Sugar Birds was an atypical reading choice for me on several counts, but its convergence of birds, faith, and neurodiversity piqued my interest. Though I don’t read many fiction titles from Christian publishers, I keep an eye on them, and few, it seems, are written by naturalists or feature neurodivergent characters.
An added attraction for me was the Pacific Northwest setting. Astute descriptions of the natural world merit one endorser’s invocation of Annie Dillard. Bostrom, a poet, delivers Craftsman-style prose–clean, flowing lines, artful but free of excessive ornamentation.
I wish Dorcas Smucker lived next door. I would drop by regularly to steep myself in the vibrant activity of her household, the warmth and wisdom of her conversation, and the rhythms of rural life, while sharing sharing a pot of tea with Dorcas, of course.