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chickchick22's review
2.0
2.5 rated down.
“The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA” is a book about a young white boy who survived a near-death incident thanks to the quick movements of a black man looking for a job. Grateful, the boy, Gabriel, offers the man a job at his father’s auto shop. The man accepts, and through visits to the shop, the man, Meriwether, shares his story as a black man who served during WWII. As the story progresses, Gabriel’s eyes are opened more to the hardships of black people during that time, and learns kindness and caring through the unsung hero of Birdsong.
While this was a heartwarming story, there were a few issues that made the rating so low for a book with such potential.
1. Character development
Gabriel, the main character, has no real personality. All I know is that he has a crush on Rosie Riley (who comes out only two or three times!) and that he is a nice guy. The characters with real personalities were Abigail and Meriwether. Character development just…no. There was not enough…well, character in the characters for me to like them.
2. Climax/Plot
The intended climax, I think, was either when Meriwether came to Gabriel’s house with news of Abigail’s near-death experience or when Meriwether almost killed Lucas Shaw. However, each of these fit into one short chapter (5 pages + 5 pages) and I didn’t feel any tension or nervousness of “is he going to be ok? how will this end up?” because there was no build-up. Plus, both of these had nothing to do with Gabriel. He didn’t do anything too important; if these climaxes had more action in general or more action through Gabriel’s eyes, this book would feel so much more complete.
3. Speed
This book was honestly a really slow read. I felt like everything interesting and exciting happened far too fast, and the rest of the book was full of slow, not-very-action-packed events. I’m fine with spreading out a book (but not too much…) since it could really help with character development, showing relationships, or simple world-building and building up to the climax. But this book spread it out so much. If the climaxes were made longer, say, two or three chapters instead of one 5 page chapter, it would’ve been such a bigger, more exciting book.
•Overall•
I’m not trying to be mean, or to roast this book until it’s burnt: no. I’m saying that while the plot, the idea, and the lessons in this story are so so good, it was…delivered in a way that was underwhelming. More action or even simple character development would make worlds of a difference.
Overall, it was a good book with a good story, just told in a way that might not have delivered it in the intended “wow this book is so amazing” way. “The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA” could’ve been so much; it honestly had so so much potential and I am really sad and disappointed that I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped when I first picked it up.
“The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA” is a book about a young white boy who survived a near-death incident thanks to the quick movements of a black man looking for a job. Grateful, the boy, Gabriel, offers the man a job at his father’s auto shop. The man accepts, and through visits to the shop, the man, Meriwether, shares his story as a black man who served during WWII. As the story progresses, Gabriel’s eyes are opened more to the hardships of black people during that time, and learns kindness and caring through the unsung hero of Birdsong.
While this was a heartwarming story, there were a few issues that made the rating so low for a book with such potential.
1. Character development
Gabriel, the main character, has no real personality. All I know is that he has a crush on Rosie Riley (who comes out only two or three times!) and that he is a nice guy. The characters with real personalities were Abigail and Meriwether. Character development just…no. There was not enough…well, character in the characters for me to like them.
2. Climax/Plot
The intended climax, I think, was either when Meriwether came to Gabriel’s house with news of Abigail’s near-death experience or when Meriwether almost killed Lucas Shaw. However, each of these fit into one short chapter (5 pages + 5 pages) and I didn’t feel any tension or nervousness of “is he going to be ok? how will this end up?” because there was no build-up. Plus, both of these had nothing to do with Gabriel. He didn’t do anything too important; if these climaxes had more action in general or more action through Gabriel’s eyes, this book would feel so much more complete.
3. Speed
This book was honestly a really slow read. I felt like everything interesting and exciting happened far too fast, and the rest of the book was full of slow, not-very-action-packed events. I’m fine with spreading out a book (but not too much…) since it could really help with character development, showing relationships, or simple world-building and building up to the climax. But this book spread it out so much. If the climaxes were made longer, say, two or three chapters instead of one 5 page chapter, it would’ve been such a bigger, more exciting book.
•Overall•
I’m not trying to be mean, or to roast this book until it’s burnt: no. I’m saying that while the plot, the idea, and the lessons in this story are so so good, it was…delivered in a way that was underwhelming. More action or even simple character development would make worlds of a difference.
Overall, it was a good book with a good story, just told in a way that might not have delivered it in the intended “wow this book is so amazing” way. “The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA” could’ve been so much; it honestly had so so much potential and I am really sad and disappointed that I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped when I first picked it up.
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
I enjoyed this thought-provoking coming-of-age novel about a boy whose eyes are opened to the injustices happening in his Southern town when he befriends a black Civil War veteran. It's a thoughtful, well-written story featuring (mostly) likable characters and an interesting historical subject about which I knew little. The lessons it teaches are important and, while not subtle, are also put across in a way that's not preachy or sappy. I enjoyed this book and hope kids will find it as engaging as I did.
paperbacksandpines's review
3.0
This book is written in the vein of [b:Homer Price|766917|Homer Price|Robert McCloskey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348994806l/766917._SY75_.jpg|3259531]. Although it tackles tough issues of racism, prejudice, and hatred in the Jim Crow South, it does so in a way is manageable for middle grade readers. This book was a wholesome and worthwhile read.
mwbuell's review
3.0
I liked that it was set during the civil rights movement. It was interesting to hear the characters' perspectives on Jim Crow laws and things like that. I think the author represented Meriweather well. While the story taught a few meaningful lessons, overall the book fell a little bit flat for me.
dswhite's review
5.0
This book was one of my favorites so far this year. I liked the main character and his family. I liked the relationship he had with the African American veteran in the South.
bookladykd's review against another edition
2.0
Other reviewers seem to have really liked this book, but it was a real disappointment for me. I know the message (Blacks in the post WWII South were treated like crap, in case you're wondering what that is) is important, but I found this book to be horribly cliched and pedantic. Stock characters (the clueless white boy on the verge of manhood, the even more clueless yet amusing friend, the wise and noble Black man, the completely reprehensible overtly racist low-class white man... I could go in and on) fill the pages. Everybody talks like a cross between The Andy Griffith Show and Little Rascals, golly gee willikers! It finally started to gain some depth in the final chapter, only to end abruptly and conveniently. There are better books for middle-grade readers to explore historic racism in the US.
katieproctorbooks's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book a lot! It brings to light an important topic of how Black soldiers coming home from WWII were treated all wrapped up in a sweet friendship.