Where Bluebirds Fly

(1 customer review)

Description

Verity Montague is a servant in 1692 Salem. Her flaming red hair and mismatched eyes make her a prime target for accusation of witchcraft. Orphaned during the Indian raids, she and her brother with Asperger’s Syndrome come to live with the key historical figures of the trials – The Putnams. They keep their synesthesia secret – that days, months and years appear as color in Verity’s mind, and for John, that symphonies play in a Fantasia-style performance of colors and geometric patterns. Truman Johnstone ‘s ability to discern people’s expressions, and decipher if they were lying – made him an outspoken child. Being different kept him from being adopted till he was fourteen. He now runs an orphanage for problem youths, and is a feeding therapist in his desire to help children deal with their peculiarities. To give them the childhood he never had. The harvest festival corn maze Truman creates every year has an unwelcome visitor. Children hear disembodied voices skipping through the corn maze amid the backdrop of eerie orchestral music. In every year of the calendar, intermittent doors of time swing open and closed, so long as the cornfield stands. In societies set on sameness – all are outsiders. They learn the traits that make us outcasts, may be the very ones that make us great, and that true love may heal all, and even transcend time.

1 review for Where Bluebirds Fly

  1. Kimberly Quinn

    This is an obviously very well researched historical fiction YA tale of Salem Witch trial. The sprinkling of historical references were excellent from Tituba to the play The Crucible. I felt the future knowledge was used more than one too many times as a way to introduce theories and facts about the Trials. I also found myself getting to the point of saying out loud “yes, that was great information the first time it was said”—repetition can be a useful tool to keep tension going—when it is used sparingly. In spite of those tropes I do recommend this book for its creativity, original approach to the subject matter and excellent narration. The Narrator had a very good command of accents and differentiation of character’s voices. I appreciated the MC ruminating about the differences in the lives of women and children in the different time periods.

Add a review