11/27/2023
Set in 2020, this melancholy verse novel by Lucianovic (The League of Picky Eaters) stars young asthmatic Archie, who’s experiencing a particularly strong disconnect from family and friends while living through the pandemic in California: “Loneliness/ is a word I knew/ before/ but it wasn’t a word I felt/ before.” He especially mourns the loss of closeness with his older brother Hank, who seems to be thriving in their new situation, pushing Archie away when he needs Hank most. Feeling increasingly unseen and “muted,” Archie grows acutely oppressed by the rote sameness of lockdown, which is disrupted by wildfires. Though Archie’s overarching trajectory in dealing with negative emotions, as well as his understanding of his estrangement with Hank, feel overly mature, many readers will identify with his struggles with long-distance learning and feelings of isolation. His discovery of and growing fascination with a hummingbird propels him toward positivity and eventually helps him make the empathetic connections he longs for, shifting the story focus to Archie’s empowerment and interpersonal growth and resulting in a satisfyingly realistic resolution. All characters read as white. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)
“Hummingbird Season broke me open with its vivid portrayal of the early pandemic. Heartbreakingly relatable, everyone who lived through lockdown will find themselves in the pages of this book. Archie's emotional journey is rendered in clear, poignant verse, a balm to our scars and a reminder of the necessity of hope.” —Joy McCullough, author of National Book Award longlist title BLOOD WATER PAINT
“In a world that so often wants to pretend that kids are immune to collective trauma, Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic writes stories that validate their experiences and assure them that they are not alone. Hummingbird Season gently, lovingly gives today's readers space to process what they went through during the early pandemic, and it shows us all how to find hope, beauty, and connection whenever times are hard. Warm, thoughtful, and deeply lovely, this book is a gift.” —Anne Ursu, author of National Book Award longlist title THE REAL BOY
“In this engaging novel in verse, readers will identify with Archie as he navigates through the confusion and messiness of the pandemic lockdowns. I felt like I was in the company of a trustworthy friend who finds hope and connection amid isolation and uncertainty, and I cheered for Archie to find the strength to speak up for himself and others who needed their voices heard. Told with a perfect balance of humor and empathy, Hummingbird Season is a story that helps us feel less alone.” —Lynne Kelly, author of Schneider Family Award winner SONG FOR A WHALE
“Readers will gasp in wonder and empathy, cry and sometimes laugh, cheer at the upbeat conclusion, and feel every emotion that's so powerfully expressed. Brilliant.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Extremely well written and filled with colorful phrases . . . Young readers who have experienced COVID (and who like birds) are sure to enjoy.” —Booklist
“Lucianovic beautifully crafts this novel in verse, giving voice to a boy who is boisterous at times but often feels left on mute, lost in the shuffle of a changing world. Archie, his family, and Ruby remind readers there's comfort to be found in being together, even when everything else feels like it's falling apart.” —BCCB
“Captures the confusion and isolation of the first year of the pandemic, especially for kids . . . This beautifully written novel in verse offers a sensitive reflection on the pandemic and its emotional toll.” —School Library Journal
“Lucianovic portrays Archie's interior world in straightforward first-person verse that effectively captures the voice of an elementary schoolboy living through extraordinary times.” —Horn Book Magazine
“Readers will identify with his [Archie's] struggles with long-distance learning and feelings of isolation. His discovery of and growing fascination with a hummingbird propels him towards positivity and eventually helps him make the empathetic connections he longs for.” —Publishers Weekly
01/01/2024
Gr 2–4—When the world shuts down in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Archie struggles to adapt to school moving online. His older brother, Hank, seems to be thriving, and even gets to spend time with friends outside, but Archie feels increasingly alone and isolated, and doesn't think that his teacher and his classmates care if he is in class or not. On top of that, the California wildfires make even the outside air dangerous for him to breathe because of his asthma. When he sees a hummingbird in his yard, he becomes fascinated with her and sets up feeders all around the house. Over time, the hummingbird becomes something that helps Archie find and build connections, both with his brother and with his class. Told in a series of free verse poems, this novel captures the confusion and isolation of the first year of the pandemic, especially for kids. The author uses the metaphor of being on mute in an online class to describe struggles that often go unheard, from the fears Archie's classmates have about situations at home to the natural disasters caused by climate change. This book would make for a great lead-in to classroom discussions or writing prompts, giving kids the opportunity to share their own memories of lockdown. VERDICT This beautifully written novel in verse offers a sensitive reflection on the pandemic and its emotional toll, even for those families who were able to stay healthy and financially stable during lockdown.—Ashley Larsen
★ 2023-11-04
A California boy chronicles the long, difficult Covid-19 lockdown in verses that explore his confused emotions.
On the day “that started everything” and that “was also a day that ended everything,” Archie’s life is turned upside down. School is abruptly closed, his parents must work from home, and big brother Hank is ever more difficult. Archie’s asthma puts him at risk, causing his parents to take ever-greater precautions. All this, plus attending “(not real) school at home,” makes him feel more and more isolated, unseen, and muted. He has outbursts of anger and despair: “…even though we’re together / stuck inside the house / we’re not really together-together.” Archie’s imagination is captured when he hears a brief buzzing sound, senses something whipping past, and witnesses “the smallest bird ever,” and he soon finds a new purpose. With help from his family, he carefully provides nectar for his “hummingbird restaurant” and becomes especially attached to Ruby, a hummingbird with red patches, as he watches for and worries about her, especially when a wildfire rages. Some poems are lists or consist of a few lines; others flow breathlessly, offering detailed accounts of events, beautiful descriptions, or information about hummingbirds. Archie often repeats important words, phrases, or concepts in a rhythmic way that emphasizes his escalating emotions. He’s intensely loving, deeply compassionate, insightful, inventive, and expressive. Readers will gasp in wonder and empathy, cry and sometimes laugh, cheer at the upbeat conclusion, and feel every emotion that’s so powerfully expressed.
Brilliant. (author’s note) (Verse fiction. 8-12)
