Birdie's Bargain

Birdie's father has been called up to war again, and the rest of the family must go to stay with Gran for the duration. Birdie is very worried about her father going to Afghanistan and she makes a deal with God that she will be good if God will bring her father home safely. And then God doesn't. What does this mean? Why didn't God make good on his part of the deal? Is there a God at all? And is God really like the God she learned about at Bible Camp?

I don't run across enough stories with families who struggle economically, like Birdie's family does, and I don't run across enough stories about children who think seriously about spiritual issues, and this book takes on both of these themes and does a good job with both.

An easy read that had me up way past my bedtime. I don't know what the point of the plane ride was though; it seemed superfluous. And I would have liked a little more resolution on the Alicia situation.

A big thank you to Candlewick Press for the free review copy. And to Mrs. Paterson for still churning them out at 89: you're an inspiration!