Book Review: Coo

 COO is a first novel for author Kaela Noel. Debut books are often my favorite because I believe they capture the writer's heart and passion.  If this author's passion is for pigeons; and memorable characters; and little old ladies who eat vegetarian meals and save birds with broken wings; and little girls with big hearts, then this book captured it perfectly. 

Coo is a little girl who was raised by pigeons on a rooftop. Her life is fine, wearing plastic bags and eating what scraps of food the pigeons find in the dumpsters for her. Then she is discovered by Tully, and a strange sort of family forms. 

Coo is shown life as a human, and soon discovers it is much more comfortable and the food is delicious, but she misses her flock. And it isn't long before her flock needs her as the pigeons are in danger of being eliminated by the mayor. 

Imaginative, sweet, and fun, COO is a wholesome story that will make you look differently the next time you see a pigeon.  It might have a name, and a place in a flock somewhere in the city. 

Book Review: George

 GEORGE, by Alex Gino, is the 2021 community read for Fox Cities Reads. And it is a great choice, as it is a story that can start a conversation. 

George is a 10-year-old child who looks to be a boy to everyone else, but she knows that she is a girl. And she is struggling to let other people know this. 

She wishes to try out for the part of Charlotte in the class play, CHARLOTTE'S WEB. She rehearsed the part and knows all the lines.  Her best friend Kelly hatches a plan that lets her be Charlotte on stage, while also showing everyone - her family, her classmates, her teachers, her community -  who she really is. 

If your copy of this book includes the Q&A section in the back with the author, it is a must read. It is very informative for knowing what to say and what not to say.  GEORGE is a realistic slice of life for a transgender child, and illustrates her journey and challenges.