Bird with the Heart of a Mountain

Gr 8 Up—Set in a 1936 Spain divided by civil war, in which the Republicans side with the poor and Communist Russia and the Nationalists side with the rich and Fascist Germany, this novel centers on 16-year-old Drina, who is also caught between two sides of herself. Half-Spanish and half-Gypsy, the teen doesn't quite fit in her nomadic community and yearns for a place to belong. She escapes in the rhythm and the power of dance, despite her mother's aversion to it. Tragedy strikes and Drina loses her people, mother, and newborn little sister one fateful night. In an attempt to rescue the baby from the Spanish kidnappers, she comes into contact with her father's wealthy family and is tentatively accepted by them—especially because of her raw talent as a flamenco dancer. Eventually, she is called to dance for General Franco himself. Mariconda's sumptuous writing draws readers into Drina's story—and teens will connect with the protagonists' ache to find a place in the world. The historical background isn't seamlessly incorporated and sometimes feels like an interruption instead of fully realized backdrop. Readers might begin to tire at the fact that every man who encounters the ingénue falls in desperate love with her. However, the vibrant descriptions of Drina's performances will enchant them, and the complex decisions she faces as her loyalties and dreams are tested will have them rooting for the dancer's happy ending. Unresolved threads suggest that a sequel is in the works, and fans of historical fiction and dance novels will be back for Drina's encore.—Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal