A review by littlefoot10
The Thing with Feathers by McCall Hoyle

4.0

I absolutely love this cover. While minimalist; it's stunning and sums up this novel perfectly. Especially the colours. This book was such a treat to read because it was not what I was expecting. This novel covers some very tough topics, like losing a parent, abuse and having a condition that you have really no control over. This novel really depicts what it is like for someone who has epilepsy, and their daily struggles and thoughts. Emilie as a character is both relateable and frustrating at the same time. You can understand where she is coming from even if you don't have epilepsy. She's afraid of being different and of not fitting in. But the whole novel I was waiting for her lies to catch up with her and for her to become exposed. My heart was racing while reading just anticipating what I knew was coming. Chatham is probably one of the most sweetest characters ever written. He is just genuinely a wonderful person. I really related a lot to the relationship between Emilie and her mom. It's hard when something or someone tears your relationship a part and it's hard to find a way back to the way it once was. I also really thought McCall did a wonderful job of writing what it's like to lose a parent. And how every day can be a struggle. Overall this novel is just definitely worth a read, and I highly recommend it.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.