Birdy Flynn

By Helen Donohoe

It is the summer and a group of children are playing down by a stream when they do a terrible thing. Something that Birdy tries unsuccesfully to avert. While the other children in the gang find it easy to forget what they have done, Birdy is trapped in the moment and feels bound to do something to make ammends. But how does a child face up to responsibility and find the courage to do the right thing?

An uncompromising and uniquely powerful novel about growing up, making friends and being true to yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications
• Release date: Mar 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781780749402

Reviews for Birdy Flynn

[paperbackpropensity · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Birdy Flynn follows a 12 year old girl (Birdy Flynn) growing up in 1982 London during the IRA bombings. The story starts out with the family cat being tortured by her group of male friends, and Birdy feels powerless to stop it. When the boys take off, she puts the cat out of her misery, and this secret tortures her throughout the novel.Then there are more secrets. Because Birdy is taken advantage of by a teacher she once really liked, and Birdy doesn't feel quite like a girl should feel. She does not like to be called "young lady" and when mistaken for a boy, she feels a secret thrill inside.No longer friends with the group of boys, Birdy tries to find her way on her own, carrying secrets and guilt, and the discomfort of not being on the outside the way she feels on the inside. She makes an effort to be the way she is "supposed" to be, but it only gets her into more trouble. The time and place "Birdy Flynn" is set in adds to the confusion the character felt in this coming of age story. I liked the dynamic between Birdy and Kat, the "Gypsy Girl" Birdy is fond of. As their budding friendship develops, the novel becomes more poignant and I found myself really rooting for the main character to find peace with herself, to let go of her burdens.Her relationship with her father is a difficult one, and her mother carries a secret of her own, which is hinted at in the middle of the book, but doesn't come out until much later. I also liked the character of Eileen, Birdy's big sister, another one with secrets of her own. I found her interesting and mysterious, and I liked finding out more about her.Birdy Flynn is about the relationships between family members, identity, growing up, friendships, and the self inflicting pain that comes with keeping secrets. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good coming of age story.

[nittnut · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's 1982 and there are bombs going off in London. Birdy Flynn is Irish and a girl, who might rather be a boy, and this complicates her coming of age struggles. Her family is a little dysfunctional, and everyone has secrets of their own. Birdy is unable to confide in anyone and the secrets she carries become a heavy burden. The writing is good. It is sometimes a little rough and disjointed, but in a way that conveys the disjointed or confused thinking of a young teen. I liked the end a lot. Not everything was solved, but Birdy finds out who is really there for her, and she makes friends with a girl who likes her for who she is. There is a sense that things are looking up for Birdy.

[imagiphantaria · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Birdy Flynn follows a 12 year old girl (Birdy Flynn) growing up in 1982 London during the IRA bombings. The story starts out with the family cat being tortured by her group of male friends, and Birdy feels powerless to stop it. When the boys take off, she puts the cat out of her misery, and this secret tortures her throughout the novel.Then there are more secrets. Because Birdy is taken advantage of by a teacher she once really liked, and Birdy doesn't feel quite like a girl should feel. She does not like to be called "young lady" and when mistaken for a boy, she feels a secret thrill inside.No longer friends with the group of boys, Birdy tries to find her way on her own, carrying secrets and guilt, and the discomfort of not being on the outside the way she feels on the inside. She makes an effort to be the way she is "supposed" to be, but it only gets her into more trouble. The time and place "Birdy Flynn" is set in adds to the confusion the character felt in this coming of age story. I liked the dynamic between Birdy and Kat, the "Gypsy Girl" Birdy is fond of. As their budding friendship develops, the novel becomes more poignant and I found myself really rooting for the main character to find peace with herself, to let go of her burdens.Her relationship with her father is a difficult one, and her mother carries a secret of her own, which is hinted at in the middle of the book, but doesn't come out until much later. I also liked the character of Eileen, Birdy's big sister, another one with secrets of her own. I found her interesting and mysterious, and I liked finding out more about her.Birdy Flynn is about the relationships between family members, identity, growing up, friendships, and the self inflicting pain that comes with keeping secrets. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good coming of age story.

[bgnbrooks-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm going to start this by saying this book is not my usual reading fare, so perhaps my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt.That being said, I wanted to like this book, I just didn't. The writing itself was decent. It was unique and yet still easy to grasp. The characters were written in a way that made them seem like living breathing people. Not just well written, but alive. People with secrets and flaws. People you may not want to know in real life, or already do. I didn't find the book particularly moving, just kind of heartbreaking. Perhaps it's just not my kind of book.*I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honesty review.

[mtlkch-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I received an Early Reviewers copy from LibraryThing of Birdy Flynn. I don't know how many times I have started and stopped this book, but I can't get past the cat. Maybe I should have realized it would be a big part of the story after reading the back cover, but I didn't. I finally forced myself through the torture and drowning (not a spoiler - it's on the back cover) and thought that would be it and I could keep reading. It wasn't and I couldn't. Really disappointed.

[libstaff2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

DNFThis book just wasn't my cup of tea. There's a graphic scene in the beginning that was very descriptive, not a bad thing, just didn't get very far beyond that. The setting was a bit gritty and took place during the 80s? Some social issues are addressed in the novel, so if you are more into realistic, gritty coming-of-age stories, then you may enjoy this book more.LT Early Reviewer