This heart-tugging tale is formed like a nine year old asthmatic boy’s diary of the school closure early in the pandemic.

There are some really poignant truths in there that many kids will identify with, like how exciting a new pencil can be, and “when you get used to things it’s almost as if you like them. Or at least it’s just OK. Normal.“ And that’s true: what is familiar is comforting and seems likeable especially against looming unknowns that magnify the impact of those smaller changes. Online school in particular is full of challenges, from being muted and unseen when he had something to stay, to other students making noise when he was trying to do his work. Home life isn't much better now that his older brother, Hank, isn't interested in playing with him or even being in the same room.

Once upon a time, I taught art to preschoolers, and we talked a lot about colours and how they felt, so you can imagine how entranced I was by finding those same concepts in this book: emotional self awareness growing through simple reflection on crayons. There's a new vocabulary list, though, that choked me up: pandemic, coronavirus, quarantine, and other words that children learned by necessity in the spring of 2020.

The one bright spot in Archie's boring, lonely pandemic life is a hummingbird that zips through the yard sometimes. As he learns more about hummingbirds, Archie buys hummingbird feeders for his yard to entice them to stay. and when the library finally reopened he gets books about hummingbirds that he pores over. A hummingbird helps keep Archie's hope alive and gives him recognition in his online school when he needs it most.

It’s a story about change, and traumatic experiences, and trying to find connection in the world when all the normal channels are closed. I fear it's a bit out of tune with the times four years later, though. The age group it’s written for won’t have many memories of the pandemic year half their lifetime ago, when they were in kindergarten or first grade. The ones who were nine then are not looking for books like this now. It’s a great idea, just too late for the kids, but I appreciate the urge behind this effort and suspect it will help some adults process their own feelings from that time, of their pervading sense of helplessness around their children's struggles to adapt.

Hummingbird Season follows a young boy through the opening days, weeks, and months of the COVID pandemic. While some people aren't yet ready to relive those experiences, others will relate to Archie's confusion and frustration as he tries to make himself heard. Despite spending his time at home with his family, he feels alone because he struggles to make himself understood. His parents and brother don't seem interested in what he has to say, and he feels like he's on permanent mute when he's remote learning. But his first sighting of a hummingbird inspires him to learn more and put out feeders. This interest provides a new topic of conversation both at home and at school. But a wildfire causes Ruby to disappear leaving Archie wondering if there's any hope left. Archie's easy to relate to as he struggles with the conditions that all of us struggled with in one way or another. But with the help of his family and his hummingbird friend, he holds on to hope and it helps him find a way to unmute himself and find people to listen to him. The free verse makes for a perfect vehicle for Archie to share his feelings as he goes through the ups and downs of his pandemic experience. Children who are ready to find a way to speak will find much to inspire them in this novel in verse.

Although this novel in verse was set during COVID, the feelings expressed throughout were universal. Loneliness, isolation, and feeling unheard are such a common experience for preteens and Lucianovic expressed them so well through the imagery of the Zoom mute button and the use of white space on the page. The relationship between two brothers of very different personalities forced to share the same space was also nice to see unfold. Even as an adult, I could relate to the feelings of anger, confusion, and isolation felt by the main character. There were even some tears as the story drew to a close.

Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, this novel-in-verse follows Archie, whose life has been turned upside down. He struggles with his brother's need for space, he struggles with virtual classes with no in-person friends to share the time with, and he struggles with the way the western wildfires limit even his time outside because of his asthma. But when he spies a hummingbird, building a hummingbird feeder may give him a way to find meaning in the middle of so much struggle. COVID affected the whole world, and it especially affected kids. Hummingbird Season could be a great entry way into a conversation with kids about how the pandemic changed their world, and help find ways to connect and encourage them now. I really enjoyed this read. It was sweet. And compelling.

This book is a heavy 3. It wasn’t very clear about what was happening in the beginning, over all, the book was good. I loved how it was during Covid, but I was confused about how it was like in poem’s. This book is a solid 3.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children's Books for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!

Hummingbird Season
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (5/5) or 9.42/10 overall

Characters - 9
Archie was such a likeable, enjoyable, and most importantly, relatable character. He had clear interests and had self-growth along the way. I enjoyed seeing the change in his brother's demeanor over time as well. The parents and teachers didn't play as large of a role, but they still seemed receptive to hearing Archie's thoughts and helping him with his emotions.

Atmosphere - 10
This book seemed to capture the thoughts and feelings of the 2020 COVID lockdown perfectly. Even though Archie was much younger than I was during the same time, I could totally understand and empathize with his struggles and joys.

Writing - 9
Coming into the story, I did not realize that it was a book in verse, but I think that element really added to the emotion in a way that a "normally written" book would not have.

Plot - 9
Despite this book's relatively simple premise of a boy with asthma feeling trapped inside by COVID, there was still a well-developed and interesting plot.

Intrigue - 10
I first picked this book up because I thought the cover was gorgeous and the title sounded interesting, but the book was so much more emotionally impactful and the words flowed so delicately that I couldn't put the book down.

Logic - 9
This book was quite logical and there weren't any moments that pulled me out of the story because they felt unrealistic. The timeline felt a tad wonky, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked.

Enjoyment - 10
I REALLY enjoyed this book. It made me simultaneously feel like a young kid again, while also bringing me back to the first moments of COVID (and the eventual return to "normalcy"). Archie's feelings were so raw and real that I could deeply understand where he was coming from, at that made it so much easier to root for him. Overall, a delightful, emotional read for me. :)

Sweet and heartwarming, this novel is sure to delight young readers. The author does a fantastic job of conveying what the early days of the pandemic were like. Life changed so much, and Archie felt more alone than ever. He's a relatable main character, and I love his interest in hummingbirds. The verse format works well, and the theme of healing should appeal to the middle grade audience. Archie learns to adapt, which is a valuable life lesson.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are 100% my own.

I adored this novel in verse! It highlighted the struggle so many young people had during the COVID lockdown. It was open and honest about the depression that the narrator felt. It was relatable and also had a lot of hope in it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this emotional and wonderful story.

Feelings of isolation and a desire for connection come through loud and clear in Lucianovic’s NIV for elementary students. Set during the 2020 COVID shutdown with all but essential workers stick at home working and schooling via tablets and computers, Archie is feeling alone even more poignantly than others, or so he thinks. His older brother, Hank, seems to be adapting easily and is still maintaining connection with friends on and off screen. His parents are stuck in front of their screens and Archie searches for something to help them all find some hope and a way to regroup as a family. That hope comes in the form of a tiny hummingbird. Readers will learn about the small bird species while also stepping back into a time that many will remember well. And there lies my hesitancy to fully endorse this book. I absolutely found myself connecting to the emotions felt by both Archie and Hank and the experiences of their whole family. Lucianovic’s use of figurative language, spacing in her poetry, and ability to convey emotions with only a few words is not in question, but with nearly every moment inexplicably tied to the quarantining during COVID, Hummingbird Season may lose relevance with each passing year. Libraries will need to weight the cost-benefit of a beautiful NIV with the fact that it may only have a shelf life of a few more years.

This is a great look at navigating the changes that happened during the pandemic. Archie has a hard time adjusting and feels very lonely, but starts concentrating on the hummingbirds and finds a purpose again.
This is a really lovely novel in verse that so many kids will be able to relate to.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Hummingbird Season by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic is one of the most beautifully told stories you could ever imagine. It chronicles one boy’s experience enduring the COVID-19 global pandemic. It is deeply emotional, heartfelt, and poignant. It encapsulates what so many of us–especially children–endured when we struggled to find that new normal in the days, weeks, and months after the words “COVID-19” and “pandemic” entered our regular vocabulary. There are moments of sadness and moments of joy as Archie finds his voice and rediscovers hope. Hummingbird Season will open doors to conversations about our experiences and help us all be heard.

Highly recommended!