Starling

Starling is a character-driven and poignant story between two children who come from neglectful and abusive homes in a small, fictional northern British Columbia town in the 1970's. These two kids find friendship, solace, and family with each other, within nature and with an unlikely adult. 

With a focus on life's smaller moments, Cram brings her readers into the lives of Alice and Remy. The issues facing these children are serious and there's an adult or two you'll love to hate, but the ultimate message of this book is one of hope, resiliency, courage, and a good amount of faith that things will work out. I also liked how Cram shows how small acts of kindness can have great impact which added poignancy to this already touching read. 

I simply loved the bond between Alice and Remy - their sense of precocious 

innocence, the comfort they find in nature and their dialogue which was innocent, revelatory at times and (for me) had a delightful Anne Shirley vibe. My only small issue was the ending which, while realistic, left me wanting a bit more closure.  

With beautifully lyrical writing and vivid descriptions of nature, Cram has created a poignant, quiet story about friendship, resilience, and the importance of finding comfort and connection whether it be through blood family or the family you make on your own.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Kirsten Cram

Genre: Literary Fiction, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from author

Publisher: Highway Six Press

First Published: November 18, 2021

Book Description from GoodReads: Alice Quinn's young life has never been marked by stability, and it's about to turn upside down again. When her mother decides to move from their small Canadian town to an area that is even more remote, Alice is left to navigate the strange and hostile community on her own. She is befriended by a classmate named Remy, who hails from his own bleak circumstances, and the two forge a bond that helps buffer the forces prevailing against them. The story follows Alice and Remy through the everyday beauties and terrors of childhood, revealing their breathtaking resilience while at the mercy of whims and cruelties beyond their control. Despite the vile treatment Alice endures at the hands of her teacher, the persecutions of a local bully, and the disturbing presence of her mother's new boyfriend, she retains an outlook on the world marked by optimism and wonder, enhanced at times by her own imagination. Remy, who is enduring physical abuse at home, harbors a more cynical approach to life. Between them and with the assistance of a mysterious neighbor, the children find a haven for their bright and curious minds, as well as the essence of meaning they are both seeking in this grim and exquisite, unpredictable world.