The Revolution of Birdie Randolph
CCBC Review:
Birdie sometimes resents her mom’s overprotectiveness, which is why she hasn’t told her parents about Booker, the boy she really likes. Her parents have high expectations and she’s worried that Booker’s stint in juvie would be an issue, despite the mitigating circumstances. Birdie’s aunt Carlene, on the other hand, is easy to get along with. Clean and sober and working toward getting her cosmetology license after battling addiction for years, Carlene is far less rigid and judgmental than her sister, Birdie’s mom. Even Birdie’s doctor dad sometimes seems like he wants to cut both Birdie and Carlene some slack. Birdie knows her mom grew up taking care of Carlene, and has worked hard to move beyond her own self-described “ghetto” past to own her own salon. But that knowledge isn’t enough to ease the sense of betrayal when Birdie makes a discovery that completely upends her understanding of family. Spending time with the likable, acutely drawn characters this novel about an upper middle class African American teen in Chicago is an absolute pleasure. Birdie and Booker’s respectful relationship, and the novel’s open, non-punitive take on teens and sex (including discussion about birth control), is one of many things to appreciate. ©2020 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 13 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Adoption
African Americans
Aunts
Families
Identity
Love and Romance
Mothers
Sex and Sexuality
Diversity subject:
Black/African
LGBTQ Character/Topic
Psychiatric Disability/Condition
Publisher:
Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2019
Pages: 325
ISBN: 9780316448567
CCBC Location: Fiction, Colbert