Chasing Redbird

Set in Kentucky like several of her other books, this is the story of an extended family living in a duplex of sorts on the family land. Zinny Taylor, the thirteen year old daughter of one of the two families is the story's first-person teller. She tells us of her own family and that of her neighboring uncle and aunt. The aunt and uncle lost their only child, a daughter the same age as Zinny, as a toddler. Zinny herself is from a brood of some half dozen siblings but is the one closest to the uncle and aunt. Zinny sets the task for herself of clearing a long-overgrown path that runs from behind her home to a town nearby. She is emotionally working through that beloved aunt's passing away, but also through what may be her first bit of genuine romantic interest from a fellow who has returned to town. In some ways this is the story of Zinny's going through grieving. But it is also a tale of a loving family told in realistic ways through the voice of a realistic main character. Another fine work from a favorite YA author. If you like this one, Walk Two Moons is even better, and just as good are Absolutely Normal Chaos and The Wanderer.

To tell you the truth I read this book years ago; but, since I only just discovered this site, I am going to write my review now.Besides, I remember the book quite clearly. How could I forget it? It was absolutly my favorite book for years to come.

This book really gets you on the lead character's side. You're right with this book from the third page, making the book very hard to put down.

Since a lot of kids could relate to most of Zinny's problems,(losing a friend, loved one dies, family troubles,privacy, ext.)this book is very realistic.(I went through quite a few things that Zinny went through too)

It's filled with tons of different emotion that might rub off on you and make you cry.

You might think that not a lot of stuff can happen if it's about a girl uncovering a trail. It's surprisingly not boring. This book has quite a few characters. It has more than enough to keep this book interesting, and more than enough to keep your flashlight on after 2:00 A.M.

You'll enjoy this book at any age. I'd suggest it for junior high though. Older people might be looking for something that makes you laugh or something that is a bit heavier.( although this is probably the most mature-written junior high book I've ever read.)

I gave this book four stars because this book was enticing, but I've read better. It was so good that I think schools should definitly get their kids to read this, bet I've read other books that have truly captured my heart.(I think this book captured my heart at some point, but I've grown up a bit now. Not to say I still don't enjoy this book.)If you are a junior high kid, I'm rating this book five stars to you.

PLOT: (I won't spoil anything, I promise)

Zinny is someone you might call troubled at a first glance but really, I feel, and you'll feel too, she doesn't get a chance to explain her self or let her feelings out. After all she has many brothers and many sisters which she has to share with, it's not like her parents are going to have a lot of time for her solely. Fortunately, she has her Uncle. Unfortunately she doesn't have A. Her best friend.(1. foot note)

B. Her very missed aunt.

C. A childhood friend/cousin who left her troubled.

D. A healthy,(by the looks of it) sane uncle.

Soon she discovers a trail. She plans to keep this trail to her self, but when her brother follows her from the back yard to the trail, well, she can pretty much scratch that thought. All is not lost; her family eventually forgets about their invasive endeavors and leave her to her trail peacefully again.

That leaves Zinny determined to complete the trail. She feels obligated to finish it. She feels that if she doesn't, god may come swiping down from the clouds and determine her fate.

A refreshing change to the plot is when a 17 year old(3 years older than zinny) boy(I forget his name)takes interest into Zinny. This boy is from Zinny's family past.

Zinny isn't ignorant though. She thinks this boy is using her to get through to her sister. She's paranoid with good reason, this has happened before. The gifts from the boy keep coming, and getting better all the time too.(usually getting her in trouble. Some of the gifts aren't exactly legal.) Usually each gift leads to a adventure, which makes the plot even better.

Hope you enjoy the book! I know you will!

Footnote. 1. I thought this was pretty interesting. All of Sharon Creech's books are connected by the lead characters' relationships with other lead characters from other Sharon Creech books. Zinny's best friend is the lead character from another one of Sharon Creech's books: Walk Two Moons.

This is definitely not Sharon Creech's best work. The plot jumps around alot, and takes some really big leaps into fantasy land. This girls parents actually let her spend weeks camping in unknown countryside, by herself, without ANY adult supervision at all, Just because she feels she NEEDS to. Would your parents let YOU do this? Talk about "Oh my god I have a hangnail, so now I have to climb Everest." I am normally a big fan of Sharon Creech's Books, but this one kept getting worse. I liked the story about Rose (her cousin) and Aunt Jessie, but she elaborated on it so much that, by the end of the book, it had cycled down into something completely unreal. This book also lacked Sharon Creech's usual humourous touches. O.k., her siblings, Ha HA, but really they just don't cut it. For anyone who is contemplating buying this book, don't. Go out and get Walk Two Moons or Absolutely Normal Chaos, buy something good for a change.

I was home sick from school today and I decided to read 'Chasing Redbird' again for the second or third time. I am 13 years old, and I actually think that I enjoyed this book better when I was a couple of years younger. However, this time I got much more out of it and I still loved it enough to give it five stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read and a heartwarming story. Sharon Creech is a wonderful writer and I always enjoy the creative sayings, expressions, and words she weaves into her fantastic stories.
'Chasing Redbird' tells the story of the summer Zinny Taylor is 13 and decides to clear a 20-mile trail that begins near her farm and ends in a nearby town. She does this partly for herself- she feels forgotten and lonely as the quiet middle child in her family, and she can't get over the feeling that she is the cause of the deaths of her beloved Aunt Jessie and cousin, Rose. She also does it partly for her Uncle Nate, who spends his days chasing after his dead wife and carrying a stick. She also does it partly for her Aunt Jessie who she longs to see and be loved by once again.
By the time the summer is over, Zinny has cleared the whole trail and found everything she has been searching for. With her newfound knowledge, Zinny can live again, which she hasn't really been able to do since Aunt Jessie died.
This book made me feel warm and cozy and was very well written. The characters were realistic and loveable, especially Uncle Nate, who was my favorite. 'Chasing Redbird' was touching and gave excellent insight to the mixed-up life of a 13 year-old girl. Bravo Sharon Creech!

My daughter enjoys the author. Had to add to collection.

My 5th grader read this for our homeschool reading club. It had a more mature content since it was relating to a dead family member, but it was written so well that he didn't have any issues. He read this in 2 nights!

this is such a superb children book...
adults will also enjoy it tremondously............
it has suspense, humor and also some spooky stuff........
though i dont think i understood the story clearly....
it still is a great read and fun and unpredictable................

Although this novel was written for young people, I enjoyed it immensely, and I am 50 years old. It is far better than I expected. I happened to come across it while looking at the bookstore for stories for my 10 yr. old son to read. I knew he wouldn't read it, but being intrigued by the back cover synopsis, I bought it for myself and am glad I did. The author, while keeping the storyline at the appropriate age level intended, still brought such a depth of maturity to the prose that I was moved to tears at several points throughout the story. The author's understanding of how to evoke real emotion and grab the reader's heart is extraordinary. Believe me, this is not simply a story about how a girl uncovers a walking trail in her backyard. It is a tender portrayal about her life relationships--the trail being the tie that binds together her quest of self discovery and meaning.

The novel is also full of beautiful symbolism that I was able to interpret in different ways, such as near the end of the story when chicory plants are found growing in the children's garden, where the children were growing their own flowers and vegetables to eat. The legend was that a lady was turned into this blue-flowering plant, because she rejected the sun god's love. The flowers of this plant close up at noon, ignoring the sun's bright rays. It was also said if you fed its seeds to someone, you could get them to love you. It was endearing, then, to discover that Zinny's father had planted the chicory, because all through the story Zinny seems much closer to her uncle than to her own father, who did dearly love her, although Zinny didn't think so. So, I saw the chicory symbolizing Zinny, who also kept rejecting the love of her young devoted admirer, Jake.

The opening chapters did not quite capture my attention at first, but I pressed on and at around Chapter 7 (there are 46 short chapters), I was so engrosed I could not put it down and finished it within a couple of hours. All in all, a very heart-warming and stirring read sure to be a hit especially with young girls, whom I think will just adore the boyfriend, Jake. He is sweet and loving, but with a little "bad-boy" edge.

I intend to re-read "Chasing Redbird" often. I may even give a go at reading it to my son, after all. It will certainly stay on my shelf as a keeper.

I have always LOVED Sharon Creech's books, and this one is on the TOP!! So sweet and sad; it's beautiful.

This is a book about a trail that leads more than to the next town; it leads to a whole world of family and past and future. It leads to the feelings you have in your deepest part of your heart. It's a WONDERFUL book. READ IT, AND YOU WON'T REGRET!!!!

This is a really great book about a girl named Zinny. She lives on a farm in Kentucky with her parents and siblings, and right next to her Uncle Nate and Aunt Jessie. Her Aunt Jessie dies, and Zinny discovers a trail near her house, and makes it her goal to start uncovering it. As she uncovers the trail, she also uncovers things about her Aunt Jessie, and begins to deal with her death. This is a really great book, and anyone who liked Walk Two Moons, also by Sharon Creech, will love this book too.