cover image Wildflower

Wildflower

Alecia Whitaker. Little, Brown/Poppy, $18 (314p) ISBN 978-0-316-25138-9

Bird Barrett is named after Lady Bird Johnson, yet the name fits her in other ways, too—she has a gorgeous voice, and when she plays fiddle with her family’s bluegrass band, her fingers fly. Bird loves writing and playing music, and traveling the country with her parents and two brothers, squeezed tight in their RV, moving from one show to the next—especially when their paths cross with fellow country singer, Adam Dean. When Bird steps in to sing lead one night, everything changes. Suddenly, record deals are on the table, but signing could mean giving up playing with the Barrett Family Band. Whitaker (The Queen of Kentucky) has a knack for evoking the feel of a live performance—both the atmosphere of the venue and what it’s like to play on stage. She’s created a winning protagonist in Bird and given her a life that’s unusual, a fascinating career, plenty of struggles to overcome, and a comforting and supportive family, even when they disagree. Fans of shows like Nashville will fly through this like Bird on her fiddle. Ages 12–up. (July)