Hummingbird Season

Set in 2020, this melancholy verse novel by Lucianovic (The League of Picky Eaters) stars young asthmatic Archie, who’s experiencing a particularly strong disconnect from family and friends while living through the pandemic in California: “Loneliness/ is a word I knew/ before/ but it wasn’t a word I felt/ before.” He especially mourns the loss of closeness with his older brother Hank, who seems to be thriving in their new situation, pushing Archie away when he needs Hank most. Feeling increasingly unseen and “muted,” Archie grows acutely oppressed by the rote sameness of lockdown, which is disrupted by wildfires. Though Archie’s overarching trajectory in dealing with negative emotions, as well as his understanding of his estrangement with Hank, feel overly mature, many readers will identify with his struggles with long-distance learning and feelings of isolation. His discovery of and growing fascination with a hummingbird propels him toward positivity and eventually helps him make the empathetic connections he longs for, shifting the story focus to Archie’s empowerment and interpersonal growth and resulting in a satisfyingly realistic resolution. All characters read as white. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)