Every Bird a Prince

Description

Eren Evers is about to turn thirteen, which means something to everyone but her. Recently, all her friends want to talk about are their crushes, and her mom keeps asking about the upcoming school dance. But Eren couldn't care less about liking boys or girls, and isn't even sure how a crush should feel. Instead, Eren goes on long bike rides in the woods, wishing she and her friends could just play in the forest like they used to. Then Eren's bike rides take a turn for the extraordinary when a bird speaks to her, seeking her help. Eren is chosen to defend the bird kingdom from the dangerous Frostfangs, a challenge she embraces and one that will require all of her strength, as well as the support of an unlikely friend. Now Eren must juggle both the trials of the forest and of her social scene, discovering what it truly means to be herself in a world eager to define her path.

Jenn Reese writes speculative fiction for readers of all ages. She is the author of the Above World trilogy, whose first installment was a finalist for the 2012 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, and A Game of Fox & Squirrels. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where she revels in the rain, plays too many video games, and works as a freelance graphic designer.

Reese's splendid story skillfully combines everyday experiences with a fantastical world, and though the talking birds and ferocious frostfangs are a surface-level treat, they're also thoughtful explorations of selfdoubt and asexuality. A powerful testament to self-knowledge and boldly living in your truth. --Booklist Using frostfangs as a metaphor for the debilitating effects of self-doubt, this contemporary fantasy realistically examines Eren's confusion, fear of alienation, and suffocation as she grapples with her true sexuality. Multidimensional supporting characters with their own identity issues and vulnerabilities add veracity and depth.. --Kirkus Reviews Reese gives equal weight to each storyline and captures how the urgency of self-identification and fear of your own truths can pervade every moment and feel just as catastrophic as the potential end of the world. It's a comfort that Eren and her pals save the day--perhaps even more so that they each find new truths in themselves and each other. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Meanwhile, a conversation with Alex's asexual, pan-romantic sister gives Eren the framework to consider her own sexuality. Eren's relatable effort to find her own path is sympathetically wrought, while the conflict between the birds and frostfangs provides an alternate lens for a protagonist working through layers of feelings. --Publishers Weekly