own age that she could call her BFF - she was a normal girl living in a not-so-normal way - but she didn't let it break her spirit or her heart, no matter how much there was a fear that her bones could break. 😟😟
“Because no life should be a whisper. Remember that, okay? You’re not a miracle because you have brittle bones or because you use a wheelchair or walker. You’re not a miracle if you don’t.
You’re a miracle because you exist.
Everybody is.”
Olive Miracle Martin had the determination that would make even the most normal child be in awe of how much she was capable of achieving, if she was not able to reach for the skies, even if she could not stand up long enough. Her blended family was so very supportive and caring for her - allowing her as much freedom as they sought fit and appropriate, but never challenging her dreams and making her feel any lesser than what she thought she was. She just had so much heart and passion for life - it made me admire her strength so very much. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
“I will be,” I promised the girl in the mirror.
I don’t break promises to myself.
Thank goodness for the hummingbird.
Thank goodness for a wish.
Where fear and wonder both collide,
That is where the creature hides.
I just had to find that place.”
The writing was crisp, heartfelt and deeply poignant - I especially loved the smooth transitions between prose and verse - uff, stellar job! 👌🏻👌🏻 The way Olive's emotions and thoughts were written in such heartfelt and emotive feeling - it will move you. The mystical ambience and the buoyancy allure of discovery - the search for the elusive bird vs the challenges of daily school activities - a beautiful harmony thrummed through each scene that brought everything so seamlessly together. 💫💫
Natalie Lloyd does not only connect to the readers to better understand people who may be afflicted with this condition, but addresses even the emotional challenges that would befall any ordinary pubescent teen. The want for a friend - the loss of a close pet - the aim to reach your true potential - and hope that no matter what, you'll always have a place in the heart of those who love you unconditionally and unequivocally. And then phrases that even speak to me that capture what I feel about myself - to be so seen - “I love quiet people. They’ve always got so much going on in their heads and their hearts.” 🥺🥺
“I like people who aren’t afraid to sparkle. Life’s too short to blend in, right? You gotta do you.”
I loved all the relationships shown - each of them brought a little something special and new into Olive's heart and displayed a beautiful dynamic that resonated with each scene they shared. Her stepbrother, Hatch Malone, stole my heart with his screen-time and all I wanted to do was envelop him in a warm hug. The love of family and power of friendship of the BlumeBird Society was prevalent throughout -each character breathed to life and soared with their conviction and care for Olive. 🤍🤍
“Birds don’t fly broken.”
“You do,” Grace said. “You’ve got a best friend who can make you wings.”
If I could find one fault, it would be the rather swift ending - as much as I felt the tingle in my chest as the magic enveloped my heart, I did feel it was a little too quickly wrapped up. But, if I suspend my disbelief and believe in the enchantment of a wish being granted for the sake of others, then I think it captured the moment perfectly.
“When I read the lines, I thought:
Why do poets write something so beautiful just to break it?
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.”
Emily wrote that. It’s my favorite line she’s got.
See like Emily, I told my heart.
Soar like the birds today.
“We know the secret of the sky.”
There were so many moments that I highlighted - beautiful phrases that captured the spell that the sighting of the hummingbird would bless those fortunate enough to find it, but it was truly towards the end of the story, that my heart broke - that I actually choked up. 😥😥 When writing is moving at a steady current and you come across a cascading torrent that cuts through the waves - it will hit you - and it will hit hard. 💔💔 And I felt it in my bones the heartbreak that you think could only be appeased by a magical touch, but it actually comes from those around you and who you see yourselves as - perfect as you are. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
“My body is made of stardust and lace and dreams and constellations.
My bones are fragile. But I am not.”
“Fragile is what I’ll always be. I get that.
But I am a thousand other things, too.
I’m whole constellations of wonders and weirdness and hope.”
The opening lines to Hummingbird is both powerful and impactful - it is the courage and resilience and positivity of Olive, who even having to spend most of her life in a wheelchair because of what she was born with, does not allow it to define her. And this deeply moving and inspirational Middle Grade book speaks to your heart about the silent testament of strength a child can display even when the odds defy her success, is one that truly makes it one to be recommended for the ages. 💜💜
I adored the idea - I adored the magical element of the plot - that how once every thirty years, a hummingbird visits the little quiet town of Wildwood, Tennessee to grant one lucky person a wish of a lifetime - a good luck charm for those who need a wish so that 'everything can change for the better'. I love that it was such a widespread and shared thrill that engaged all the community children on a night of a hunt. I admired Olive - I admired how willing she was to try and adapt for a chance of having a normal life at school, despite her limitations, despite being homeschooled out of fear for so much of her life. 🥹 🥹
Her passion for acting - her love for all that glitters - her bond with Emily Dickinson's poetry - her positive look at people's views about their doubts of her capabilities, and her eagerness for something that was missing in her life - a friend her own age that she could call her BFF - she was a normal girl living in a not-so-normal way - but she didn't let it break her spirit or her heart, no matter how much there was a fear that her bones could break. 😟😟
“Because no life should be a whisper. Remember that, okay? You’re not a miracle because you have brittle bones or because you use a wheelchair or walker. You’re not a miracle if you don’t.
You’re a miracle because you exist.
Everybody is.”
Olive Miracle Martin had the determination that would make even the most normal child be in awe of how much she was capable of achieving, if she was not able to reach for the skies, even if she could not stand up long enough. Her blended family was so very supportive and caring for her - allowing her as much freedom as they sought fit and appropriate, but never challenging her dreams and making her feel any lesser than what she thought she was. She just had so much heart and passion for life - it made me admire her strength so very much. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
“I will be,” I promised the girl in the mirror.
I don’t break promises to myself.
Thank goodness for the hummingbird.
Thank goodness for a wish.
Where fear and wonder both collide,
That is where the creature hides.
I just had to find that place.”
The writing was crisp, heartfelt and deeply poignant - I especially loved the smooth transitions between prose and verse - uff, stellar job! 👌🏻👌🏻 The way Olive's emotions and thoughts were written in such heartfelt and emotive feeling - it will move you. The mystical ambience and the buoyancy allure of discovery - the search for the elusive bird vs the challenges of daily school activities - a beautiful harmony thrummed through each scene that brought everything so seamlessly together. 💫💫
Natalie Lloyd does not only connect to the readers to better understand people who may be afflicted with this condition, but addresses even the emotional challenges that would befall any ordinary pubescent teen. The want for a friend - the loss of a close pet - the aim to reach your true potential - and hope that no matter what, you'll always have a place in the heart of those who love you unconditionally and unequivocally. And then phrases that even speak to me that capture what I feel about myself - to be so seen - “I love quiet people. They’ve always got so much going on in their heads and their hearts.” 🥺🥺
“I like people who aren’t afraid to sparkle. Life’s too short to blend in, right? You gotta do you.”
I loved all the relationships shown - each of them brought a little something special and new into Olive's heart and displayed a beautiful dynamic that resonated with each scene they shared. Her stepbrother, Hatch Malone, stole my heart with his screen-time and all I wanted to do was envelop him in a warm hug. The love of family and power of friendship of the BlumeBird Society was prevalent throughout -each character breathed to life and soared with their conviction and care for Olive. 🤍🤍
“Birds don’t fly broken.”
“You do,” Grace said. “You’ve got a best friend who can make you wings.”
If I could find one fault, it would be the rather swift ending - as much as I felt the tingle in my chest as the magic enveloped my heart, I did feel it was a little too quickly wrapped up. But, if I suspend my disbelief and believe in the enchantment of a wish being granted for the sake of others, then I think it captured the moment perfectly.
“When I read the lines, I thought:
Why do poets write something so beautiful just to break it?
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.”
Emily wrote that. It’s my favorite line she’s got.
See like Emily, I told my heart.
Soar like the birds today.
“We know the secret of the sky.”
There were so many moments that I highlighted - beautiful phrases that captured the spell that the sighting of the hummingbird would bless those fortunate enough to find it, but it was truly towards the end of the story, that my heart broke - that I actually choked up. 😥😥 When writing is moving at a steady current and you come across a cascading torrent that cuts through the waves - it will hit you - and it will hit hard. 💔💔 And I felt it in my bones the heartbreak that you think could only be appeased by a magical touch, but it actually comes from those around you and who you see yourselves as - perfect as you are. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
“My body is made of stardust and lace and dreams and constellations.
My bones are fragile. But I am not.”
March 30, 2022
Dear reader,
You will want to read this book because it will be devoured and loved.
It's a window to the author's heart and we are so lucky to read her words.
Absolutely beautiful.
You will want to read this book because it will be devoured and loved.
It's a window to the author's heart and we are so lucky to read her words.
Absolutely beautiful.
Read
July 29, 2022My bones are fragile, but I am not.
When Olive Miracle Martin transfers into Macklemore Middle School in her blinged-up school jacket and her bedazzled wheelchair, the 5th grade will never be the same. BTW, she has two wheelchairs. One is named Dolly Parton and the other Reba. This girl has good taste in country music. Anyway, after being homeschooled due to her brittle bone disease, Olive convinces her parents to let her try going to school. On the first day, fifth-grade teacher Mr. Watson tells the class about a legendary hummingbird that grants wishes. With feathers falling from the sky and a blue moon on the way, the time is ripe and the hunt is on. Olive hopes to find a BFF along the way. She might also find that the quest for the hummingbird will help her to understand herself and her stepbrother Hatch better. Natalie Lloyd writes this story with a wealth of personal knowledge on the subject. Her letter at the beginning is a beautiful introduction to this inspiring story. This is my favorite from Lloyd so far and is sure to be in the running for accolades in 2023.
*Review by Darla from Red Bridge*
When Olive Miracle Martin transfers into Macklemore Middle School in her blinged-up school jacket and her bedazzled wheelchair, the 5th grade will never be the same. BTW, she has two wheelchairs. One is named Dolly Parton and the other Reba. This girl has good taste in country music. Anyway, after being homeschooled due to her brittle bone disease, Olive convinces her parents to let her try going to school. On the first day, fifth-grade teacher Mr. Watson tells the class about a legendary hummingbird that grants wishes. With feathers falling from the sky and a blue moon on the way, the time is ripe and the hunt is on. Olive hopes to find a BFF along the way. She might also find that the quest for the hummingbird will help her to understand herself and her stepbrother Hatch better. Natalie Lloyd writes this story with a wealth of personal knowledge on the subject. Her letter at the beginning is a beautiful introduction to this inspiring story. This is my favorite from Lloyd so far and is sure to be in the running for accolades in 2023.
*Review by Darla from Red Bridge*
August 18, 2022
I love Olive's spirit throughout. She is such a sweet soul - hopeful for herself and a friend to everyone else. While I love some magical realism, the middle of this book was so magical that I ended up confused about how, exactly, to take this story. Sloths and llamas in a turret library? Was I reading realistic fiction or fantasy? It all put me off balance for a bit. In the end I liked the message and Olive's decision about herself and I especially loved her growing relationship with her stepbrother.
January 22, 2023
You had me at therapy sloth named Bon Jovi.
June 22, 2022
“Every kid deserves a day like that, full of summer-shining trails and good friends, and fun.” Homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as fragile because she has brittle bone disease and uses a wheelchair, so she’s thrilled when her parents let her attend a traditional school. . . until a disaster out first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in or making the friends she has always longed for.
Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird. If she can find the bird, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true. But on the way, Olive might learn our fragile places can lead us to the most wonderful magic.
“My bones are fragile, but I am not. “
What a wonderful middle grade book! I cannot wait to share this with my students.
Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird. If she can find the bird, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true. But on the way, Olive might learn our fragile places can lead us to the most wonderful magic.
“My bones are fragile, but I am not. “
What a wonderful middle grade book! I cannot wait to share this with my students.
March 14, 2023
Beautiful story, didn't want to leave it behind.
November 8, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Olive Miracle Martin wants nothing more than to attend Macklemore Middle School in her hometown of Wildwood, Tennessee. Because she was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease), she's been homeschooled by her mother. Her father, Jupiter, is a free spirited guy who comes and goes, and her stepfather works at the middle school. Olive wants to experience the same kind of life that other children do, and wants to find a best friend like Anne of Green Gables or The Babysitter's Club. Her mother insists that she use a wheelchair to prevent falls, and wants Olive's stepbrother, Hatch, to watch out for her. She is a bit disappointed that she can't join some kids she meets for lunch on the first day; they eat in the library and her aide, Ms. Pigeon, takes her instead to "the Madelines", whom she thinks are sweet girls. Olive finds them a bit condescending and mean, and would rather eat with Grace, who has a variety of businesses that she runs from school. Olive decides that she will try out for the school play, since Grace is doing set design, and it's a good chance to try something new. There are other exciting things going on in town; for the first time in a number of years, magical feathers are falling on the town, which presage the coming of the hummingbird. This hummingbird will bestow one wish on a person of its choosing. Olive is determined to find where the bird will appear so that she can make a wish. Others, including Hatch, have the same idea, and Olive puts together a BlumeBirds group to do some investigating. The kids interview older people in the town and try to make the best plan. The play, a story about the life of Emily Dickinson, goes fairly well, and Olive is glad to get a speaking role. Unfortunately, she suffers a broken leg, which complicates many things. Will she be able to continue to attend public school and participate in the play, and which of her new friends will have a wish granted by the hummingbird?
Strengths: Since the author also has OI, there are lots of good details about what this condition entails. For example, Olive can walk, but can be dangerous in a school with lots of careening children. The adults who cross Olive's paths are all very interesting; I wish more middle grade books had better developed adult characters, since they are frequently so important in tweens' lives. Her mother is overprotective, her father is involved but has his own issues, and the teachers (especially a fun librarian!) are helpful as well. It wsa good to see that Olive was able to make some friends, although we do see how some classmates don't understand her reality. The magical realism was well developed, and was rather reminiscent of A Snicker of Magic. The Southern setting included a fair amount of church going, which is not represented all that well in middle grade literature.
Weaknesses: I bought both A Snicker of Magic and The Key to Extraordinary, but they have not circulated well. It did seem a bit odd that Olive was so fond of Judy Blume's Blubber (1974), but perhaps this was a childhood favorite of Lloyd's.
What I really think: I really enjoyed reading about how Olive met her challenges with her physical limitations, and Lloyd's own experiences with OI definitely give this a real immediacy. I wish that this had been a realistic story, but understand that Lloyd writes mainly magical realism. She certainly has a lot of fans of her lyrical, fantastical novels set in the South.
Olive Miracle Martin wants nothing more than to attend Macklemore Middle School in her hometown of Wildwood, Tennessee. Because she was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease), she's been homeschooled by her mother. Her father, Jupiter, is a free spirited guy who comes and goes, and her stepfather works at the middle school. Olive wants to experience the same kind of life that other children do, and wants to find a best friend like Anne of Green Gables or The Babysitter's Club. Her mother insists that she use a wheelchair to prevent falls, and wants Olive's stepbrother, Hatch, to watch out for her. She is a bit disappointed that she can't join some kids she meets for lunch on the first day; they eat in the library and her aide, Ms. Pigeon, takes her instead to "the Madelines", whom she thinks are sweet girls. Olive finds them a bit condescending and mean, and would rather eat with Grace, who has a variety of businesses that she runs from school. Olive decides that she will try out for the school play, since Grace is doing set design, and it's a good chance to try something new. There are other exciting things going on in town; for the first time in a number of years, magical feathers are falling on the town, which presage the coming of the hummingbird. This hummingbird will bestow one wish on a person of its choosing. Olive is determined to find where the bird will appear so that she can make a wish. Others, including Hatch, have the same idea, and Olive puts together a BlumeBirds group to do some investigating. The kids interview older people in the town and try to make the best plan. The play, a story about the life of Emily Dickinson, goes fairly well, and Olive is glad to get a speaking role. Unfortunately, she suffers a broken leg, which complicates many things. Will she be able to continue to attend public school and participate in the play, and which of her new friends will have a wish granted by the hummingbird?
Strengths: Since the author also has OI, there are lots of good details about what this condition entails. For example, Olive can walk, but can be dangerous in a school with lots of careening children. The adults who cross Olive's paths are all very interesting; I wish more middle grade books had better developed adult characters, since they are frequently so important in tweens' lives. Her mother is overprotective, her father is involved but has his own issues, and the teachers (especially a fun librarian!) are helpful as well. It wsa good to see that Olive was able to make some friends, although we do see how some classmates don't understand her reality. The magical realism was well developed, and was rather reminiscent of A Snicker of Magic. The Southern setting included a fair amount of church going, which is not represented all that well in middle grade literature.
Weaknesses: I bought both A Snicker of Magic and The Key to Extraordinary, but they have not circulated well. It did seem a bit odd that Olive was so fond of Judy Blume's Blubber (1974), but perhaps this was a childhood favorite of Lloyd's.
What I really think: I really enjoyed reading about how Olive met her challenges with her physical limitations, and Lloyd's own experiences with OI definitely give this a real immediacy. I wish that this had been a realistic story, but understand that Lloyd writes mainly magical realism. She certainly has a lot of fans of her lyrical, fantastical novels set in the South.
May 28, 2022
Lesson to be learned: your wishes will come true even if you aren’t the one to make them. This was an amazing book, one that I will purchase for both my school library and for home. Olive has OI, osteogenesis imperfecta and all she wants to do is attend MS and meet her BFF. Her parents eventually allow her to go and there Olive’s adventure begins. She meets her BFF, her relationship with her stepbrother blossoms and she has her wish “granted” by the elusive hummingbird. Not only a heartbreaking story but one that stays with you long after you read it. I absolutely loved Olive, her parents treated her as fragile, only in the sense that they wanted her to be careful in an unknown world. The family dynamic was one that I haven’t seen before: divorced parents who are best friends, a grandfather and uncle who would move the world for Olive and a step-dad who love her as his own. Olive’s parents allowed her the freedom to become whatever she wanted. Olive is a character that is not only special but one that young girls should aspire to be. Thank you Natalie Lloyd for sharing this inspiring story, one that resonates with me and helps the reader walk in your shoes.
August 17, 2022
I was so glad the protagonist was disabled, and the book spent time on it and had it shape her worldview. I'm disabled too, but not a wheelchair user and don't have the bone thing. Still, we had some shared experiences in this. That's where the positivity in me about this book ends. This novel was insufferable to the point of being UNBEARABLE. So cloyingly twee! By the forty-seven percent mark, I gritted my teeth and started to skim. Rainbow-hued books in a library that seems like a castle, a librarian who borders on immature, and EXOTIC ANIMALS AS SERVICE ANIMALS IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL. They're heavily and dare I say it, unrealistically domesticated. They're essentially pets for twee writing. Bacon is a swearword? Why? What? Who are these people? Annoyed and disappointed sigh.
December 3, 2022
Overall, I really liked this and representation of all types matters. We don't come across enough books where the protagonist is physically handicapped like Olive is.
A few issues that i sometimes found the way Olive talked slightly annoying. Twelve year olds don't speak the way Olive does throughout parts of the book. Now I realize this is a work of fiction but a sloth named Bon Jovi and a llama named Edna that are school therapy animals and birds in the library just seems really far fetched and out of place in the story.
After having read A Snicker of Magic by the same author, I was looking forward to reading this.
If you're looking for a novel where the main protagonist has a physical handicapped and uses a wheelchair I recommend ROLL WITH IT BY JAMIE SUMNER
A few issues that i sometimes found the way Olive talked slightly annoying. Twelve year olds don't speak the way Olive does throughout parts of the book. Now I realize this is a work of fiction but a sloth named Bon Jovi and a llama named Edna that are school therapy animals and birds in the library just seems really far fetched and out of place in the story.
After having read A Snicker of Magic by the same author, I was looking forward to reading this.
If you're looking for a novel where the main protagonist has a physical handicapped and uses a wheelchair I recommend ROLL WITH IT BY JAMIE SUMNER
July 26, 2024
7/26/24 4 stars, I thought this would be a quick re-read, but it took about a week to finish. It could be because I am reading too many books at the same time.
11/23/18 4.5 stars. If you like happy endings, this is the book for you. You'll find yourself cheering for Olive, a young girl who is starting public school for the first time after being homeschooled by her parents because of her osteogenesis imperfecta (aka brittle bone disease). In addition to starting public school, Olive along with her stepbrother Hatch and others in Wildwood, Tennessee are waiting for a magical hummingbird to reappear to give them a kiss and make their wishes come true. Is the hummingbird real? Will either of them receive their wish?
Give this to those who like magic realism (i.e. All the Impossible Things) in their stories.
11/23/18 4.5 stars. If you like happy endings, this is the book for you. You'll find yourself cheering for Olive, a young girl who is starting public school for the first time after being homeschooled by her parents because of her osteogenesis imperfecta (aka brittle bone disease). In addition to starting public school, Olive along with her stepbrother Hatch and others in Wildwood, Tennessee are waiting for a magical hummingbird to reappear to give them a kiss and make their wishes come true. Is the hummingbird real? Will either of them receive their wish?
Give this to those who like magic realism (i.e. All the Impossible Things) in their stories.
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March 11, 2022“No matter how old or boring we get, we will never, ever stop looking for magic together.”
Oh my stars & feathers—what a magical, whimsical, heart-filled wonder of a story!
I’ve been a huge fan of Natalie’s work since A SNICKER OF MAGIC, and this story about Olive—a girl with glitter in her soul, heart-shaped glasses on her eyes, and a big wish in her heart—may be my favorite yet. I loved Olive’s deep desire for friendship, her nuanced exploration of her identity and disability, her fearless spirit, her contagious joy, and her raw, honest questions for God. Plus, there’s a town that plays host to a wish-granting hummingbird, a school where wildflowers burst through the roofbeams, and a cast of characters who will charm your socks off.
My 8yo, who is also a big Natalie Lloyd fan, snatched this book up as soon as I brought it home and adored it. Definitely put this book on your must-read list.
Oh my stars & feathers—what a magical, whimsical, heart-filled wonder of a story!
I’ve been a huge fan of Natalie’s work since A SNICKER OF MAGIC, and this story about Olive—a girl with glitter in her soul, heart-shaped glasses on her eyes, and a big wish in her heart—may be my favorite yet. I loved Olive’s deep desire for friendship, her nuanced exploration of her identity and disability, her fearless spirit, her contagious joy, and her raw, honest questions for God. Plus, there’s a town that plays host to a wish-granting hummingbird, a school where wildflowers burst through the roofbeams, and a cast of characters who will charm your socks off.
My 8yo, who is also a big Natalie Lloyd fan, snatched this book up as soon as I brought it home and adored it. Definitely put this book on your must-read list.
November 26, 2022
This was such a MAGICAL book. Wow. I don’t even know what to say, except read this book. This book is one of the best books I have read all year and it has been added to my favorite books of all-time. The story and character are unforgettable. There is so much beauty on every single page. The writing is so beautiful. I feel like I personally know this author. Natalie Lloyd has bone brittle disease and her main character, Olive also has the same disease. She has poured her heart and soul into this book and you can feel it. If you enjoy magical realism stories, this is a must read. This book gave me all the feels. You will laugh and cry (a few times). What a book. I can’t wait to share this one with my students. This book is definitely Newbery worthy.
October 9, 2022
Violently sobbing at a children’s book DHMU.
Okay serious review now: I think it’s a universal disabled experience, especially when you’re younger , to find yourself wishing for normalcy; finding that explored in a book and my own childhood feelings so accurately mirrored shook me to the core in the best way. A beautiful beautiful exploration of disability , family and friendship, I can’t recommend this enough, disabled or not
Okay serious review now: I think it’s a universal disabled experience, especially when you’re younger , to find yourself wishing for normalcy; finding that explored in a book and my own childhood feelings so accurately mirrored shook me to the core in the best way. A beautiful beautiful exploration of disability , family and friendship, I can’t recommend this enough, disabled or not
May 13, 2023
Natalie Lloyd's books continue to enchant and delight me. And make me cry. This one definitely made me cry multiple times toward the end -- but not over sad things! Like with most books (and movies), what made me cry was some really, really good stuff happening against the odds that it wouldn't.
Like, not to spoil the ending or anything, but man, it is GOOD.
Like, not to spoil the ending or anything, but man, it is GOOD.
July 3, 2023
DNF. I liked the characters and the writing style, but wasn’t into the fantasy elements. Some parts were just so odd (a library with sloths and a llama?) This book would have been better if it was more realistic fiction with some magic elements
August 31, 2022
Wow...this was amazing,light, magical.
September 11, 2022
Natalie Lloyd is an expert at writing magical, heartfelt books. I loved Olive's story! A must read!
March 29, 2024
An inspiring tale of 11 year old Olive who cruises around in a snazzy, sequined wheelchair and has big dreams of attending middle school, performing on a stage, and having 1 true BFF. Olive has always been homeschooled and sheltered by her loving family as she suffers from brittle bone disease, but she is quick to remind people that her bones are brittle, and that her bones may be fragile, but she is not! She is strong and determined and wholly her own person.
Then Olive hears whispers about a magical hummingbird that arrives in town on the wind the eve before a Blue Moon and that hummingbird, if you can find it, grants a wish to the ones who find it. She and her step brother along with her new school friend vow to find the hummingbird and have their heart's wishes granted. But, along the way, Olive might just learn that those fragile and vulnerable places of ourselves are actually a strength and not a weakness and make us who we are!
Such a sweet, sweet story full of hope and love and kindness. I really enjoyed this one!
Then Olive hears whispers about a magical hummingbird that arrives in town on the wind the eve before a Blue Moon and that hummingbird, if you can find it, grants a wish to the ones who find it. She and her step brother along with her new school friend vow to find the hummingbird and have their heart's wishes granted. But, along the way, Olive might just learn that those fragile and vulnerable places of ourselves are actually a strength and not a weakness and make us who we are!
Such a sweet, sweet story full of hope and love and kindness. I really enjoyed this one!
July 8, 2024
Olive is a twelve year old who is home schooled and sick of being treated as fragile because she has OI, osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. She so wants to attend middle school at Macklemore Elementary and make new friends; maybe even a BFF. She finally convinces her parents to let her attend the school as long as she remains in her wheelchair and her stepbrother, Hatch, keeps an eye on her while they are there.
Soon after a magical occurrence of feather like snow begins to fall and melt in the town signally the soon to arrive magical, wish granting, hummingbird. Could Olive find the bird and make her most desperate secret wish actually come true. Give the book a read to find out.
This beautiful quote by Olive captures the true essence of the novel.: "My bones are fragile, but I am not."
Soon after a magical occurrence of feather like snow begins to fall and melt in the town signally the soon to arrive magical, wish granting, hummingbird. Could Olive find the bird and make her most desperate secret wish actually come true. Give the book a read to find out.
This beautiful quote by Olive captures the true essence of the novel.: "My bones are fragile, but I am not."
August 1, 2022
A beautiful story that will touch your heart! Natalie Lloyd share the story of her life through the eyes of Olive, a middle-school girl who was born with brittle bone disease. A bit of magic makes this book even more special. Be ready to laugh, to cry, and to cheer on Olive!
December 6, 2023
Five huge joy-kabooms!
Olive is tired of being seen as 'fragile' because she has osteogenesis imperfecta, but she won't let that stop her from attending middle school or starring in the school play. When she discovers that a magical, wish-granting hummingbird will be stopping by her town soon, she starts hunting the bird with her best friends to make her wish come true. Will she find the hummingbird in time?
What a joy this book was to listen to! The author herself reads it, and it was such a delight. Olive was an amazing character. She truly felt like an 11-year-old that just started middle school. She had so much joy and thoughtfulness, especially in her observations of other people. I felt wonder, joy, and sadness all throughout the book. I loved all the conversations that Olive had about misconceptions that people had and how that affected her. Within the first two chapters, we discuss how uncomfortable Olive feels when someone prays for her bones to get better. I love that this is mentioned right away because it is such an important thing to talk about. I loved the friendships she made, especially with her step-brother, Hatch. The storyline between those two broke and lifted my heart. I truly cannot sing enough praises for this book. It was wonderous.
Olive is tired of being seen as 'fragile' because she has osteogenesis imperfecta, but she won't let that stop her from attending middle school or starring in the school play. When she discovers that a magical, wish-granting hummingbird will be stopping by her town soon, she starts hunting the bird with her best friends to make her wish come true. Will she find the hummingbird in time?
What a joy this book was to listen to! The author herself reads it, and it was such a delight. Olive was an amazing character. She truly felt like an 11-year-old that just started middle school. She had so much joy and thoughtfulness, especially in her observations of other people. I felt wonder, joy, and sadness all throughout the book. I loved all the conversations that Olive had about misconceptions that people had and how that affected her. Within the first two chapters, we discuss how uncomfortable Olive feels when someone prays for her bones to get better. I love that this is mentioned right away because it is such an important thing to talk about. I loved the friendships she made, especially with her step-brother, Hatch. The storyline between those two broke and lifted my heart. I truly cannot sing enough praises for this book. It was wonderous.
October 23, 2023
This book lends an excellent perspective for those who live with a disability. It would be particularly useful for able-bodied people to read in order to empathize with the experiences the main character has.
Some of its messaging is a bit direct, but, based on the ages expected to read the book, I think that’s fine. I think its crucial to see the character live with supportive family. It provided her with the confidence to love herself and her disability from page one. The conflict then is allowed to evolve beyond the basic arc of her learning to love herself.
Knowing that the author also lives with this disability helps the book to be about more than just that part of the characters life (which, of course, is exactly what is the overall goal).
I think the mystery was great, the characters were engaging, and the story balanced a “hard life truth” perspective with magical realism very well.
Some of its messaging is a bit direct, but, based on the ages expected to read the book, I think that’s fine. I think its crucial to see the character live with supportive family. It provided her with the confidence to love herself and her disability from page one. The conflict then is allowed to evolve beyond the basic arc of her learning to love herself.
Knowing that the author also lives with this disability helps the book to be about more than just that part of the characters life (which, of course, is exactly what is the overall goal).
I think the mystery was great, the characters were engaging, and the story balanced a “hard life truth” perspective with magical realism very well.
August 28, 2022
I’m rather picky about mystic realism books-I either love them or hate them. This one is an excellent book. The author was born with the same challenge as the main character. I want to meet Olive and find a friend just like her even though I’m an adult. Her empathetic sweet soul just jumps from the pages. I loved the mix of prose and poetry and the narration portions of the story. I felt like I was living in the character’s head. The library was way over the top unrealistic- but wouldn’t it be glorious if we had spaces like those in our schools! Readers will experience all sorts of emotions. I think this is a lock for the Schneider award, but it is in my top picks for Newbery. All around great read with wide appeal and great themes. Author did a fantastic job narrating.
January 20, 2024
5 ⭐️s
this book healed parts of my heart that I didn’t even know were broken. I think I finally understand just why representation matters in literature.
I see so much of myself in the main character Olive, from being homeschooled and wanting friends, to the pain and isolation and yes - joy - of being chronically ill/disabled, to loving Emily Dickinson and books and sparkles and hearts and Dolly Parton. Olive has the community and family and friends I so desparately needed as a child, but have now. Her story is beautiful and courageous and meaningful in more ways than I even know how to express. and Natalie Lloyd’s writing, plot, characters, details, and voice are all - I believe - a masterpiece.
I will not be surprised if this ends up being my favorite book of 2024.
this book healed parts of my heart that I didn’t even know were broken. I think I finally understand just why representation matters in literature.
I see so much of myself in the main character Olive, from being homeschooled and wanting friends, to the pain and isolation and yes - joy - of being chronically ill/disabled, to loving Emily Dickinson and books and sparkles and hearts and Dolly Parton. Olive has the community and family and friends I so desparately needed as a child, but have now. Her story is beautiful and courageous and meaningful in more ways than I even know how to express. and Natalie Lloyd’s writing, plot, characters, details, and voice are all - I believe - a masterpiece.
I will not be surprised if this ends up being my favorite book of 2024.
December 18, 2022
A little too much whimsy for me. The rememory birds especially.
January 10, 2023
12-year old Olive has been homeschooled but now in 6th grade, she wants to school despite being in a wheelchair (bedazzled and named Dolly for Dolly Parton) to find her first BFF and to have adventures. This book has the feel of magic from the very beginning and it stays to the end. It's is the first story I've read about someone with Osteogenesis Imperfecta which causes brittle bones that break easily and Olive has had she share of those. She also has a comic book reading stepbrother named Hatch Malone who is in her class and whom she finally gets to know in this book. At the heart of the story is a wish granting hummingbird, who appears occasionally and who only grants one wish - the truest wish in a person's heart. So this book has something to say about wishes that I found very interesting. Olive narrates and she has a friendly, conversational voice that hooked me from the start.
Ever since I read Midnight's Children, I've loved a novel with magical realism and this definitely rates as a favorite.
Ever since I read Midnight's Children, I've loved a novel with magical realism and this definitely rates as a favorite.
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