Birdie's Bargain
Ratings2
Average rating4
15
Ratings2
Average rating4
In a poignant and unflinching new realistic novel from the Newbery Medal–winning author of Bridge to Terabithia, a ten-year-old girl makes a deal with God for her father's safe return from the Iraq War. Birdie has questions for God. For starters, why couldn’t God roll history back to September 10, 2001, and fix things—so the next day was an ordinary sunny day and not the devastating lead-in to two wars? Daddy has already been to Iraq twice. Now he’s going again, and Birdie is sure he’ll die. At the very least, she won’t see him again for a year, and everything will not be OK. (Why do grown-ups lie?) To save money, she, Mom, and baby Billy have moved to Gran’s, where shy Birdie must attend a new school, and no one but bossy Alicia Marie Suggs welcomes her. Doesn’t God remember how hard it was for Birdie to make friends at Bible Camp? Counselor Ron taught about Judgment there—and the right way to believe. Has Birdie been praying wrong? Why else would God break their bargain? Readers of all faiths and backgrounds, especially children of military families, will identify with and root for the unforgettable Birdie, given inimitable voice by a master storyteller.
Reviews with the most likes.
An easy read that had me up way past my bedtime. I don't know what the point of the plane ride was though; it seemed superfluous. And I would have liked a little more resolution on the Alicia situation.
A big thank you to Candlewick Press for the free review copy. And to Mrs. Paterson for still churning them out at 89: you're an inspiration!
Birdie's father has been called up to war again, and the rest of the family must go to stay with Gran for the duration. Birdie is very worried about her father going to Afghanistan and she makes a deal with God that she will be good if God will bring her father home safely. And then God doesn't. What does this mean? Why didn't God make good on his part of the deal? Is there a God at all? And is God really like the God she learned about at Bible Camp?
I don't run across enough stories with families who struggle economically, like Birdie's family does, and I don't run across enough stories about children who think seriously about spiritual issues, and this book takes on both of these themes and does a good job with both.
