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The Bird House

by Kelly Simmons
Washington Square: S. & S. Feb. 2011. c.273p. ISBN 9781439160930. pap. $14. F
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Family secrets of infidelity drive this domestic tale set in Gladwyne, PA, and narrated by 70-year-old Ann Biddle. Her short-term memory is not as sharp as it once was, but she is still able to recall the skeletons in her relatives' closets as she bonds with her eight-year-old granddaughter, Ellie, and helps her complete a family history class assignment. This stroll through the mists of time allows the reader to learn about tragic events that occurred in 1967. Tensions between Ann and Tinsley, Ellie's overprotective mother and Ann's daughter-in-law, drive the plot. It is Ellie, the observant child, who is stuck in the middle of the family strain.
VERDICT Simmons's second novel (after Standing Still) is a great title for book groups that enjoy fiction with strong female characters. It may also appeal to fans of Lisa Genova's Still Alice.
Reviewed by Joyce Sparrow, Kenneth City, FL , Jan 01, 2011
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