The Language of Birds

by Anita Barrows

Gracie’s little sister Jannie is autistic and obsessed with birds—a connection that, as she grows older, allows her to finally begin to interact and engage with the world, even as Gracie increasingly allows the secrets she’s keeping to isolate her from her peers and everyone she loves.

Gracie is a serious, sensitive, aspiring writer; Jannie, her autistic younger sister, is passionate about birds. As children, they were taken by their mother on a senseless trip through Europe that ended in their mother’s suicide. Now, in Berkeley, their father works tirelessly to find ways to engage Jannie, while Gracie—unwilling to reveal the truth about her mother’s suicide or her sister’s autism to anyone outside her family—weaves a web of lies around herself that isolate her even as Jannie, in part through her relationships with and understanding of birds, begins to speak, interact, and emerge.

Narrated by Gracie and alternating back and forth between 2002, when the sisters are still children/adolescents, and 2017, when they are in their early adulthood, The Language of Birds is a story of coming to understand what seems unfamiliar and indecipherable, and of finding authentic ways to be with the people you love.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 17, 2022

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sisters each carrying the burden of loss, of a traumatic time. One is autistic, finding herself and solace in caring for injured birds. The older sister, sad, troubled, lonely and challenged to find her way, hiding the truth as a way of managing her loss and fear. At times I wanted to scream at her; other times I would have hugged her as she struggles with her traumatic past .

An introspective narrative, in Gracie’s voice alternating between 2002 and 2017. Even though I knew the subject matter from the description was going to be heavy, it was just too heavy for me at times. I set it aside a couple of times , but went back because I found myself wanting to know if there would be healing in the end.

Loss of a loved one by suicide, mental illness, another death from illness but drug addiction and abuse are also touched on. I’m glad, though, that I hung in there, especially to see how these sisters persevered after years have passed.

I received an advanced copy of this book from She Writes Press through Edelweiss.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Language of Birds by Anita Barrows is a highly recommended introspective and melancholy coming-of-age drama.

As children Gracie and her younger sister Jannie were taken by their mother on a pointless trip to Europe, where they finally went Germany to stay with their Oma. After eight months the traumatic trip ended in their mother's suicide. Gracie did make a best friend during this time, Martin, a boy her age who also spoke English and German. Then at 12 1/2 and 5. Gracie and Jannie are back in Berkeley with their father. Their father tirelessly devotes himself to getting help and support for Jannie, who is autistic and very passionate about birds, but leaves Gracie to make her own way.

Gracie is a serious, sensitive girl who doesn't reveal the truth about her mother's suicide or Jannie autism. She withdraws from any social contact and purposefully isolates herself. Her only connection is writing letters to Martin and meeting a fellow disengaged student, Gina, who also wants to be a writer. The two girls open up to each other when Gracie tells Gina the truth about her family. Gina has many of her own problems and only shares a few with Gracie.

The well-written novel is narrated by Gracie and chapters alternate between 2002, when Gracie is 16 and Jannie is 8, and 2017 when they are young adults. The themes covered in The Language of Birds are all serious and weighty. These include Gracie's chosen method to cope with the mental illness and suicide of her mother, her sister's autism, and a death, by closing herself off to others, and Gina's story, which is even rougher. These topics are handled with sympathy, understanding and care by Barrows, but be forewarned that the tone of the novel is very somber, heartbreaking, and thoughtful. There is a resolution, but the tone remains rather somber throughout.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of She Writes Press via Edelweiss.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...

[Jeffrey Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gracie is a teenager living in Berkeley with her father and her autistic sister Jannie. Their mother can not acknowledge Jannie's autism. She takes the girls to Europe and eventually commits suicide. The girls go back to the US to live with their father. The father devotes much of his time to getting Jannie proper treatment, so Gracie feels lonely and neglected. She meets a girl named Gina in her high school literature class who also writes poetry. Gina's father is a meth addict; her mother dies from an overdose. To further complicate things, Gracie's father has a girlfriend who Gracie thinks is unbearable (though she eventually changes her mind about this). So the suspense in the story is how it all works out for Gracie, Jannie, Gina, and the others. I found the writing to be good, particularly in describing the changing emotional state of all the characters.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me longer and I wanted to finish it so I can get to my next one tbh- great plot ideas but the execution sadly didn’t do it for me. I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters like I typically would and there was so much potential

[Valerie Madill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. I found that while I could sympathize with most of the characters, I didn't really like any of them. It certainly wasn't an uplifting book.

[Ana Brito · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay story

Okay story and characters. I like Jannie and the way her autism was portrayed. I felt that something is missing to make this novel stand out.