Love Is… Never Giving Up
Birdie by J P Rose is an inspiring historical children’s novel that I absolutely adored. It is suitable for ten years and over.
The novel is set in 1952 in a small Yorkshire mining village. The setting comes to life under the author’s descriptive pen. We can ‘see’ the hills and dales, the dry-stone walls and cottages, and we can ‘feel’ the heat and oppression of the mine.
The leading character is a young orphan called Birdie who has been in a children’s home all her life until aged eleven, Birdie’s great aunt decides to offer her a home. Birdie is a plucky young girl who doesn’t let life get her down. She does not realise she is viewed as ‘different’ until she goes to live with her aunt.
Birdie’s father was an American G.I. and her foster home was with other children with American G.I. fathers. On arriving in the mining village, Birdie receives discrimination because of her looks, even from her aunt, who did not know Birdie’s father. “She’d [Birdie} thought that having a family of her own would make her feel like she’d swallowed a ball of sunshine… she had a great big lead ball sitting in the base of her tummy.”
Birdie’s beautiful personality shines through. She makes her Great Uncle smile again [after he had lost his son in World War I]. This prompts her Great Aunt to say: “You’re a tonic, Birdie… like a breath of fresh air.” Birdie is “A medicine for sad hearts and souls.”
When running from the bullies, Birdie stumbles into the mine and befriends an old pit pony. Their bond is beautiful to witness. She saves him; and he, in turn, saves her.
This is a book that teaches children about prejudice and ignorance. About when others judge the colour of a person’s skin, and not the content of their character. The reader’s heart breaks for Birdie, who is kindness personified. She has a loyalty, kindness and a joyful spirit which endears her to the reader. Her bond with the pit pony, Mr Duke, is beautiful.
Birdie is a powerful read that every child should read, to show the evils of prejudice and ignorance.
I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Friends should make you feel like a ray of sunshine: make you feel warm and brightening up your day.”
JULIA WILSON