Sugar Birds: A Novel

By: Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

WINNER: 2021 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS - Literary, General, and Cross Genre Fiction.

WINNER: CHRISTIANITY TODAY’S 2022 BOOK AWARDS - Award of Merit in Fiction

WINNER: 2021 BEST BOOK AWARD - Inspirational Fiction

SILVER MEDALIST: 2021 READER'S FAVORITE AWARD - Inspirational Fiction

FINALIST: 2021 AMERICAN FICTION AWARDS - Religious Fiction

NORTHWEST WASHINGTON STATE, 1985

For years, Harris Hayes has taught his daughter, Aggie, the ways of the northern woods, where she sketches nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness. Then her depressed, unpredictable mother forbids her to climb the trees that give her sanctuary and comfort. Angry, ten-year-old Aggie accidentally lights a tragic fire and flees downriver. She lands her boat near untamed forest, then hides among trees and creatures she believes are her only friends—determined to remain undiscovered.

A search party gathers hours after Celia arrives at her grandmother's nearby farm. Hurting from her parents' breakup, she also plans to run. But when she joins the hunt for Aggie, she meets two irresistible young men who compel her to stay. One is autistic; the other, dangerous.

Ideal for fans of The Scent Keeper, Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Great Alone, Sugar Birds is a layered, riveting story set in the breathtaking natural world—where characters encounter the mending power of forgiveness, for themselves and for those who have failed them.

Winner of multiple Earphones Awards and the prestigious Odyssey and Odyssey Honor Awards, Jayne Entwistle's narration has landed on Audiofile Magazine's list of Best Audiobooks of the Year.

***" A true page-turner . . . An engrossing tale." —KIRKUS REVIEWS

©2021 Cheryl Grey Bostrom (P)2021 Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Critic reviews

"Bostrom's voice reminds me of Delia Owens's Where the Crawdads Sing and Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek." (Taryn R. Hutchison, award-winning author of One Degree of Freedom)

"Sugar Birds is a tour de force, with protagonist Agate as uniquely powerful as The Hunger Games's Katniss." (Dr. Lynne Curry, author and columnist for Anchorage Daily News)

"A true page-turner...An engrossing tale." (Kirkus Reviews)

A Pacific Northwest adventure

This book captures 10 year old Aggie’s life at a time she felt she was unwanted and hid from the world. As you listen to her story, you feel her pain, living along side her in the trees and hollowed out tree trunks she calls home.
Heartwarming and emotional as she strugglesyfinds the answers

Excellent

This was a really really good book. Hard to believe this is the authors only book. I hope she writes more.

beautiful

I loved this book. the characters became so dear to me. author didn't shy away from tough stuff but didn't wallow in it either. highly recommend. I love Jayne entwisles narration, just wish this one didn't sound like she was recording in a closet.

Didn’t want to stop listening!

I loved this book, the characters, the setting, and the story. I found myself empathizing with the characters, and wanting for the best outcome for all of them. It kept me guessing….and hoping. I didn’t want to stop listening, and finished the book at 2:30am. Highly recommend!

Nature poorly represented

Literary license went to far. We understand a lot about nature. Why not try to make your story work with nature? Many of the encounters, such as the cougar, are contrived.

Excellent Book

I loved this book! I loved the characters, especially Burnaby. I can’t wait to read another book by her.

No Emotional Connection

Not horrible, not great. The story was well written, yet a bit mediocre. No Emotional connections to the main characters. The narrator gave no emotional, inflection or life in the dialogue. Just eh all around.

Each character was portrayed in an amazing fashion.

I loved the way the book made my own emotions come to life. You were hanging on every word... waiting... commenting aloud... feeling all the details, from starvation to anger.

Beautiful debut book.

This book, these characters, will stay w me. Love the nature descriptions, and character development. Narration seemed a little muffled, not the clarify of others production studios, but I fell in love w the narrator’s gravely, emotion-filled voice. Well done!

Trauma, God, and misogyny

I did like this book overall. I liked the protagonists (I found them sympathetic) and the arc of the story was engaging. I had trouble with the mother being judged for going away to work, but when the father did it, all was forgiven. Apparently when moms work it’s to satisfy their ego but when dads work it’s for the good of the family. This was compounded by referring to God as the Father. When Aggie went to counseling, it was stated that she wouldn’t talk. Therapy involves developing trust and rapport, but this was glossed over in a book about trauma. Regardless, the story was layered and interesting.