A magical novel of death and destiny, When We Were Birds is a beautiful, absorbing read.
We follow two young Trinidadians who are struggling to find their place in a modern world in which the faith of their families feels stifling.
Darwin has to cut off his hair and his Rastafarian roots to get a job in Port Angeles as a grave digger, when there are simply no other jobs around and his mother is struggling to put food on the table. Yejide’s mother is dying and once she’s gone the responsibility for the peaceful passing of souls into the afterlife, will be Yejide’s alone.
Both stories revolve around the central graveyard in Port Angeles. Something there is not quite right.
A wonderfully magically real mix of modernity, belief and myth, When We Were Birds is a rich and compelling read bound to capture the hearts of many readers.
I’ll be reviewing Tender by Ariana Harwicz next.