Book Review: A Bird on Water Street

Title: A Bird on Water Street
Author: Elizabeth O. Dulemba
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Rating:

Dreamy setting, satisfying story

Summary: All Jack has ever known is Coppertown, a town where nothing grows. No trees, no plants, no bugs, no birds. All the men in his family work in the mine. His grandfather, and now his uncle, both died in mine collapses. His father expects Jack to be a miner some day. But Jack can't help but dream of something more.
My Opinion: This book deftly blends ecological education with the weight of other people's expectations. I found Jack's perspective on life light and refreshing. He understands the way people are tied to a place as well as the desire for something more. It has more emotional complexity than you sometimes see in a middle grade novel. The setting is fantastically described. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley