A coming-of-age story with a few twists that you might not expect. I also like how the author addresses things BPOC might face without pointing them out, but just weaves them into the story, because unfortunately, they are still things that can happen and the characters deal with them.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

This book has an intriguing plot twist that was very real. One that is true to life and difficult for all those involved. YA audiences will enjoy this book because the main character and her friends are people they can relate to.

A sweet and empathetic coming of age story about a sixteen-year-old growing up in a rough neighborhood in Chicago. Dove Randoph, affectionately called Birdy by her family, has led a sheltered life kept away from trouble and temptation by her protective parents. The unexpected arrival of a new boyfriend and her long lost Aunt Carlene shows Birdie a different view of life away from the high expectations and straight lines drawn by her loving but controlling parents. These two new individuals in Birdie’s life both have checkered pasts. Carlene is in recovery, overcoming years of drug addiction and life on the streets and Booker has spent some time in juvenile detention, which definitely marks him as unsuitable in the eyes of Birdy’s parents. But both Carly and Booker expose Birdy to a new way of experiencing life and this adds spark and adventure to her sedate existence. These new experiences and conversations open Birdy’s eyes and lead her down a path of her own choosing, rather than that of her parents. This touching novel shows a teen figuring out how to live life on her own terms, walking the line between her loyalty to her family and following her own heart. Colbert expertly weaves together so many interesting and important themes: rebellion, family, addiction, rehabilitation. She gives an empathetic portrayal of the troubled Carlene and Booker and shows the potential for redemption every person may have inside of them.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

I enjoyed "The Revolution of Birdie Randolph." I hadn't read any of Colbert's other works, but after reading Birdie's story, I'm looking forward to reading more from her. Birdie felt realistic, and I was invested in her life. I loved the slight twist at the end. I also really liked how Booker's character was portrayed and how one misstep shouldn't define the rest of someone's life.

Birdie Randolph is a good kid. She studies hard, sticks to a curfew, and basically does whatever her parents ask of her. This is all great for her parents, but Birdie feels like she is missing out. She feels like she is constantly being compared to her older sister and even her estranged aunt. Birdie needs space and independence and she begins testing the waters by spreading her wings and making decisions for herself, rather than for her parents. This is truly enjoyable coming of age story with a fantastic cast of characters.

My biggest problem with this book is that the final "twist" is framed as a big surprise but it's something I predicted from the very beginning. We do get some touches on institutional racism especially as directed towards young men, but that's really only a moment. We get touches of bigger issues, but no real exploration. The focus is entirely on the relationships between Birdie, her mother, and her aunt. Nothing else really gets any space.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit I am a lover of coming-of-age stories. However, I feel this particular coming-of-age story set itself apart from many of the rest. I find the narrative about many black families in literature focus on the “struggle”. However, in this story the Randolph’s are a prosperous black family living in the heart of Chicago, with one daughter away at college, seeking a medical degree. And another daughter, Dove aka Birdie, in her sophomore year of high school, preparing for SATs, and future college goals.

Birdie, a typical 16 year old teenager, has been raised in a very structured household. Her mother has always had her life planned out for her and Birdie has always followed the map that was set before her. She quit playing her favorite sport of soccer, because her mother felt as though it would interfere with her studies. She dated Mitchell, the boy that her parents approved of although Birdie had no real attraction to him. Birdie is a good girl, she follows the rules and never questions what is expected of her.

That is until she doesn’t and she decides to choose what she wants instead of what her parents desire. Getting involved with Booker, a young man, that she knows her parents would never approve of is a risk she is willing to take. He makes her feel whole in a way that Mitchell never did or could. After her aunt Carlene comes to town Birdie’s rebellion begins to get worse. She does things that she never expected that she would ever do. Along the way long kept secrets unfold that rock Birdie to her core. Making her face who she is and what it means for her future.

I love Birdie, she is a multi-faceted character. It was easy to get pulled into her emotion and feel everything she was feeling as she went through it. I connected with this story because if I am being honest I seen some of my parenting in Kitty (something I am not proud of) and parts of my daughter in Birdie. This book beautifully portrays the good, the bad and the ugly of what it means to be a family. In the end the reader is reminded that no matter what family is forever. Highly recommended.

I loved The Revolution of Birdie Randolph. I loved Birdie from the beginning and I love how this was a summer book about finding your voice and yourself separate from the expectations of your family. Birdie's life was very structured and she was expected to behave. All that seems to go out the window when she meets Booker and her aunt, Carlene. She started to question the way her life was and what she should and shouldn't be able to do. I loved seeing her grow into someone who spoke up for herself but still knew how to forgive when something wrong was done to her. I have to say that the big revelation in this book was obvious to me. I guessed it from the beginning and that's the only reason this is a four and not a five-star review. I really loved that this was a book about a young black girl and her black family. I also liked that so many different types of black people were portrayed along with gay and queer folks as well. Brandy Colbert explored all aspects of race and sexuality in this one along with family bonds and what long-held secrets could do to a family. Birdie found out what it was she wanted and was able to respectfully show it and voice it to her parents. This was such a well written coming of age tale and so poignant. I cannot wait to try something else by this author!

BOOK REPORT for The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert

Cover Story: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Drinking Buddy: Know When to Say When
MPAA Rating: Adult Situations, Drug and Alcohol Use, Strong Language
Talky Talk: This Bird Will Fly
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ, Race Relations, Cool Aunt
Bromance Status: Party Host

Cover Story: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

There's Birdie, with all her in-your-face, life to the fullest so long as it's okay with her parents, sass. And this is clearly a book about a young, African-American woman, which is really needed on library shelves. Her braids reflect Birdie and her mother's talent in styling hair, especially for African-Americans. In fact, there was a bit too much hair discussion in the book for this male reviewer.

The Deal: Sixteen-year-old Dove 'Birdie' Randolph lives in a nice Chicago neighborhood. Her father is a sports physician for the Bulls, and her mother owns her own beauty salon. Her parents are determined that Birdie be successful and stay out of trouble. She's to spend her summer studying for the SATs. No parties. No road trips. They encouraged her to date Mitchell, the nerdy son of her mother's friend, and keep suggesting that they get back together.

Brandy doesn't dare tell them about Booker, the new boy in her life. Sweet and tough, he's exactly the sort of guy she needs right now. The thing is, Booker had a run in with the law a while ago and spent some time in juvie. There is no way in hell her parents, especially her mother, would allow Birdie to hang out with a guy like that.

Enter Carlene, her mother's sister. Birdie hasn't seen her aunt in years. Carlene has spent the last couple of decades in and out of rehab, making terrible life choices. But she swears she's sobered up, and Birdie's mother allows her to stay with the family while she trains for her stylist's license. And in Carlene, Birdie finds the adult figure she's longed for: someone fun, carefree, and willing to treat Birdie like a human, and not as an extension of her parents. But will Carlene's permissiveness go too far? Can Birdie prove she can handle adult responsibilities or will she need to rebel against her parents completely?

Drinking Buddy: Know When to Say When



Birdie is the classic example of a kid whose parents will regret being so overprotective. All she wants to do is hang out with her boyfriend, go to a couple of parties, and maybe not study every moment of every day. And of course this drives her to make poor choices. She has a drink at a party. Her mother finds out, and she winds up grounded for a month. So when she finally gets ungrounded...she drinks again. Just to cut loose, not because she enjoys it.

Birdie is trying to establish her own identity, while chaffing against her loving parents who are about to lose their daughter if they don't loosen the leash. I cheered for Birdie's poor decisions, just because she was socking it to her parents.

MPAA Rating: Adult Situations, Drug and Alcohol Use, Strong Language

Booker makes it clear that he would like to go further with Birdie, but at the same time, he also makes it clear that he's willing to wait. Birdie certainly likes him, but she knows her mother would have kittens if she found out they'd been messing around. But then again, it's not her mother's choice. And she'd kind of like to show her mother that she cannot be controlled. Meanwhile, fun Aunt Carlene is urging Birdie to go for it, and taking her to get birth control. Birdie literally has two adults giving her conflicting advice, and none of it is good. Is it any wonder Birdie feels like rebelling?

Talky Talk: This Bird Will Fly

Yes, the plot is kind of cliche: smart, driven teen chafing under the yoke of her loving but overprotective parents. The bad boy who's the right boy. Teenage shenanigans. But some very real characters make this book a page turner. Caught between her humorless mother and her irresponsible aunt, Birdie is forced to think for herself for the first time. Is she going to allow herself to become a perfect med student like her older sister, Mimi? Or will she cut loose a little and have some fun? Her twerpish ex, Mitchell, has taken to drinking, vaping, and most alarming of all, wearing t-shirts since their breakup. Why can't Birdie have a little freedom as well?

One of the biggest challenges of growing up is tossing aside the safety net that your parents have laid for you. Nets can save you, but they can also ensnare. And this bird you cannot cage....

(A quick googling of the lyrics shows that the words are actually 'and this bird you cannot change'. My life is a lie.)

Bonus Factor: LGBTQ



Birdie's best friend Laz is just coming to grips with his sexuality, and has started dating a white guy named Greg. Birdie's sister is a lesbian. Her parents don't object, but they're not exactly hanging up rainbow flags either. The book does a good job of portraying the gay experience in a society that may accept you, while individuals may not.

Race Relations:



You find the oddest pictures on Google image search.

Birdie comes from a fairly well to do family. She's on the fast track to college, to a carreer, to a good life. That's why her parents, especially her mother, are determined to keep her on that track.

But the thing is, they're not only a successful family. They're a successful black family, and sometimes that takes extra effort. They get odd looks in their nice neighborhood. Booker's father assumes Birdie is going to wind up pregnant. And when Bridie and her friends are busted for underage drinking (See? See? Why didn't you listen to my advice, fictional character who can't really hear me?), there's a big difference in how they're treated. Booker and Laz are handcuffed, while Birdie, Mitchell, and Greg are not. Greg, a white boy, immediately sees the injustice and starts demanding that he be cuffed and frisked along with his boyfriend. Birdie, however, realizes that this is also part of his privilege: if he were black, he wouldn't dare smart off to the cops.

Bonus Factor: Cool Aunt



Birdie is having a harder and harder time relating to her controlling parents, and is ready to break the rules just to spite them. What's the point of being a good kid if they still won't trust you? Enter Aunt Carleen. Birdie doesn't know much about her, other than she's had little to do with the family, due to her struggles with drugs and alcohol. But here she is, clean and sober, looking to get her cosmetology license while mentoring another addict.

Birdie's mother reluctantly allows her sister to stay with them. Birdie can't figure out why Aunt Carlene is such a pariah. I mean, she's cleaned herself up, she convinces her mother to lighten up on the discipline, and she gives Birdie some advice about life. But both Carlene and her sister are very vague about the past, and an overheard conversation makes Birdie wonder if she's been told the whole truth.

Bromance Status: Party Host

I almost felt I wasn't cool enough to pick up this book, but it made me feel welcome when I crashed its party.

Literary Matchmaking:



• Julie Murphy's Puddin' deals with another good girl fighting with her strict but well-meaning mother.

• The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, is a much bleaker look at the world of race relations.

• A boy is enamored with his cool, wild uncle in Killing Time in Crystal City, by Chris Lynch.

This story follows Dove (aka Birdie) who is the perfect daughter in a perfect family and is constantly sacrificing her happiness in order to follow the path that her parents have set out for her. Birdie starts to fall for Booker; a boy with a troubled past. Birdie is sure that her parents will never accept Booker and goes to great lengths to conceal their relationship from her parents. On top of that, Birdie’s estranged aunt Carlene pays the family a visit after a stint in rehab. Over the course of the book Birdie becomes closer to both Carlene and Booker and learns things about herself and her family that turn her world upside down.

My first thought when reading this was, “The main characters all have cool names!” I really love unique names in books and I especially loved Dove and the reason for her name.

I read Little & Lion two years ago, and thought that there was something special about Brandy Colbert’s plot and her writing. This is the second book that I have read by her and I am happy to say that I still feel like there is something very special about Brandy Colbert’s books.

I enjoyed the plot and the subplots along with it. I find that the young adult contemporary genre often features simplistic plots and cookie cutter characters. That was absolutely not the case with this book. The plot was complex and the characters were dynamic. I also found that the side characters were interesting and dynamic, which was refreshing. Side characters are usually glossed over and only serve to further the plot.

I enjoyed the way that the romance progressed. It reminded of my own experiences with love and romance as a teenager (I am 25, btw). Birdie and Booker are so adorable and it was a great depiction of young love. Laz and Greg were also a super cute gay couple and had their own romantic subplot.

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If a beautiful coming-of-age, tumultuous self-discovery, bad-ass revolution is what you’re in the mood for, this is definitely the book you will want to pick up. Birdie Randolph offers just about everything you could want in a main character. She’s intelligent and compassionate, she understands and appreciates what she has, and she is finally ready to come into her own. With a big heart and a lot of determination, it is actually impossible to not love her. And to watch her revolution happen before our eyes, that’s something we hardly deserve.

There isn’t a character in this book that doesn’t at one point or another endear themselves to you, and honestly sometimes you just need that as a reader. They all have flaws, don’t get me wrong, but they’re forgivable flaws when taken in context. Birdie makes some questionable decisions, sure, but she’s never had a chance to misbehave her entire life and she’s never really wanted to before now. She’s a teenager and she’s lived on such a straight and narrow line for so long it’s no wonder she’d want to test the limits a little. Especially when there’s a cute boy involved. Booker is everything you want from a fictional love interest – he’s romantic and sweet, attractive, exciting, and a little bit dangerous. He and Birdie are just getting to know each other, but the chemistry is undeniable. And while sparks are flying, they’re also igniting Birdie’s revolution. Because she’s never wanted to fight for anything the way she wants to fight for Booker. And fight she’ll have to, because he’s not exactly her parents’ dream. So she resorts to sneaking around and predictably, that only leads to more trouble. But it’s trouble Birdie is willing to deal with, for the chance to finally make her own decisions.

We also get Aunt Carlene, who has been absent from most of Birdie’s life. She’s been in and out of rehab for alcohol and various drug addictions. But this time she seems to really want to stay clean. Over the course of the book, Birdie spends more and more time getting to know Carlene and while she understands the devastating effect addiction had on not just Carlene’s life but on their whole family, she also sees the joy for life Carlene has. That’s not really something Birdie has felt since her mom made her quit soccer, the one thing she did just for the enjoyment of it. Not until she met Booker, that is. With Carlene around showing her how life doesn’t always have to be so structured and utilitarian, and Booker giving her heart the jolt it needed to ask for what she wants (or do what she wants and ask for forgiveness later), Birdie’s revolution is about to begin.

There is a lot in this book structurally that stands out for me. It feels both contemporary and timeless, as Birdie struggles to find the balance between making her parents happy and prioritizing her own happiness. It’s a struggle every teen faces at some point, with varying levels of difficulty and success. There’s first loves and family complications, also incredibly relatable at any age. And it’s not without it’s statements. A situation arises with a police interaction, and Colbert doesn’t sugarcoat it or shy away from the racial tensions. Booker and Birdie’s best friend Laz aren’t white, and ~shockingly~ they get the worst treatment during this interaction. Meanwhile some other male characters who are, in fact, white, receive far less harsh treatment. It’s not something that hides in the background of this interaction either. Birdie addresses it directly, because it’s obvious and it needs to be talked about. It needs to be shoved in the face of every reader, of every person, until the injustice is corrected. Pretending it’s not happening at this point is frankly, ignorant, and I’m glad that so much of the YA lit out there right now is facing it down. Talking about it openly and harshly is the only way to expose it and hopefully one day change enough hearts that it becomes a thing of the past. This is a book that does that and more. It gives us the pain, but also the joy. There is so much to Birdie’s world, and every aspect is important to her development, and ultimately, her revolution.

On a lighter note, a really odd and specific thing that has caught and held my attention in this book is the description of sound. There is something about the way Colbert writes about the background noises and the way her characters notice what they’re hearing that has struck a chord (pun intended) with me. It just felt so tangible, and it was a feature throughout the whole book. I don’t know quite why but for whatever reason I am kind of obsessed with it? It pulled me in through an unexpected sense, it made me feel much more surrounded by the story than I usually do. I could feel the rumble of the L underneath my feet, and hear the sounds of the city. I don’t know if it was just how often what Birdie could hear was brought up, or if it was more about the way the sounds were described, but either way, it was significant to my reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I already have the rest of Colbert’s books on my to-read list, but now I am even more enticed, just to see if this is a trend that continues.

But anyway, if you want to read about an intelligent, bad-ass black girl that is testing the boundaries of her world as she knows it for the first time, a story that has a racially diverse cast of lovable characters (Laz is the best friend we all deserve, tbh), with a pride parade attended, plenty of queer rep, ace rep, and just a lot of teenage adventures, this is the book for you, out August 20! PS there is a huge twist secret that totally catches Birdie off guard and changes everything she thought she knew about her world and I quite literally screamed in shock when it happened and scared everyone in my house, so if you like surprises, you definitely need this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for the advance Kindle copy of this book. It’s out 8.20.19! All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Dove “Birdie” Randolph is the perfect daughter: she does exactly as her parents ask, even quitting soccer for SAT prep. She yearns for freedom, especially when she meets Booker. When her estranged aunt Carlene shows up to stay with them, now clean, she sets into motion a series of opportunities for Birdie to experience the things her parents forbid - but she also brings some family turmoil. Highly recommended for readers in grades 9+.

I don’t read YA, and I’m mostly unfamiliar with the genre outside my understanding of its popularity. However, I could not resist this book’s cover and was immediately taken by Birdie when I began reading.

Birdie Randolph’s will be a junior in high school soon, and she wants to do more than check off the boxes of her parent’s expectations, good grades, SATs, stay out of trouble, etc. Birdie longs for some freedom, and she’s found ways to get it. She has a secret boyfriend with a past that her parents won’t approve of. Birdie finds ways to spend time with her boyfriend, going to parties, drinking, and all the forbidden things that wouldn’t make her parents happy.

Meanwhile, Birdie’s aunt Carlene has come to live with her family. Carlene struggles with substance abuse, and her presence has brought tension to her family. Despite the tension, Birdie grows close to her aunt, confiding in her about her boyfriend, and the weight of her parent’s expectations. Birdie’s relationship with her aunt does nothing to ease the tension, but rather intensifies it until a family secret is exposed. Birdie and her family are left to deal with the repercussions of this long held secret.

This is not something I typically read, but Brandy Colbert’s writing kept me reading. There are numerous topics and issues demonstrated throughout this book that would make it a great book club selection. This book was pleasantly surprising and would without a doubt recommend.

After reading Little and Lion, I needed to get my hands on Brandy Colbert's newest work, and I'm thrilled that I did. Birdie is strong, but also uncertain; she wants to please her family, yet also chafes under their judgment. In short, she is a character teen readers will be able to relate to easily. The plot is engaging, and asks readers to ponder the importance of family in our lives, as well as where we must decide to draw the line when it comes to family members' effects on our individual existence. Whenever you think you know exactly what is happening in this novel, Colbert skillfully plays against your expectations to create an enthralling work.

MINI YA REVIEWS 2
JULY 27, 2019 LEAVE A COMMENT
I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Mini YA Reviews 2Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on February 10, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, People & Places, Africa, Sports & Recreation, Soccer, Social Themes, Emigration & Immigration, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 337
Format: Hardcover, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780375865626
Goodreads
three-stars
Winner of the Maine Literary Award

Called "rich and multidimensional" by School Library Journal in a starred review, Out of Nowhere follows Tom Bouchard: captain and star of the Enniston High School soccer team; boyfriend to one of the prettiest, most popular girls; and third in his class, likely to have his pick of any college (if he ever bothers filling out his applications). But life in his idyllic small Maine town quickly gets turned upside down after the events of 9/11.

Enniston has become a "secondary migration" location for Somali refugees seeking a better life after their country is destroyed by war. Tom hasn't thought much about his Somali classmates until four of them join the soccer team, including Saeed. He comes out of nowhere on the field to make impossible shots, and suddenly the team is winning, dominating even.

But when Saeed's eligibility is questioned and Tom screws up in a big way, he's left to grapple with a culture he doesn't understand and take responsibility for his actions. The refugees came out of nowhere and vanish just as quickly. And Tom may find himself going nowhere, too, if he doesn't start trying to get somewhere.

From the Hardcover edition.

Out Of Nowhere by Maria Padian is a fast paced young adult book about soccer, refugees, and coming of age. Would I place this book on my favorites shelf? No, but it passed the time and was a mostly interesting plot. Also, I did find particular relevance with the parts about the refugees as I live very close to a sanctuary city and thus, kids here could definitely relate to that.

Tom Bouchard is the main first person character in this book. He’s a senior in high school, captain of the soccer team and third in his graduating class. His family isn’t wealthy. However, they are not even close to poor. He’s had some pretty good luck in his life. So, this book is basically about what happens when refugees join his school’s soccer team and just transform their season. As well as the fallout from a prank Tom and his friend play on a rival school. That’s really the big plot.

I think what prevents me from rating this book higher is how one character, Tom’s girlfriend, Cherisse, is written. She’s very one dimensional and has zero redeeming qualities. I thought this was poor characterization and think that maybe teenagers can handle characters who are a little more complex, even villains. Otherwise, the author nails the setting. Enniston, Maine is a small town with a mix of people – both ignorant and helpful. I also liked how strongly soccer factors in and felt like that added some reality. If you’re looking for a quick read because you have to knock out a numbers based goal, Out Of Nowhere could help.



I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Mini YA Reviews 2A Matter of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy
Published by Random House Children's Books on May 10, 2016
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780385744447
Goodreads
three-half-stars
"Will make your heart pound--anxiously, joyfully, triumphantly." --New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle Readers will happily dive into this emotionally grounded, contemporary young adult novel about the sudden end of one girl's Olympic swimming dreams and the struggles she endures before realizing there are many things that express who we are.

Sixteen-year-old Abby Lipman is on track to win the state swim championships and qualify for the Olympic trials when a fainting incident at a swim meet leads to the diagnosis of a deadly heart condition. Now Abby is forced to discover who she is without the one thing that's defined her entire life.

"More than a sports novel, this book delves deep into issues of identity--how we identify ourselves separately from what we do well--and the importance of support systems while making life-altering decisions. Give this to fans of Catherine Gilbert Murdock's Dairy Queen series." --School Library Journal "This engaging and fast-paced read expertly paints the world of high-school sports and the single-minded focus and commitment that some high-school athletes can have." --Booklist "This is a solid look at an elite athlete who gets benched. . . . An enjoyable read even for couch potatoes." --Kirkus Reviews

I must be on a roll with the sports books this summer. A Matter Of Heart by Amy Fellner Dominy is another YA sports book that I’ve recently read. This one features a girl who is a swimmer. Abby finds out that she has HCM – which is Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This means she has an enlarged heart and could die from it. It’s actually something that goes undetected and young athletes can die from it. So, the book centers around this issue without really feeling like an issue book.

Abby is your average teen – except she is this amazing swimmer. She’s so good that she could qualify for the US Olympics team. Actually, that is what she is planning to do at the meet for States. Unfortunately at her last meet, she gets dizzy and passes out. This leads her to discover that she has HCM and has to take beta blockers. The beta blockers impact her swimming due to her heart rate. And so, her life just completely changes. A Matter Of Heart is about how Abby deals with those changes and comes to term with her HCM. There’s also a little bit of romance too.

When the book starts, Abby is dating this guy on her team, Connor who is a hot shot. However, there’s a new guy on the team who is kind of neck and neck with Connor, Alec. Abby teaches swim class at the same time that Alec gives private lessons. The two kind of feel animosity towards each other at first, mainly because of Connor, but that feeling changes. On the whole, the romance is a nice additional layer to the book, but not the whole point.

A Matter Of Heart is a wicked quick read. The chapters are super short. Competitive swimming plays a huge role and adds this interesting dimension. Plus, Abby’s best friend Jen is wonderful to read about too. I’d certainly say give this book a shot if you just can’t get enough of athletics in YA.



I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Mini YA Reviews 2The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
Also by this author: Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories
on August 20, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Family, Blended Families, Social Themes, Dating & Sex, LGBT, Romance, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Adoption, Parents, Siblings, Loners & Outcasts, Emotions & Feelings, Friendship
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover, eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780316448567
Goodreads
five-stars
Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Nicola Yoon comes a novel about first love and secrets from Stonewall Book Award winner Brandy Colbert.

Dove "Birdie" Randolph works hard to be the perfect daughter and follow the path her parents have laid out for her: She quit playing her beloved soccer, she keeps her nose buried in textbooks, and she's on track to finish high school at the top of her class. But then Birdie falls hard for Booker, a sweet boy with a troubled past...whom she knows her parents will never approve of.

When her estranged aunt Carlene returns to Chicago and moves into the family's apartment above their hair salon, Birdie notices the tension building at home. Carlene is sweet, friendly, and open-minded--she's also spent decades in and out of treatment facilities for addiction. As Birdie becomes closer to both Booker and Carlene, she yearns to spread her wings. But when long-buried secrets rise to the surface, everything she's known to be true is turned upside down.

The Revolution Of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert is actual excellence in one very quick read. I mean, I already was expecting it to be great after loving Little & Lion but I had no idea that I would just gobble this book up so quickly. It’s a quietly moving read about first love, family, and confronting the truth. This book is absolutely essential and you need to make sure you put it right at the tip top of your TBR.

Colbert’s The Revolution Of Birdie Randolph opens up with main character Dove “Birdie” Randolph running into a strange woman outside her parents apartment, who then goes into the apartment and it is revealed she is Birdie’s Aunt Carlene. That’s just the beginning of Dove’s wild summer. She’s sick of being so buttoned up and ready to cut loose. Coincidentally she’s been seeing this guy named Booker who her parents definitely would not approve of. Never mind that Booker is truly a gentle soul and has all the chemistry with Dove. So, ya know, Dove begins breaking rules here and there, getting to know her Aunt Carlene, and coming closer and closer to unraveling some family secrets.

So, yeah you guys, YOU NEED THIS BOOK LIKE YESTERDAY. I read this in pretty much one sitting. It is wonderfully written. And on top of strong writing, the pacing is there. It doesn’t meander or get boring. Instead, you get so invested in Dove and her life and just want everything to work out for her. I am obsessed and I think I need to finally read Pointe and Finding Yvonne. Brandy Colbert is a talent and like when you’re talking about awesome contemporary YA authors, her name needs to be in your mouth.

So much love for this novel. It is primarily the story of Birdie, and how, at 16, she's learning to separate the self she wants to be from the self that her parents expect her to be. It's also a story of how messy families can be-- her mother's sister, who has struggled with substance abuse for years, re-enters their lives, and this may (or may not) be the time that she doesn't crash and burn. It's a story of friends who are facing their own struggles as they get closer to adulthood. It's a story of secrets that kids keep from their parents (do they really need to know about that birth control prescription?), and those that parents keep from their kids.

It's beautiful.

Oh Birdie, I get it. I promise you I do.



You guys, Brandy Colbert has done it again. She brought us a black female character with depth, emotion, imperfections, and love, and she has provided a different narrative for a black female, similar to what she did in Little and Lion, check here to see my review.



Readers follow Birdie as she learns that people aren't their past mistakes, as she learns that appearances aren't always what they seem, as she learns that it's okay to make mistakes, and as she comes to learn the secrets of her family.



I loved this book. I definitely felt a connection to Birdie. As the oldest, the pressure to be perfect, or as near as possible, haunts me to this day even though my siblings are older. I can't make super big mistakes, or fall apart because that's their job. That being said, Birdie's mom was... a bit much, to say the least. Stop hovering mom.



I loved that we really got to see how Birdie interacted with those in her life, her best friend, her mom, dad, aunt, and sister. Honestly, if there was anyone I hoped to see Birdie delve deeper with, it would have to be Booker, weird as that sounds. I feel like we saw them together, I knew that they had strong feelings for each other, but... I don't know... I just wanted to see more. I can't wait to re-read this book once it's finished.



I'd recommend this book to older teens because there are a few... steamy moments, but recommend it I will!

I liked this, but it was not my favorite book of Colbert's. It took me a while to get into, although I liked it a lot in the end. I found it fairly predictable - I'm normally bad at guessing twists, but figured out a major plot point pretty easily. That's ok - just because something is a trope/guessable doesn't make it bad, but it did make it harder to sympathize with Birdie's distress. I did enjoy the romantic subplots. Generally I like stories about good girls trying to figure out who they are and while I initially found Birdie to be a little dull, I warmed up to her.