Brody’s Story
by Laura J. Boggess
Published by Capstone Fiction
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Reviewed by Julina K. Mills
(First in the Wings of Klaio series.)
Brody’s parents are falling apart, and so is her family. As if being a twelve-year-old girl isn’t difficult enough, Brody is now faced with moving to a new home with her mom and brother and sister, while her eldest brother and their dad stay in the old house. Divorce is simply not any fun, and not something Brody ever thought her family would be going through.
Fortunately, Brody does not have to face the emptiness she feels alone. Klaio, a tiny hummingbird who has been passed down from one generation to the next since the days of Eve, hovers near Brody to help her through her most difficult times.
With Christian beliefs and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Boggess taps into a child’s imagination by using the little bird, Klaio, as a symbol of conscience and connection to the Heavenly realm.
In this dramatic story of growing up, Brody learns to make new friends and rekindle relationships that had been pushed aside. She discovers that forgiveness opens doors that lead to a brighter future, and she finds out that sharing her burdens with others can make them lighter to carry. As Brody becomes involved in church she finds a new strength that helps her look forward with hope.
Although overall this is a delightful story which portrays realistic events in an appropriate way for most young teen readers, I felt that the story line was difficult to follow in several places throughout the book. The reader is required to make assumptions about situations, such as Brody’s mother having an affair which eventually led to divorce. The epilogue is also confusing.
Author Laura Boggess grew up in impoverished Appalachia in a family struggling with alcoholism and divorce. Her understanding of what it is like to grow up in these circumstances has influenced her writing in a personal way.
Armchair Interviews says: This is a story many children can relate to about divorce, family changes and loneliness