Book Review: Hummingbird Season by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic

Publisher’s description

A poignant and necessary story about finding hope during difficult times, set in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Archie’s life—and the whole world—is turned upside down by Covid-19. Suddenly there are no more Friday night dinners out, no more going to school, no more hanging out with friends . . . no leaving the house at all.

Even though he’s inside with his family all day every day, Archie can’t help but feel more alone than ever before. While everyone else seems to be adapting to their new normal just fine, it’s like Archie is permanently on mute, unable to find the words to describe how he feels—and sometimes, unable to find someone who will listen. The bright spot of Archie’s days at home is watching and learning about the hummingbirds that feed outside his windows. But just when it seems like this could be what brings his family together again, California experiences its worst wildfire in history, and Archie’s favorite hummingbird disappears. In a time when hope is hard to hold on to, Archie must find his voice and find hope once again.

Hummingbird Season is an honest and healing novel in verse documenting the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and the things that bring us together when circumstances keep us apart.

Amanda’s thoughts

Set at the very start of the pandemic, Archie’s whole life is changing. School looks like it will be happening from home for a bit… but then it becomes clear that “a bit” is a lot longer than anyone thought. School is now at home and full of worksheets and virtual classes and being stuck on mute. It doesn’t take long for Archie to start to feel sad, angry, worried, and lonely. Yes, his whole family is home all the time, but everyone is on their separate device, with headphones on, isolated. Once close with older brother Hank, Archie feels more distanced than ever with him. Hank has a little more freedom than Archie, who has asthma. He seems to have adjusted to this whole new reality better than Archie, who generally feels rather invisible. When Archie notices a hummingbird outside of their house, he develops a new and intense interest in hummingbirds and the wellbeing of this particular hummingbird, whom he names Ruby. When wildfires start to spread in California, Archie becomes even more isolated, unable to even go outside because of the smoke. He worries about Ruby, who hasn’t shown up lately. There is a lot to worry about these days. 

Here’s the thing: We’re in the weird place of still totally being in the middle of this same pandemic, but it looks NOTHING like how things did here in the first many months of Covid. And readers for whom this story is aimed at may not have the clearest memories of 3.5-4 years ago when there were drive-by birthday parties, distance learning, social distancing, wiping down groceries, and so on. Obviously for many vulnerable people, life still can look as isolating as this view of the pandemic looks. But in large part, many lives don’t look now like Archie’s life did then. And we adults can well remember every change we made and how it all felt, but readers who are, say, eight, will not. It’s both something they lived through and something they may not remember well. And of course, for some readers, they may well remember all of the changes and be able to relate to everything Archie went through. But no matter what they remember or experienced, readers will enjoy this empathetic and emotional look at isolation, loneliness, and hope during lockdown.

Review copy (ARC) courtesy of the publisher

ISBN-13: 9781547612741
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication date: 02/13/2024
Age Range: 8 – 12 Years

Filed under: Book Reviews