Sugar Birds: A Novel

By: Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

WINNER: 2021 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS - Literary, General, and Cross Genre Fiction.

WINNER: CHRISTIANITY TODAY’S 2022 BOOK AWARDS - Award of Merit in Fiction

WINNER: 2021 BEST BOOK AWARD - Inspirational Fiction

SILVER MEDALIST: 2021 READER'S FAVORITE AWARD - Inspirational Fiction

FINALIST: 2021 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS - Religious Fiction

NORTHWEST WASHINGTON STATE, 1985

For years, Harris Hayes has taught his daughter, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods, where she sketches nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Then her depressed, unpredictable mother forbids her to climb the trees that give her sanctuary and comfort. Angry, ten-year-old Aggie accidentally lights a tragic fire and flees downriver. She lands her boat near untamed forest, then hides among trees and creatures she believes are her only friends—determined to remain undiscovered.

A search party gathers hours after Celia arrives at her grandmother's nearby farm. Hurting from her parents' breakup, she also plans to run. But when she joins the hunt for Aggie, she meets two irresistible young men who compel her to stay. One is autistic; the other, dangerous.

Ideal for fans of The Scent Keeper, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Great Alone, Sugar Birds is a layered, riveting story set in the breathtaking natural world—where characters encounter the mending power of forgiveness, for themselves and for those who have failed them.

Winner of multiple Earphones Awards and the prestigious Odyssey and Odyssey Honor Awards, Jayne Entwistle's narration has landed on Audiofile Magazine's list of Best Audiobooks of the Year.

***" A true page-turner . . . An engrossing tale." —KIRKUS REVIEWS

©2021 Cheryl Grey Bostrom (P)2021 Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Critic reviews

"Bostrom's voice reminds me of Delia Owens's Where the Crawdads Sing and Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek." (Taryn R. Hutchison, award-winning author of One Degree of Freedom)

"Sugar Birds is a tour de force, with protagonist Agate as uniquely powerful as The Hunger Games's Katniss." (Dr. Lynne Curry, author and columnist for Anchorage Daily News)

"A true page-turner...An engrossing tale." (Kirkus Reviews)

A Pacific Northwest adventure

This book captures 10 year old Aggie’s life at a time she felt she was unwanted and hid from the world. As you listen to her story, you feel her pain, living along side her in the trees and hollowed out tree trunks she calls home.
Heartwarming and emotional as she strugglesyfinds the answers

Characters

Love the detail of the characters! Easy to imagine myself in the middle of this beautifully woven story. Wonderful descriptive text.

beautiful

I loved this book. the characters became so dear to me. author didn't shy away from tough stuff but didn't wallow in it either. highly recommend. I love Jayne entwisles narration, just wish this one didn't sound like she was recording in a closet.

Didn’t want to stop listening!

I loved this book, the characters, the setting, and the story. I found myself empathizing with the characters, and wanting for the best outcome for all of them. It kept me guessing….and hoping. I didn’t want to stop listening, and finished the book at 2:30am. Highly recommend!

Nature poorly represented

Literary license went to far. We understand a lot about nature. Why not try to make your story work with nature? Many of the encounters, such as the cougar, are contrived.

Excellent

This was a really really good book. Hard to believe this is the authors only book. I hope she writes more.

Good story, but not so fond of the narrator

Story was very descriptive, but the narrator was too monotone. Put me to sleep, and I don’t think this story was meant to be a “sleep app”.

Absolutely fabulous

My husband and I both love listening to audiobooks, but our tastes are very different. On a recent lengthy car trip, we listened to the award-winning novel Sugar Birds and we both give it a five star review. Would give it 10 if that were possible. It was unpredictable but not implausible, literary but not too highbrow. The author clearly understands the power of both the seen and the unseen, and the characters are uniquely memorable. We are both hoping there will be a sequel!

A little disappointing

Although I enjoyed some of the suspense, the ending was predictable and the story a bit drawn out.

Beautiful story

I loved following along the characters stories as they all chose what to do with their sadness and grief and either healed or sank deeper. I related to many of them at different times. Just a lively story to get lost in.

The narration at first sounds a bit muffled or something, but didn’t detract from the story at all, I didn’t even notice as I was in the story, just at first listen, so don’t let that keep you from listening. I felt the narrator did a wonderful job with the slight variations of characters, especially capturing Aggie (the main character) perfectly.