Reviews

Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd

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lcraig18's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cari1268's review against another edition

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3.25

I loved the topics addressed in Hummingbird and the magical realism was fun. There were lots of wise quotes that I highlighted. The story also moved along at a nice pace.

I just found the execution to be a little annoying. I'm torn because this book provides great teaching moments for what to say to someone with a disability and healthy parent/child relationships. I also felt that Olive's first day of school experience with the Madisons was very realistic.

However, the characters were just too perfect. The main character, Olive, grated on me. I don't love bacon as a swear word replacement and I could go the rest of my life without hearing the words love-kabooms. The ending was quite touching. Although I hated that Olive felt so much shame and like her parents would be disappointed in her if she wanted to wish her disease away.

My son read this book and liked it much better than me. I feel a little torn rating books meant for middle grade children...

3.25 Stars.

nancyadelman's review against another edition

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4.0

Olive Miracle Martin is an eleven year old girl with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) also known as Brittle Bone disease. She uses a wheelchair to get around and is homeschooled to prevent herself from breaking anymore bones than she has to. But Olive wants to go to Macklemore elementary school and a BFF of her own. Convincing her parents to let her go to Macklemore will set plans in motion for the grandest adventure that Olive has ever experienced and might just free her from her fragile life and her wheelchair... forever!

Olive is a really fun character. She's feisty. She's smart and she's loved by all of her slightly-eccentric family and feathered friends. She has a pelican who comes by her bedroom window for fish-stick donations. This is a fun, chapter book for kids between the ages of 8 and 12. I enjoyed reading this book because of it's realistic portrayal of a protagonist in a wheelchair. The author neither glamorizes the wheelchair nor plays the "woe is me" card. I think she got it just right. In large part because the author suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta herself and knows all about the disease.

My only complaint is not about the handicapped protagonist but the library at Macklemore Elementary school which is just over the top fantastical. I can accept the idea of a magical wish-granting hummingbird, but a library inhabited by birds and a llama was just a bridge too far. I could not believe it. I am giving this book four stars though because it is still a great story!