Review: A Bird on Water Street by Elizabeth O. Dulemba

Publish Date: May 7, 2014
Publisher: Little Pickle Press

Synopsis: A Bird on Water Street is a coming of age story about Jack, a boy growing up in a Southern Appalachian town environmentally devastated by a century of poor copper-mining practices and pollution. Jack is opposed to the mine where so many of his relatives have died, but how can he tell that to his Dad who wants him to follow in the family trade? Jack just wants his dad safe and the land returned to its pre-mining glory with trees, birds, frogs, and nature—like he’s learning about in school. After Jack’s uncle is killed in a mining accident and the Company implements a massive layoff, the union organizes and the miners go on strike. It seems Jack’s wish is coming true. But the cost may be the ruin of his home and everything he loves.

Review: The premise of this book sounded great! Jack, a boy hero, who wants to save the day, save his father, save his town! However, it fell flat for me. It is based on a real place with a real situation in which a mining company destroyed an entire town. I couldn't help but ask myself frequently throughout this book "Why don't you move away?" This might be a snobby response to these folks' struggle as this was their livelihood. Definitely a case of me taking what we/I have for granted.

The character development in this story was satisfactory. You learn enough about Jack and his friends and family to build a loose bond with them. I really felt for Jack and his yearning for nature because I feel that is what I would be like as well. The plot, though, felt like it dragged on without a flow. You kept thinking something great was going to happen, but nothing ever really does.

Not to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read this, but the ending was the flattest disappointment. It had the potential, in my mind, to be great. But it just...ended. Like, I went to flip to the next page and there wasn't one. Abrupt. Made me sad. Like I said, you build a bond with the characters and want to see them succeed and then they are done and gone. I think the ending totally left the author open to a sequel however it does not appear to be planned this way. Overall, this was just an okay read for me.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.