Birdie and Me

By: J. M. M. Nuanez

Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie

"Belongs alongside Holly Goldberg Sloan's Counting by 7s, Cindy Baldwin's Where the Watermelons Grow, and Ali Benjamin's The Thing about Jellyfish. Highly recommended." (School Library Journal, starred review)

An emotional and uplifting debut about a girl named Jack and her gender-creative little brother, Birdie, searching for the place where they can be their true and best selves.

After their mama dies, Jack and Birdie find themselves without a place to call home. And when Mama's two brothers each try to provide one - first sweet Uncle Carl, then gruff Uncle Patrick - the results are funny, tender, and tragic.

They're also somehow...spectacular.

With voices and characters that soar off the page, J. M. M. Nuanez's debut novel depicts an unlikely family caught in a situation none of them would have chosen, and the beautiful ways in which they finally come to understand one another. Perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and Counting by Sevens.

"A luminous debut." (Ashley Herring Blake, author of Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, Stonewall Honor book)

©2020 J. M. M. Nuanez (P)2020 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Nuanez’s debut tells an endearing story of family in the wake of tragedy, anchored by the wonderfully loving and supportive relationship between Jack and Birdie.... [T]he prose flows seamlessly and the dialogue feels undeniably real." (Booklist)

"Sure-handed storytelling... [A] strong middle grade debut." (Publishers Weekly)

Absolutely spectacular

One of the best young adult books, I’ve read in a very long time. A beautiful story written exceptionally well, and narrated with grace.