The Boy with a Bird in His Chest

Lund’s accomplished debut imagines an LGBTQ allegory with a blend of magical fantasy and stark reality. A talkative bird named Gail lives inside the rib cage of Owen Tanner. After a nurse discovers Gail during an emergency doctor’s visit for Owen’s asthma at 14, his mother moves him from their home in Montana to the outskirts of Olympia, Wash., to live with his uncle Bob and teenage cousin, Tennessee, where he is safe from the clutches of the doctors his mother calls “the Army of Acronyms.” There, at 16, Owen’s suicidal ideations tempt him to wade into the ocean to “live with the mermaids.” He discovers a kindred spirit in Tennessee, who is exploring her sexual identity, and who places a ring of salt around the house to protect him. Together, they navigate the traumas and heartbreaks of their formative years, with Gail present at every step of the way: Owen crushes on a neighbor named Clyde, the boys contend with Clyde’s abusive “thief of joy” father, and the trio of Owen, Tennessee, and Clyde plan to run away after a climactic “last hurrah” involving a psychedelic rave. Lund’s emotive prose treats Owen’s burgeoning development with grace and care. This fine effort succeeds at bringing new life to the coming-of-age story. Agent: Cassie Mannes Murray, Howland Literary. (Feb.)